Your vehicle's airbags are an important part of your car. Without them, you wouldn't have a secure push back from the seat belt when you get in a crash. Airbags are designed to save lives and reduce injuries during a vehicle crash. However, they only work if they deploy properly. For this reason, drivers need to understand how much it costs to replace a car's airbags.
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Replacing a car's airbags can be expensive, depending on the make and model of the vehicle. Some cars have more than one airbag so the replacement cost can be quite high. In addition, some insurance companies may not cover the full cost of replacement, so it is important to check with your provider before you need to make a claim.
This article will give you an idea of what to expect when replacing a car's airbags. In addition, it will provide you with some tips on how to prepare yourself for this type of repair. Read on for more details about “How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Car's Airbags?”
What is the airbag, and why is it important?
An airbag is a safety feature that deploys from the steering wheel or dashboard during a car accident. This way protects the driver and passengers from forwarding movement during a collision.
These bags are designed to inflate extremely quickly when they sense an impact similar to what would happen if you were going forward after being rear-ended. As a result, they can prevent people from hitting their heads or going through the windshield. Without them, injuries could be much worse in some cases.
Types of airbags
There are two primary types of airbags: frontal and side-impact. The type used will depend on where your vehicle's sensors detect the impact. Here is an overview of how these features work:
Frontal airbags are placed on the steering wheel. They inflate toward the driver's chest to help protect them from an impact in front of the vehicle.
Side-impact airbags are usually located on the sides of the vehicle, along with additional sensors that detect when you're in a side collision. For example, if you go through an intersection and strike another car on your side, these bags will deploy to keep your body away from potential contact with external objects.
How much does it cost to replace a car's airbags?
The cost of replacing your car's airbags will depend on the type and location of the bags. For this reason, you should understand what your insurance policy covers before you need to make a claim.
Replacing frontal airbags is usually cheaper than replacing side-impact airbags. Side-impact bags can be difficult to find, so some technicians may recommend that you purchase new sensors as well if they have been damaged.
In general, it is estimated that a driver can expect to pay at least $ 1,000 for a replacement car airbag. This estimate does not include installation or sensor replacement in many cases, which can add hundreds more dollars depending on your vehicle.
In comparison, repairing rather than replacing your car's airbags can be more affordable. However, you should note that this is not always the case, so it is important to check with your technician first.
Contact your local auto center for further information if you have questions about how much it costs to replace a car's airbags. You can also visit RepairPal to estimate what your particular service will cost.
How to tell if your airbags need to be replaced?
Since the airbags are vital components not only for your vehicle but also for your safety, it's important to familiarize yourself with the common symptoms of a bad airbag.
If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to have a technician take a look as soon as possible so that you can be safe while driving on the road! If nothing else, at least have them check why your airbag warning light is on so that you don't get stuck on the side of the road with a car full of people and nothing to protect you.
Here are the ten symptoms of a bad airbag:
1. The airbag light is on
The first thing you'll notice is that your airbag light will either turn on or stay on. If this happens, it's important to get your car checked right away.
In this way, you will keep yourself and your passengers as safe as possible while driving.
2. Your vehicle seems to have a very hard time adjusting to temperature changes
Since airbags are activated by sensors that detect temperature changes, the system needs to be working properly. If your vehicle struggles to adjust to temperature changes, it could be a sign that there's something wrong with your internal sensor or the whole system.
3. There are visible cracks on the airbag cover
Airbags are made with very thin plastic coverings, but they can crack quickly if you hit them with something sharp. If the cracks seem to be on the surface of your airbag, it's possible that your car's sensors did not trigger the system.
4. The car has been involved in a collision
If your vehicle has been involved in a collision, you should always check it for airbag damage. Unfortunately, you may not tell right away if the bags have been deployed, so you will need to have a technician check them carefully.
5. You smell a strange odor coming from your airbags
Smelling a chemical odor coming from your airbags is never good. This may be caused by the fuel used to inflate them, so it is important to have an expert look at your bags as quickly as possible.
6. There is fluid leaking from underneath your vehicle
If you have found a puddle of liquid under your car, you should check to see if it is airbag fluid. If this is the case, the problem could be your system's inflation or deflation. Either way, you need to have a technician look at it as soon as possible.
7. Your vehicle is having electrical problems
If you notice that your vehicle is struggling with electrical problems like the headlights flickering, doors not working right, and so on, this may be a sign of serious airbag damage. The problem could be with the system itself or something as simple as sensors located around your car.
