A method of operating a sensor system includes the steps of determining whether any of a plurality of sensors are malfunctioning in response to a physical stimulus on a vehicle, determining whether an outcome of the first step is plausible based upon expected physical stimuli, and determining whether to execute a decision, such as deploy a vehicle occupant restraint, or fail the sensor if it is producing signals beyond expected physical limits. The decision is executed if it is plausible and not executed if it is not plausible.