Rear side airbags

[Hazelandlucy]

Are they safe with outboard carseats? Specifically the ones on the Mercedes ML350?

 

[CarSafetyGuy]

There aren't reports of severe or fatal injuries from properly children placed next to side airbags that I've come across. That said, some car seat manufacturers explicitly state not to place their seats next to any airbags, while the majority will defer to the vehicle manual for protocol.

 

[henrietta]

I don't remember the name of the "group" or who they were exactly, but I'm thinking car engineers...ratings on safety things in cars...comparing features....etc....I looked up info on Side Impact Airbags in the rear a few years ago, b/c our old Passat had them. There really were some studies on them...and mostly, in most vehicles, they were found completely safe with properly installed and used car seats. I'd have no qualms about seats installed next to them. In fact, my kids rode next to them for the last 8 years (hence why I no longer have the links at all...) Maybe another tech here will know what I'm referring to and how to access that info.