An airbag can’t be fixed once it has deployed. No matter the expense, it will need to be replaced before the car will be safe to drive due to the single-use design that modern airbags have. When airbags first entered the market, mechanics were able to reset certain airbags again after they deploy. However, this is no longer the case for the current designs. No matter which airbag inflated, the mechanic will need to replace the airbag once it has inflated, and every time afterward that it inflates again.

After an airbag deploys, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorists should take their vehicles to a certified service shop, have the airbag replaced after a collision, and should not operate the vehicle until a new airbag has been installed.

What is Required to Replace an Airbag? 

There’s no way around it: once an airbag has deployed, it will have to be replaced by a trained mechanic before operating the vehicle again. Important skills are necessary to remove and replace an airbag correctly. A mechanic will need to take the whole airbag module out and put a brand new one in its place. 

The details of the situation can vary according to the type of airbag that inflated, the make and model of the vehicle, and many other factors. It can also require the removal of the dash, steering wheel, seats, or side panels. After the deployed airbag has been taken out, the mechanic will have to put a new one in and set the sensors for the airbags. Once they are checked and reset, they should be ready to function properly again. If the airbag sensors are not reset correctly, the airbag might not deploy in case of an accident. An authorized mechanic must be the only one to change the airbag seat sensor.

Additionally, service centers that are not certified might set you up with a pre-owned airbag or a defective product from a salvage yard or junk lot. This could result in further accidents in the future. Serious injuries or even death can result from having a defective airbag installed in your vehicle because they might not be protected in the event of a collision.

What is the average cost of an airbag replacement?

The typical cost of having a new airbag installed will depend on a few factors such as the type and age of the car, the number of airbags that inflated, the size of the airbags that deployed, and the number of tools that are necessary to perform the replacement. On average, it might run between $1,000 and $5,500 to have airbags replaced. If the insurance company considers your car a total loss, then the airbag cost could be even higher. 

However, the myth that an airbag deployment will be enough to cause an insurer to call your car a total loss is false unless putting in new airbags or fixing the car ends up costing more than the car’s total value. 

In summary, it’s never safe to try and install your airbag after it has deployed, unless you are a certified mechanic and have all of the required equipment. While these can be a costly fix, it’s a requirement to have new airbags installed before operating the vehicle again to keep all passengers safe.

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