What is Airbag Fraud?

When we get into our cars to drive, we trust our very lives to the safety of our vehicles. Most vehicles come with air bags as standard equipment for good reason – airbags can save lives. But if you’re buying a used car or are having your new car repaired, you have to be very, very careful to avoid becoming a victim of airbag fraud.

Airbags are expensive and difficult to replace. A new airbag can cost from $700 to $1,000 and they aren’t “one size fits all” – each vehicle requires a different airbag based on the make, model, and year of the car, as well as the location of the airbag inside the car. The airbag must be carefully installed by a skilled professional if it’s going to work properly, and all necessary electronic and computer circuitry must be checked to ensure that it will work properly in the event of another crash.

When the airbag isn’t properly replaced and installed as outlined above, the airbag won’t work. In fact, there have been cases reported where the old airbag was just stuffed into the cavity and the cover replaced, as well as cases where trash was used to fill the space where the airbag should have been. For less than $100, you can buy a replacement cover and a module that will reset the dash sensor light that shows if there’s a problem with the airbag, making it easy for unscrupulous shops to overcharge for work they don’t do. All of these situations represent airbag fraud – profitable for the person committing the fraud (at least until they’re caught) and potentially deadly for the buyer and passengers of such a used car.

The only way to make sure a used car has a properly installed and functioning airbag is to take the car to a certified airbag mechanic. Look for a shop that boasts the ASE Blue Seal Recognition Program in airbag repair. This is just as important as having a mechanic check the rest of the car for damage. You should never attempt to remove the airbag cover yourself; to do so could cause you serious injury and damage the airbag.

In addition, you shouldn’t rely on car vehicle reports to determine whether or not an airbag has deployed. Some insurance companies don’t provide this information to the vehicle report companies and not all accidents are reported. Further, there’s a lag between when an accident happens and when it shows up on the vehicle history report. Instead, look for telltale signs of the car having been in an accident and look for seams and cuts along the airbag cover.

If your car is involved in an accident, make sure that you use a collision repair shop with mechanics that are certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, and make sure the mechanic who replaces the airbag is a certified airbag mechanic. Ask to see the new airbag before it’s installed. It should come from the manufacturer in a sealed container and the packaging information should match the make, model and year of your car. You can also ask for a copy of the invoice where the repair shop purchased the airbag from the manufacturer.

When you get your car back, your airbag light should function normally. For most cars, this means that the light will flash briefly when you crank your car, then go out. If the light doesn’t flash or comes on and stays on, the car needs further repairs.

Finally, if you suspect airbag fraud, you can call the National Insurance Crime Bureau hotline at 1-800-835-6422 for more advice on the action you need to take.