8. Your airbags have deployed
If your airbags have deployed, you should always have them replaced as soon as possible. Airbag deployments are not something to take lightly- they can cause serious injury if they go off while you're driving.
9 . Airbag warning light won't go away
If your airbag warning light doesn't go away once you've started the car (or seems to be on all of the time), try having a technician take a look at it. This could be an indication that your car's system is malfunctioning in some way.
10. visible burn marks are surrounding the inflator of your airbag
If you notice burn marks surrounding your airbag's inflator, it may be time to have them replaced. The cause of this may be an electrical short circuit. Again, your system may be malfunctioning in some way.
What factors can affect the price of an airbag replacement?
As we indicated before, airbag replacement cost differs significantly depending on many factors. Let's take a closer look at the common ten factors impacting the airbag replacement cost:
1. Location
If you live in a big city, you can probably expect to pay less for airbag replacement than someone who lives in a rural area. This is mainly because there are more car repair shops in big cities, which means that you'll have a wider range of choices when it comes to getting your airbags replaced.
2. Model and year of your car
Again, the model and year of your car can influence how much it costs to get a replacement for your airbag's inflator. The newer the vehicle, the easier it will be for a mechanic to find an affordable option. However, if you own a very old vehicle, this may not be possible at all. In these cases, you might even need to replace your whole system altogether.
3 . Your car's dealership options
In general, dealerships tend to be more expensive than local mechanics. This is because dealership companies usually have higher overhead costs. However, if you're willing to shop around, you should be able to find a mechanic or repair shop that offers quality service at lower prices.
4 . The number of airbags in your car
The average cost of replacing one airbag is anywhere from $900 up to $1500, which varies depending on the make and model of the vehicle. If you have an additional passenger airbag installed, it can increase the cost by somewhere between $1,600-$3,800 – again, this depends greatly on your vehicle's make and model. It may also come down to how difficult installation will be for both types of airbags. Generally speaking, if you look into having a dual front airbag system replaced, it will be more expensive than having your driver or passenger-side single system replaced.
5. Your car's overall condition
You should always expect a higher quote if you come to the mechanic with existing damage. This is because they will have to spend extra time and resources diagnosing the problem and repairing any existing issues. As such, make sure your vehicle is in great shape before you bring it in for repairs (at least visually). This can help prevent getting overcharged.
6 . How badly damaged your airbags are
If the inflator of one of your airbags has gone off – whether from an accident or otherwise- replacement parts will need to be ordered. Since the inflator is dangerous and needs to be replaced, this may slow down the repair process. In some cases, you might even need to replace your whole system altogether.
7 . If your airbags have been recalled
If you have been notified that your airbag has been recalled, it may be free of charge from your car dealership or the company that manufactured the car. However, if they haven't been replaced yet and you're not under warranty- expect them to cost anywhere between $1500-$2000.
8 . Availability of replacement parts
In most cases, there are going to be a few different options when it comes to finding replacement parts for your vehicle's airbags via aftermarket manufacturers versus OEM manufacturers.
OEM parts will be more expensive than aftermarket ones since they are usually custom-made to fit your vehicle specifically. However, the more popular a vehicle is- the easier it will be for mechanics to get OEM parts fast and affordable.
9. Difficulty of installation
Even though you may have gotten an offer on replacing both your driver's side and passenger's side airbags, this may not always be possible depending on how difficult it is to get to them for installation. In addition, since labor costs can vary by location, you should always ask about additional fees before making your final decision. As such, if you choose to go with an experienced mechanic who has experience installing airbags into older models of cars – then expect to pay a bit more.
10 . The overall cost of your airbags
Typically, one side will cost around $1,200, whereas two will likely be in the range of about $2,400-$3,000, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. So overall, you can expect to pay less for both driver's airbags than if you are replacing only one passenger side unit. With this said, however- it is important to always ask about additional fees before making a final decision when choosing an auto repair shop or mechanic.
Conclusion
The cost of replacing airbags varies depending on the type and age of your vehicle and where you live in the country. A lot also depends on looking for a replacement or upgrading to more advanced airbag technology, which is safer than traditional airbags.
The good news is that there are plenty of places out there that specialize in car parts like this, so it should be easy enough to find one near you without too much hassle. The price should vary from one place to another, so it's a good idea to shop around.