Ask the Expert
by John and Theresa Kightlinger
Question from J. Smith, Webberville:
“I’ve heard of people installing fake air bags, is there such a thing?”
Answer: Yes! Unfortunately, there are some repairers/rebuilders/con men who have installed fake or “rebuilt” airbags that deploy with devastating results, or fail to deploy at all. Here’s a recent example:
BREAKING NEWS (02-25-19): Air bag filled with black tape and shop rags found at deadly crash. (https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2019/02/25/fake-airbag-filled-black-tape-shop-rag-deadly-crash/).
In this example, a father bought a used car for his daughter. “I bought the car on Monday and on Wednesday my daughter Sarah was dead.” Sarah had struck a tree in what experts say was a survivable impact. “If that car had working airbags Sarah would still be here,” her father stated sadly.
The air bag looked intact, complete with the car logo, even an air bag stamp. After the accident, investigators tried to determine why the bag didn’t deploy. What they found instead of an air bag was garbage–silicone putty, shop rags, and black tape. There was no igniter, no squib, no air bag, and more obvious, no wires on the back side.
An investigative news team traced the used car’s history. Insurance documents showed that the original owner had an accident wherein the airbag had deployed. The car was deemed to be a total loss and it went to auction, where it was sold. It changed hands several times after that. It was repaired along the way and eventually ended up at a used car lot. There was an airbag light on when they bought it, so the used car lot staff took the car to a Kia Dealership where they were informed that the air-bag module needed to be replaced. Not wanting to pay that much for repairs (it can cost between $1000-$1500), the used car lot staff person declined the work and took it to another mechanic. That mechanic replaced a part and the vehicle was delivered back to the used car lot with no warning lights on. It was later sold to Sarah’s father, with devastating results.
So, yes, fake and defective airbags are being installed in repaired vehicles and there is no question that there are more vehicles out there like Sarah’s. According to Carfax, con-men purposely replace deployed airbags with anything from damaged packing peanuts to stolen and/or counterfeit units. Industry experts estimate that as many as 1 out of 25 previously damaged vehicles may have non-functional airbags, where the warning lights have been covered or eliminated. This is a startling statistic when one considers how many previously damaged and “repaired” vehicles are on the road.
Consumers currently have no way of knowing the full true history of a used car before they buy a used vehicle. Many consumers turn to Carfax or AutoCheck which, they believe, document any accidents, flooding, if the airbag has deployed, or if the car has been stolen.
Yet, consumer advocates warn that such vehicle history databases don’t always receive all the information or provide an accurate history. Carfax and agencies like them rely on three primary sources for their info: State title agencies, police reports, and repair shops. Not all accidents are reported, not all police departments file online reports, and some DMV’s (Department of Motor Vehicles) do not share damage claims data with these vehicle history services. Many repair shops report “service” on the vehicle but not whether it was damaged in an accident and whether the air bag deployed.
As such, it is highly recommended that further inspection by a qualified professional, with the proper equipment to test today’s highly technical vehicles, should be undertaken prior to purchasing a late model pre-owned vehicle, or one that was used when purchased. Experts say it’s like an EKG for your car–it will check to ensure all systems are functioning properly. This is a minimal expense for the amount of peace of mind it can offer.
As always, after a crash event, My Body Shop performs pre and post inspections for our customers when called for by the manufacturer. We offer pre-purchase and post-purchase scans as well. If you, or someone you know has purchased a used vehicle, or intend to, let My Body Shop assist in the process by providing a free no-obligation visual inspection. We can usually see where a vehicle has sustained prior damage that has been repaired, and often times, identify repairs that were not done properly. Of course we can also offer a more thorough check of the vehicle’s on-board systems, (including air-bags and seatbelts) at a very reasonable fee. At My Body Shop, we don’t just remove dents…we remove doubts!
