Buying guide
Are seat covers safe with side airbags?
Many vehicles have airbags built into the side of the front seats. The right seat cover is designed to work with them. The wrong one can get in the way.
Midnight Noir
How seat-mounted side airbags work
Seat-mounted side airbags sit inside the outer side of the front backrests. In a side impact the airbag inflates in a fraction of a second and breaks out through a seam in the seat upholstery to protect the chest and pelvis. Some newer vehicles also have a centre or far-side airbag on the inner side of the driver’s seat.
Because the airbag deploys through the seat itself, anything covering that area needs to be designed with the airbag in mind.
How to tell if your seats have side airbags
- Look for a small tag or label reading “Airbag” or “SRS” on the outer side of each front backrest.
- Check your owner’s manual under the airbag or safety section. It shows every airbag location in your vehicle.
- If you still are not sure, tell us when you order and include photos of the side of your seats.
What to look for in a seat cover
- Made for your exact seat. A cover patterned for your year, make, model and trim accounts for where the airbag sits.
- Clearly stated airbag compatibility. If a product does not say it works with seat airbags, assume it does not.
- No extra layers. Avoid stacking cushions, wraps or a second cover over the side of the backrest.
Our covers are designed to work with seat airbag systems, and we check the fitment details for your vehicle before production.
Fitting covers on airbag seats
Follow the fitting order in how to install custom seat covers, and take extra care that the backrest cover sits square on the outer side of the seat with nothing tucked or folded over that area. If your airbag warning light comes on after any work on your seats, have the vehicle checked by a dealer or qualified technician.
