Airbags have saved countless lives since their introduction, reducing fatalities in car accidents by an estimated 29% for drivers and 32% for front-seat passengers. But while these devices are designed to protect, they can present risks for children. For parents, understanding the lesser-known dangers of airbags is critical for making informed decisions about seating, safety features, and travel practices.

Airbags deploy with incredible speed and force, often in less than the blink of an eye. That force, while potentially life-saving, can lead to serious injury if occupants, particularly small children, are not seated or restrained properly. Here are six hidden risks every parent should be aware of.

Woman driving a car.

Risk of Injury from Improper Seating Position

Children seated in the front seat or too close to an airbag are at high risk of injury during deployment. Airbags are calibrated for adult-sized passengers and can expand at speeds up to 200 mph, which is too powerful for a child’s smaller body.

Kids who lean forward, fall asleep slouched, or sit on their knees are vulnerable. Even when wearing a seatbelt, these non-ideal positions can result in broken facial bones, neck trauma, or internal injuries when the airbag deploys.

Experts recommend that children under the age of 13 ride in the back seat. Proper booster seat use, with correct positioning of the lap and shoulder belts, plays a major role in minimizing the risk.

Chemical Exposure and Thermal Burns

Most people associate airbags with blunt force trauma, but another danger lies in the way airbags deploy. The mechanism uses a rapid chemical reaction that generates hot gases to inflate the bag in milliseconds. This process releases intense heat and potentially harmful chemicals into the vehicle’s cabin. Cases of airbag burn injuries are well documented, particularly among children and smaller passengers. These burns can occur on the face, arms, and chest and may be mistaken for friction burns, though they are often chemical or thermal in nature. The lingering chemical residue can irritate eyes and skin, particularly in children with allergies or respiratory conditions.

Keeping children in the back seat and ensuring the use of car seats rated for side-impact safety can reduce this exposure significantly.

One often-overlooked consequence of airbag deployment is the sheer sound level it produces. At the moment of activation, airbags can generate noise levels upwards of 160 decibels, comparable to a shotgun blast or a firecracker exploding inches from your ear.

Children’s ears are sensitive to loud sounds, and such extreme decibel levels can contribute to temporary or even permanent hearing loss. This risk increases in compact vehicles where cabin acoustics amplify the effect.

Although rare, cases of tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and auditory trauma have been reported following crashes involving airbag deployment, particularly for children in the front seat. This is another reason why back-seat placement remains the safest option for young passengers.

Delayed Deployment and Airbag Malfunctions

While most airbags deploy instantly on impact, malfunctions do happen. Delayed deployment or non-deployment during a crash can lead to a false sense of security and potentially severe injuries. Likewise, premature deployment, triggered by a minor jolt or system error, can injure occupants who were never in danger from the original impact.

Children are particularly susceptible to injuries in these scenarios due to their limited ability to brace or shield themselves. In rare but serious cases, defective airbags have led to severe trauma or even fatalities.

Parents should routinely check for recalls and maintenance advisories on their vehicle’s airbag system. Ensuring the airbag sensors, wiring, and control units are inspected during regular service appointments can prevent unexpected deployment issues.

Risk from Counterfeit or Recalled Airbags

A lesser-known but alarming issue is the presence of counterfeit or improperly installed airbags in used vehicles. These can originate from unauthorized repair shops or be part of a black-market supply chain of stolen or substandard parts. Counterfeit airbags may not deploy properly, or worse, explode with excessive force due to faulty inflators.

Millions of vehicles have been subject to airbag recalls in recent years, most notably the Takata recall involving inflators that could rupture and send metal shards into the cabin.

Parents buying pre-owned vehicles should verify the vehicle’s repair history and check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website for airbag recall information using the car’s VIN.

Psychological Trauma After Deployment

While physical injuries often take center stage, the emotional impact of an airbag deployment during a traumatic crash can leave lasting psychological scars on children. The loud explosion, sudden jolt, and visual chaos of a deployed airbag can cause intense fear, confusion, and stress for young passengers.

Children may experience anxiety around car travel afterward, which can lead to avoidance behaviors or distress during routine commutes. In such cases, seeking help from a pediatric psychologist can aid recovery and help the child feel safe in vehicles again.

Simple steps, like keeping children in the back seat, using age-appropriate car seats, and staying informed about recalls, can go a long way in minimizing danger. By understanding how airbags work and what risks they carry, parents can make smarter decisions and create a safer travel environment for their families.