Airbag Replacement Cost (Driver, Passenger, Side, Knee Airbags)
Airbags are one of the first safety features to be installed in vehicles. They are not a replacement for seat belts, but are intended to be used in conjunction with seat belts. If the vehicle is in an accident, the airbag in the dash will inflate quickly to protect the upper body from being slammed into the steering wheel or dash.
Nearly all new cars are equipped with airbags to protect the driver and passenger upper body. However, some newer cars are equipped with curtain airbags and/or knee airbags. Curtain airbags inflate above the side doors at the front of your vehicle. This happens if you are involved in a side impact rather than a frontal crash. Knee airbags increase safety in a frontal crash by protecting your lower and upper body.
Airbag Replacement Cost
In other words, if you are involved in a crash and your airbag inflates, rest assured that it will cost you to replace it, or you will be left with a car without deployed airbags. Depending on the laws in your area, this may not be allowed. Insurance companies may also penalize you for not having airbags in your car. Therefore, it is best to replace them as soon as you are done using them.
The average cost of airbag replacement usually depends on the make and model of your vehicle, how many airbags you are replacing, and where they are located in your vehicle. Here are some average replacement costs you can expect: 1. Driver Airbag – A driver airbag replacement costs between $300 and $800 on average.
2. Passenger Airbag – A passenger airbag replacement costs between $500 and $1,100 on average.
3. Side Airbags – The average cost to replace a side airbag is between $300 and $800.
4. Knee Airbags – The average cost to replace a knee airbag is between $500 and $1,100.
Fortunately, airbags are designed to only deploy where they are needed, so if you have a moderate frontal crash, your front airbags will deploy, along with all the other airbags needed for this type of crash. The rear passenger airbag (if equipped) is unlikely to deploy.
But if multiple airbags deploy, it all adds up, especially when you factor in labor costs. The cost of replacing the airbags is often a key factor when insurance companies decide whether or not they should consider the car a total loss.
If you don’t have much experience selling cars (buying at auction or repairing), be especially careful when calculating costs. What may seem like a great deal may turn out to be a small profit once you factor in the cost of replacing the airbags. Other Airbag Parts
Vehicles with airbags have an SRS airbag module that acts as the computer for the airbags. In addition, there are also dash, clock springs, and sensors for the airbag system.
If the airbag deploys, other components that help absorb and inflate the airbag must also be replaced. Having the SRS module professionally reset is often a cheaper option than replacing it (if possible).
You also can’t buy these components and install them yourself. If you’re not an experienced mechanic, you’ll need to take your vehicle to a dealer or other specialized mechanic to have the airbag system repaired.
This means you’ll pay for new parts as well as the labor costs associated with the repair. Most mechanics will charge around $90-$120 per hour for their work. So, on average, you can expect the total parts and labor cost to replace most airbags in modern cars to run into the thousands of dollars.
