A method of venting a refrigerant from an air conditioning system of a vehicle during a crash to mitigate leakage of the refrigerant into a cabin of the vehicle by crashing a test vehicle under a first set of predetermined conditions a number of crash events and measuring deceleration and determining the existence of leakage. The number of crash events in which leakage existed is divided by the number of crash events to establish a probability of leakage ratio. The test vehicle is crashed under a second set of predetermined conditions to determine a second probability of leakage ratio. A probability of leakage relationship is established correlating the probability of leakage ratios and the predetermined conditions. A deceleration relationship is established correlating the deceleration measurements and the predetermined conditions. A deceleration of the vehicle is sensed to determine a probability of leakage from the probability of leakage relationship and the refrigerant is vented in response to the probability of leakage exceeding a predetermined threshold.