Do people steal airbags from cars?
Insurance industry statistics show that approximately 50,000 airbags are stolen each year, resulting in an annual loss of more than $50 million to vehicle owners and their insurers. Airbags have quickly become a primary accessory on the black market for stolen vehicle parts.
How much does it cost to replace a stolen air bag?
A shady mechanic or body shop can buy a stolen airbag illegally for $200, then charge the customer or their insurance company the full price for the replacement and pocket the difference. At an auto body repair shop, a significant portion of the cars that are worked on need air bag replacement.
Is it possible to steal airbags from a car?
At an auto body repair shop, a significant portion of the cars that are worked on need air bag replacement. Roaming punks and thieves are not the only ones that can steal airbags either. Some crooked mechanics and repair shops have been caught stealing airbags from customers.
Do you have to replace the airbag in a car?
The bag itself must be replaced, along with any damaged steering wheel and/or dashboard parts. The sensors and other electronics must also be replaced. It’s also a very labor intensive job: An airbag has to be installed by a trained technician.
Do you have to hire a technician to replace airbags?
For safety purposes, it’s crucial to hire a professional technician to install the replacement airbags instead of trying to do it yourself. Airbags can deploy accidentally during installation or removal, which can cause severe injury. Airbags which have deployed cannot be reused.
A shady mechanic or body shop can buy a stolen airbag illegally for $200, then charge the customer or their insurance company the full price for the replacement and pocket the difference. At an auto body repair shop, a significant portion of the cars that are worked on need air bag replacement.
At an auto body repair shop, a significant portion of the cars that are worked on need air bag replacement. Roaming punks and thieves are not the only ones that can steal airbags either. Some crooked mechanics and repair shops have been caught stealing airbags from customers.
The bag itself must be replaced, along with any damaged steering wheel and/or dashboard parts. The sensors and other electronics must also be replaced. It’s also a very labor intensive job: An airbag has to be installed by a trained technician.
For safety purposes, it’s crucial to hire a professional technician to install the replacement airbags instead of trying to do it yourself. Airbags can deploy accidentally during installation or removal, which can cause severe injury. Airbags which have deployed cannot be reused.