Buick Encore: Airbag System / How Does an Airbag Restrain?

Buick Encore 2020-2023 Owner's Manual / Seats and Restraints / Airbag System / How Does an Airbag Restrain?

In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside of the vehicle.

Airbags supplement the protection provided by seat belts by distributing the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant's body.

Rollover capable roof-rail airbags are designed to help contain the head and chest of occupants in the outboard seating positions in the first and second rows. The rollover capable roof-rail airbags are designed to help reduce the risk of full or partial ejection in rollover events, although no system can prevent all such ejections.

But airbags would not help in many types of collisions, primarily because the occupant's motion is not toward those airbags. See When Should an Airbag Inflate?.

Airbags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to seat belts.

What Makes an Airbag Inflate?

In a deployment event, the sensing system sends an electrical signal triggering a release of gas from the inflator. Gas from the inflator fills the airbag causing the bag to break out of the cover...

What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates?

After the frontal, knee (if equipped), and seat-mounted side impact airbags inflate, they quickly deflate, so quickly that some people may not even realize the airbags inflated...

Other information:

Buick Encore 2020-2023 Owner's Manual: Folding the Seatback

Either side of the seatback can be folded down for more cargo space. Fold a seatback only when the vehicle is not moving. Caution Folding a rear seat with the seat belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the seat belts. Always unbuckle the seat belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat...

Buick Encore 2020-2023 Owner's Manual: Seat Belt Reminders

Driver Seat Belt Reminder Light There is a driver seat belt reminder light on the instrument cluster. When the vehicle is started, this light flashes and a chime may come on to remind the driver to fasten the seat belt. Then the light stays on solid until the belt is buckled...