Side Impact & Curtain Airbags...When are they supposed to deploy? (long)

[djk3030]

I'm posting this here as well as on the Tundra forum; it applies to both since both the Tundra D-Cab and Sequoia use the same basic system.

I own both a 2003 Sequoia and a 2006 Tundra D-Cab. Both are SR5 trim and 4X4. Both have the optional SRS side curtain airbag system in the door frame and the side impact airbags in the front seats.

2 weeks ago my wife was broadsided in the Sequoia by an 89 Acura at a fairly high rate of speed. The impact was perpendicular and directly centered between the wheels of the Sequoia; neither wheel was touched by the impact. The Acura did not go under the Sequoia because the running board was bent downward and the center of the concave from the impact was about 18" above the bottom of the doors.

The impact then pushed the Sequoia sideways where it's passenger front wheel tripped over the street curb causing the Sequoia to roll twice (per the police) or 3 times (per the tow truck driver) stopping upright when it rolled into a wooden privacy fence. Miraculously by the grace of our heavenly father neither my wife nor either of our 2 small children were seriously injured though had to be transported to the hospital. The airbags were fully functional and passed the startup diagnostic checks and the indicator light went out after a few seconds as always on startup. Also, the vehicle had never been in a prior collision or repair and was still on the original factory battery, never disconnected.

None of the airbags in the Sequoia deployed!

So now to my question, does anyone know the parameters by which the side curtain and/or side impact airbags are supposed to and not supposed to deploy? To me this seems like a textbook case of both a discrete almost if not perfect side impact just as would be conducted in the NTHSB lab, followed by a discrete textbook roll. Now the front airbags were not designed to deploy generally in a side impact. But can anyone explain factually why the side airbags didn't deploy as advertised?

Now the 2003 model MAY have been prior to the RSCA or Roll Sensing Curtain Airbags making the curtain airbags valid only for a side impact. Does anyone know when the RSCA was implemented in the Sequoia and the Tundra? Does anyone remember if prior to the RSCA if the curtain airbags were advertised as applicable in a roll? Our salesman in early 2003 clearly described them as so. That was still hot on the heels of the Explorer fiasco. Regardless, they didn't deploy in the impact.

I talked briefly with a representative from Toyota engineering but expectedly with no conclusions. However they are supposed to be flying in a engineer to examine the vehicle and will get back with me in 30 days or so. But meanwhile I have a 2006 Tundra D-Cab that I also bought with the side curtain and side impact airbag systems and I find myself questioning just how much I can count on those airbags when I need them?

Are they in reality just more hype, placebo and revenue booster than dependable life-saving safety equipment? I found another VERY similar case posted on the NTHSB database so I know I'm not the only one to experience this. I love my Toyota's and we credit the soundness and sturdiness of the vehicle itself, sans airbags, for saving the lives and limbs of my family; and for that reason will most likley buy another Sequoia or Highlander. But I want to know just how valuable and reliable those currently seemingly piece of s*** airbags really are.

Thanks to any and all that have knowledge on the subject!