Seat Covers Must Be Compatible with Airbags

When purchasing seat covers for the front seats of a vehicle, consumers should ensure that the covers are suitable for the vehicle’s side and center airbags. Only then can the airbags deploy properly in the event of an accident. If the seat covers are not matched to the airbag system of the vehicle, there is a risk that they may obstruct deployment.

Fast Deployment is Crucial

“Most vehicles are now equipped with side airbags as standard, and center airbags are also increasingly common,” explains Bartholomäus Zak, who is responsible for airbag testing at TÜV Rheinland. “What’s critical for safety is that when a side or center airbag is activated, the seat cover must also open—typically through a predefined tear seam. Incompatible seat covers can compromise occupant protection, as they may prevent the airbags from deploying quickly enough in an emergency.”

Side airbags are integrated into the seatbacks in many vehicle models. In the event of a side impact, they deploy between the door and the occupant to help protect the torso and head. The center airbag is located on the inner side of the seat and is designed to reduce the risk of head injuries caused by contact between the driver and front passenger during a side collision.

Certification Provides Guidance

Whether a seat cover is suitable for a particular vehicle can be determined by a certification from an independent testing organization such as TÜV Rheinland. Additional guidance is provided by the General Type Approval (Allgemeine Betriebserlaubnis, ABE) and the manufacturer’s installation instructions. TÜV Rheinland offers certification for seat covers that meet the necessary safety requirements. Certified products can be found in the publicly accessible database at www.certipedia.com. These covers are labeled with the notes “Compatible with side airbags” or “Compatible with side and center airbags,” along with the TÜV Rheinland certification mark.

Image: Testing of a side airbag in TÜV Rheinland’s laboratory: Seat covers must be compatible with a vehicle’s airbags to ensure occupant safety in the event of an accident (Photo: Oliver Tjaden/TÜV Rheinland)