i think this is something of a case by case basis. from what i've seen, read, had happended and would think, the airbag problems have as much to do with the type of crash as anything. when i wrecked my car about 2 years ago, i would have been seriously hurt if i had an airbag, even though i was wearing my seatbelt (as i do 99% of the time). i rearended another car that was stopped while only going like 4 mph (tried to stop, was rainy with bad brakes and tires
)... just a minor fender bender which caused me no injury (nor the girl in the car i hit so far as i know), but if my car had been a 93 instead of a 91, i'd have had an airbag go off in my face. i was 17, driving my own car... plenty old enough to sit in the front, but i'd have been injured by an airbag, and quite seriously if i were younger/smaller or unbuckled. at higher speeds, they are better (especially when you're buckled and big enough), but at low speeds they can be dangerous.