Updated at: 30-03-2022 - By: Lucas

Is your automobile equipped with an airbag, or have you recently purchased a vehicle without one and want to add one?

Between $200 and $700 for the driver’s side and $400 for the passenger’s side, an airbag replacement can be costly.

A new airbag will set you back between $3,000 and $5,000, including labor.

There are many crucial features to airbags, including how they work and the expense of repairing or installing one. Let’s get started straight now.

What Is An Airbag?

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If there is a significant impact, such as in a collision, an airbag will inflate to protect the occupants in the vehicle from injury.

The goal of an airbag is to protect the occupants’ bodies and avoid collisions with the steering wheel and the dashboard in the case of an accident.

How Does An Airbag Work?

First, let’s take a look at some of the airbag’s most important components. The following are the components of an airbag:

An air-filled tote bag

A sensor for measuring impact

a device for inflating air

A thin nylon fabric is used to make an airbag, which is then folded and installed in a predetermined location, such as inside the steering wheel, the dashboard, the door, or the seat.

When a significant impact happens, such as in a car accident, the sensor sends an inflating signal to the airbag.

As soon as the inflating system receives the signal, it begins a chemical reaction that results in the production of nitrogen gas.

The airbag inflates as a result of the pressure created by the gas.

Inflated air bags release nitrogen gas through microscopic holes on their surface when the automobile occupants body comes into touch with them.

A deflated airbag can be removed from the vehicle. In less than a second, these events all happen.

In order to prevent death and severe injuries, airbags cushion the car occupants against devastating head and upper body injuries.

Airbags used to be restricted to the driver’s and passenger’s sides of an automobile, but newer models have side, curtain, and knee airbags as standard equipment.

In the event of an airbag deployment, cornstarch or talcum powder is released into the air.

In order to maintain the airbag pliable and lubricated while it is being kept, the white substance is used.

4 Factors Affecting The Cost Of Airbag Replacement

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Replacing an airbag can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000, whereas purchasing an airbag costs anywhere from $200 to $700.

What gives rise to such wide price variations? The price of a new airbag is affected by a variety of variables, including:

1. Where To Buy

The cost of an airbag will primarily rely on where you buy it, just like any other product.

It’s possible to buy one from the manufacturer or from a junkyard, depending on where you live. The quality and price of a product can vary greatly from one seller to the next.

Cutting out the middlemen by purchasing straight from the producers will lower the price. Quality assurance and a warranty are among the extras included.

You can ask your mechanic for a recommendation, or you can ask your friends and family for recommendations.

2. Labor

A qualified mechanic is required to replace an airbag, and this service is not cheap.

You can ask around for recommendations or request one from the manufacturer when you order your airbag. Mechanic time is typically billed at a per-hour rate by manufacturers.

The average time to replace an airbag is one to two hours.

You can either bargain with the manufacturer to get a lower price or ask around for recommendations for a low-cost mechanic.

3. Parts Being Replaced

It’s important to keep in mind that other parts may need to be replaced when an airbag is replaced.

This includes the airbag control module, which houses the sensor, and the airbag.

Replacement is the only option for most airbag sensors because they are designed to be used just once and cannot be reset.

Airbag deployment can potentially damage wiring connections, necessitating a replacement.

Seat belt retractors, which keep passengers securely fastened in their cars while the airbags deploy, may also need to be replaced.

If the seat belt retractors aren’t put back in place, the airbag won’t be able to provide any additional protection.

It’s possible that the dashboard and seat covers will get scuffed or torn while the seat is being deployed.

This means that the dashboard and the seat covers will have to be repaired at an additional cost.

4. Number Of Airbags Being Deployed

Automobiles today come with a variety of additional airbags, such as knee, thigh and side airbags, that were formerly exclusively available in high-end vehicles.

Take the price of one airbag and multiply it by how many are being replaced to get an idea of how much you’ll pay for the complete replacement process.

The more airbags that need to be changed, the longer it will take the mechanic to complete the task.

Hourly rates mean that you’ll spend more for the entire process. In order to get a better deal, you should try to haggle with the mechanic.

FAQ

If you still have questions about airbag replacement, this section is for you. Hopefully, I’ve been able to answer all of your concerns and questions.

Can I Drive A Car Without Airbags?

In the event of a car crash, your body will not be protected by airbags, hence it is unsafe to drive a vehicle without airbags.

Depending on the state where you live, your car may not pass a safety inspection if it does not have a working airbag.

A car without working airbags may also be difficult to sell, let alone drive.

Are There Situations Where Replacing The Airbag May Be Unnecessary?

In other cases, airbag replacement may not be essential, such as when an airbag deploys in an accident.

Airbag replacement costs may exceed the value of the vehicle in some cases.

You may be stranded without a means of transportation while the airbag is replaced.

There are times where major repairs are needed in addition to the replacement of an airbag.

If you’re thinking of putting your car up for sale shortly.

Can I Replace My Airbags?

To replace your car’s airbags, you don’t need permission. You can save money on labor by doing the airbag replacement yourself if you have the experience and technical know-how.

Even if you think you know what’s wrong, you’ll need the help of a trained technician to get the work done right.

Airbag replacement takes skill and experience since if it’s not done correctly you could end up injuring yourself or someone else in the vehicle.

During installation, it is possible that the airbag will be mistakenly deployed, resulting in complete waste of time and money.

Look at this:

Conclusion

Your car’s safety system would be incomplete without an airbag.

A driver’s head and upper torso are shielded from a collision with the dashboard or steering wheel when an airbag deploys.

In the event of an airbag deployment, a new one must be installed. Installing an airbag is also required if you purchase a car without one.

There are a lot of factors that affect the cost of airbag replacement, including where you buy, the cost of labor, and the quantity of airbags that need to be replaced.

If you have the technical know-how, or if you engage a skilled mechanic, you may repair the airbags and ensure that you will be adequately protected in the event of a car crash if necessary.