Average Airbag Replacement Cost in 2022

09 Mar.,2022

Airbags are one of the most important vehicle safety innovations of all time. From 1987 to 2017, airbags saved 50,457 lives. Most people don't even think about them until they are involved in a crash.

 

Airbags are one of the most important vehicle safety innovations of all time. From 1987 to 2017, airbags saved 50,457 lives. Most people don't even think about them until they are involved in a crash.

 

If your car continues to cause significant impact from air bag deployment or purchase of a vehicle with deployed air bags, air bag replacement is required and will not be cheap.

 

airbags

 

After an impact, there are multiple parts available depending on which airbag is deployed: front airbag sensors, airbag ECU, driver airbag, passenger airbag, front door pretensioner seat belt harness, instrument panel (mounted on the dashboard on some models) , and sometimes the steering wheel itself.

Because you won't be replacing a single part, it's important to understand the total cost of airbag replacement to avoid unpleasant financial surprises. Before we get into the average airbag replacement cost, this is the primer for airbags.

 

A side kit is a form of safety restraint used in conjunction with seat belts to protect the head and upper body of the driver and passengers in the event of a frontal or side impact collision. Airbags are more accurately referred to as supplemental restraint systems, or SRS. 

Passenger cars have been equipped with frontal airbags since 1998, and pickup trucks, SUVs and vans have been equipped with frontal airbags since 1999. Although many manufacturers include side airbags in the standard package, they are still optional in some vehicles produced today. 

 

How do airbags work?

Airbags inflate rapidly through a controlled explosion upon moderate to severe impact, then deflate upon contact with a person's head or body.

Crash sensors detect the impact and convert the reduction in acceleration into an electrical signal sent to the airbag ECU. This computer then instructs the airbag to deploy. 

During a crash, a sudden stop may cause serious injury to the driver or passenger due to inertia (resistance to changes in motion, such as changes in direction or speed of motion).

The seat belt helps restrain the driver or passenger's body, but the head needs something to prevent it from colliding with the dashboard or windshield - that's where the frontal airbags come in. Secondary airbags in other locations help cushion various parts of the body.

 

Components of an airbag system

 

Components of an airbag system

â–º Driver and passenger airbags (steering wheel, instrument panel, sometimes in the doors and/or seats)

â–ºClock springs

â–ºImpact sensors

â–ºIgnition

â–ºSRS warning light

â–ºPassenger seat switch

â–ºSmoke and fire type inflator

â–ºElectronic Control Unit

â–ºBelt pretensioner

All these components are connected in the airbag system. A deployed airbag usually damages all related components, such as the airbag itself, the crash sensor, the clock spring and the seat belt pretensioner. Even the ECU needs to be replaced, or if possible, reset.

While not necessarily part of the SRS system, the steering wheel, instrument panel section or seat may need to be replaced or repaired at this time, depending on the airbag deployed.

 

Where to Buy and Install Airbag Components

The best place to install airbag system components in your vehicle is a certified auto body shop, auto dealership or some auto repair stores. Some stores even specialize in airbags.
Airbags may be cheaper if purchased from an online retailer, but these usually come with a limited warranty. Care must be taken to avoid purchasing defective or counterfeit airbags, as these can have dire consequences, from deploying too late in a crash to releasing metal shrapnel from the airbag when it deploys.
It is often possible to fix certain components or reset the ECU and can be done through an excellent online retailer, Derrica Co., Ltd. is well known for providing airbag service. You simply send them the bad parts and they send them back to you in a repaired condition.

 

Average Cost of Airbag Replacement

With so many parts to repair or replace, the total cost for a professional to replace an airbag can range from $1,000 to over $5,000. Labor costs account for about one-third of the total cost.

The actual number depends on many factors, including the year, make and model of the vehicle, the location and number of airbags, and the number and type of other related components that may need to be replaced (e.g., instrument panel, airbag computer, springs, sensors, dashboard, windshield and steering wheel).

Obviously, a newer Audi or Porsche airbag replacement will be more expensive than a 10 year old Honda or Ford.

Driver-side airbags sell for $150 to $600 per bag. Passenger-side airbags cost at least $300 to $800.

Knee airbags and side curtains are not as common on the front airbags, but will also need to be replaced if deployed. Expect to spend nearly the same as for passenger-side airbags, although these figures may vary depending on the design and size of the airbag.

After deployment, vehicles with seat belt pretensioners will also need to be repaired or replaced. Expect to pay between $80 and $120 to repair the pretensioner, or even more to replace it with a new part.

 

At a minimum, the ECU or airbag module will need to be reset at a cost of about $50 to $150. If the airbag control module needs to be replaced, expect to spend $400 to $1,200 for a new one.

Auto insurance will usually cover the cost of replacing the airbag once any deductible is met, although the replacement cost is usually so high that the insurance company will choose to "total" the car.

 

Other Advice

For safety reasons, it is critical to hire a professional technician to install a replacement airbag rather than doing it yourself. Airbags can accidentally deploy during installation or removal, resulting in serious injury. 

Airbags that have deployed cannot be reused. It may be legal to use an airbag that has not been deployed from another vehicle of the same type, but this should only be used as a last resort.

 

You should also install a passenger airbag switch in your vehicle if your passenger is 13 years of age or younger, is less than 5 feet tall and less than 10 inches from the airbag, or has certain health conditions.

In these cases, the benefits of the airbag may be outweighed by the risks, as the size and air pressure in the airbag could cause serious injury to the passenger.

Average Airbag Replacement Cost in 2022