If a collision causes your airbag to inflate or deploy, is it possible to repair the airbag or should it be replaced?
Once the vehicle is in for repair, here’s what you need to know.
Airbag Repairs
Vehicles are equipped with airbags to protect drivers and passengers from serious injuries that may result from a collision.
With certain makes and models of older vehicles, it may be possible to repair the airbag.
A thorough inspection of the airbag in an auto body shop will ensure it wasn’t damaged beyond repair in the collision.
If the airbag can be repaired and re-used, it will need to be reset.
Airbag Reset
To reset an airbag involves re-packing and returning to its original compartment and re-setting the indicator light.
Airbag Warning Indicator Light
If you’ve been in an accident and the airbag did not inflate, it’s possible that the airbag sensors have been triggered.
An indicator light should appear on your dashboard panel letting you know that there is an issue with the airbag.
Once you see an airbag indicator light, take it in for service immediately.
It could just be that the sensor was triggered and needs to be reset. However, you will need to verify at an authorized service center that there’s nothing wrong with the airbag itself.
Once deemed safe, the airbag indicator light will be reset.
Airbag Replacement
With newer vehicles, re-setting or repairing is not an option and the airbag will need to be replaced.
This means replacing each airbag that was inflated or deployed. There are different locations of airbags in vehicles which may be in the steering wheel, side panels and of course, passenger area.
Airbag Damage
Once airbags are deployed in a collision, the airbag could cause interior damage to your vehicle.
Some of the damage could be:
- Airbag cover, sensor
- Windshield or side window damage
- Steering wheel, steering wheel column
- Dashboard
- Console
- Seats
- Panels
Airbag Safety
In most cases, airbags are meant for one-time use which means a complete airbag replacement once activated.
It’s dangerous to drive with an airbag that is even partially inflated because of the risk of malfunction in future incidents.
Never drive a vehicle without first replacing the airbags.
Conclusion
If airbags are deployed due to a collision, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that inflated airbags need to be replaced immediately. NHTSA also states that airbags need to be replaced by an authorized service center.
For all your airbag replacements and collision repairs, call the authorized service and autobody specialists at Downtown Collision in Santa Rosa.