Why would someone Want to Steal my Airbag?

They might also sell your airbag and replace it with a cheap version, or replace it with old rags or similar materials. Without a thorough inspection by a qualified technician, it’s impossible to tell if a real airbag is still in place and functional. Of course, if the used airbag was installed as part of a repair shop scam, how many of those conditions do you think the airbag actually met? Lots of airbags are for sale on eBay, so used and undeployed airbags can’t be totally bad, right? Getting a cheaper airbag installed in place of the original might be a scam, but is it really that bad? Learn how to prevent thieves from making off with your airbags on the next page.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau claims that thieves in the United States make off with about 50,000 airbags — worth about $50 million — each year. Airbags are expensive. The bag itself must be replaced, along with any damaged steering wheel and/or dashboard parts. The sensors and other electronics must also be replaced. It’s also a very labor intensive job: An airbag has to be installed by a trained technician. If the car had side airbags, the cost would be even higher. Why would thieves want an airbag in the first place?

Because airbags are particular to specific car makes and models, more common cars are in higher demand. If you have doubts, find another mechanic to inspect the airbag. They will have the right airbag for your car and will have mechanics trained to install them. For example, the Honda Civic and Acura Integra are popular targets. Unfortunately, avoiding repair shop scams can be even harder than avoiding theft. If possible, have the new airbag installed at a dealership.

Despite their cost, airbags are relatively easy to remove, transport and store. Instead of a thief breaking into your car and yanking out the airbag, which sometimes requires the little more than the removal of just four bolts, mechanics can remove them at their leisure while they “repair” your vehicle. An unscrupulous mechanic can buy a stolen airbag illegally for $200, then charge the customer the full price and pocket the difference. The result? A thriving black market for stolen airbags. In one version of the scam, “the pullout,” your old airbag is pulled out to look as if it deployed in the accident (even though it actually didn’t). In fact, stealing airbags has become so lucrative that some dirty repair shops have gotten into the act themselves.

In one case, a woman was injured and a passenger killed because their used car had been in a prior accident. Why is it Still Necessary to Crash Test Vehicles? California State University, Northridge. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. For more information on airbags and other related topics, please see the links on the following page. The airbag had never been properly replaced and was instead simply tucked out of sight. Moore, Ronald E. “The “Totaled” Vs. “Totally Destroyed” Vehicle.” University of Extrication.