Do Airbags Need Maintenance?

Plenty of people wonder about airbag maintenance, or maybe even worry about it. After all, you regularly service other parts of your car, so why not the airbags? They are one of the most critical safety items, so having them not work properly in a crash could have serious consequences. At the same time, airbags haven’t been around as long as seat belts, so knowledge about maintaining them isn’t as widespread.

Airbag Maintenance and Replacement

Most vehicles have a diagnostic system for the airbags. If you see an SRS dash light come on, that means the airbag system is experiencing trouble and airbag maintenance may be required. You should have it inspected professionally right away, because the consequences of not following through could be severe.

Also, when the driver’s side steering wheel airbag is deployed, the steering wheel clock spring may be damaged. So the spring should be replaced when the new air bag is installed.

When an airbag deploys, some or all of the sensors we’ve mentioned (in an earlier post) may be pre-triggered – meaning they are ready to go off. Simply hitting a pothole could set off an airbag. So, always have all SRS sensors replaced when replacing a deployed airbag. Only new airbags should be installed. No one can guarantee the condition of a salvaged airbag.

Repacking airbags is also dangerous and not legitimate. No good shop will engage in this practice, because the potential for getting the setup wrong is too high. If you get a vehicle with funny bulges in the airbag areas, that’s usually a sign of a repacked airbag.

If you are concerned, it’s best to err on the side of caution and get an inspection. Have a professional inspect your airbags and give you a recommendation about what to do. The worst thing you can do is wait and see.

Only a qualified facility should work on your SRS system. And always remember that small children and child safety seats are safer in rear seats. 

Costs of Replacement Airbags

How much replacement airbags cost really depends on the make, model and year of your vehicle. They can be quite expensive, but that’s not necessarily the case.

Even if an airbag costs a considerable amount, it’s a good idea to stick with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) bags, instead of aftermarket options. Buying OEM parts may drive the price up, but at the same time you will not need to worry about the quality. Since a quality airbag could literally mean the difference between a minor injury or loss of life, it’s better to invest in your safety.

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