Can A Car Be Repaired After Airbags Deploy? Is It Worth It?

Yes, a car often can be repaired after airbags deploy. But whether it is worth it depends on many things, like how bad the crash was, how old the car is, and the cost to fix it. Airbag deployment usually means the car was in a crash severe enough to trigger the safety system. Fixing the car after this can be very expensive.

Image Source: valleycollision.com

What Happens When Airbags Come Out?

Airbags save lives in car crashes. They inflate very fast during a sudden stop or hit. This protects people inside the car from hitting hard parts like the steering wheel or dashboard.

When airbags deploy, several things happen very quickly:

• Sensors in the car detect a hard hit.
• These sensors send a signal to the airbag control module.
• The module decides if the crash is bad enough for airbags to come out.
• If it is, the module sends a signal to the airbag inflators.
• A small amount of a chemical is ignited.
• This makes a lot of gas very fast, filling the airbag bag.
• The bag bursts out of its cover (in the steering wheel, dashboard, seat, etc.).
• It fills up and protects the person.
• Then, it starts to deflate right away so the person isn’t trapped.

Airbag deployment is a violent event inside the car. It causes damage beyond just the bag coming out.

Seeing the Damage After Airbags Deploy

After airbags deploy, you will see the deflated bags hanging out. But the damage is more than that.

• The Airbag Bags: These are single-use items. They must be replaced.
• Covers: The covers they break through (like in the steering wheel or dashboard) are usually broken and need replacing.
• Dashboard: Sometimes, the passenger-side airbag is in the dashboard. When it deploys, it can seriously damage or destroy part of the dashboard. This often means a full dashboard replacement is needed.
• Steering Wheel: The driver’s airbag is in the steering wheel. The steering wheel cover is broken. Sometimes the whole steering wheel needs replacing.
• Seat Belts: Modern cars have seat belts that tighten up right before a crash (pretensioners). These are often linked to the airbag system and trigger when airbags deploy. Once they fire, they must be replaced.
• Airbag Control Module: This is the brain of the airbag system. It records crash data and decides which airbags deploy. After a crash with deployment, this module needs to be reset or, more often, replaced entirely.
• Sensors: The sensors that detected the crash might also be damaged or need checking and possibly replacing.

All these parts cost money to replace.

Knowing the Airbag Deployment Repair Cost

Fixing a car after the airbags deploy is not cheap. The airbag deployment repair cost is one of the biggest factors in deciding if a car can or should be repaired. It includes many different parts and a lot of skilled labor.

Let’s look at the main costs.

Cost to Replace Airbags Themselves

The airbags are the most obvious part needing replacement. Different airbags cost different amounts.

• Driver’s Airbag (Steering Wheel): This is usually less expensive than the passenger airbag.
• Passenger’s Airbag (Dashboard): This is often bigger and integrated into the dashboard structure, making it more costly.
• Side Airbags (Seats or Door Panels): These can also add significant cost, especially if multiple side airbags deploy.
• Curtain Airbags (Roofline): These protect heads in side impacts and rollovers. They run along the roof and can be expensive to replace.
• Knee Airbags: Some cars have small airbags near the driver’s or passenger’s knees.

Replacing the bags alone can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a single basic airbag to several thousand dollars if multiple, complex airbags deployed (like front, side, and curtain airbags).

Beyond the Bag: Other Parts Cost Money Too

Remember, it’s not just the bag.

• Airbag Control Module Replacement: This is a critical part. A new module can cost several hundred to over a thousand dollars, plus programming it to the specific car.
• Seat Belt Pretensioners: Replacing triggered seat belts can cost a few hundred dollars per seat belt.
• Sensors: Crash sensors can range from tens to hundreds of dollars each, and multiple sensors might need checking or replacing.
• Dashboard Replacement After Airbag Deployment: If the passenger airbag deployed through the dashboard, replacing the dashboard is a major job. A new dashboard panel itself can cost thousands of dollars. The labor to remove the old one and install a new one is also very high. This single repair can add $2,000 to $5,000 or even more to the total bill, depending on the car’s make and model.
• Other Trim Pieces: Covers, pillars, and other interior parts that were broken by the deploying airbags or removed for access during repair will also add to the cost.

Labor Costs Add Up

Putting all these parts back in takes time and special skills. Mechanics need to know how to safely handle and install airbag components. They also need special tools to calibrate the new system and make sure it works correctly. Labor costs for post airbag deployment vehicle repair can be very high because of the complexity and safety requirements. It’s not a job for just any mechanic.

Summing up the costs for parts and labor for a car with multiple airbag deployments could easily reach $5,000, $10,000, or even more, depending on the car and the extent of the damage. This is just for the airbag system repairs, not including any bodywork or mechanical repairs from the crash itself.

When Is A Car Totaled After Airbag Deployment?

Because the cost of repairing the airbag system is so high, airbag deployment often leads to a car being considered a “total loss” by the insurance company.

What does “total loss” mean? It means the cost to repair the car is more than a certain percentage of the car’s actual cash value (ACV) just before the crash. Each state has its own rules for this percentage, often ranging from 70% to 80%. Some insurance companies use their own thresholds.

Insurance Total Loss Airbag Deployment

When an insurance adjuster looks at a car after a crash where airbags deployed, they add up all the estimated repair costs:

1. Body damage repair (panels, frame, paint)
2. Mechanical damage repair (engine, suspension, etc.)
3. Airbag system repair (bags, module, sensors, seat belts, dashboard, trim)

If that total repair estimate is higher than the state’s or the insurance company’s threshold compared to the car’s value, the insurance company will declare it a total loss.

Airbag system repairs alone can cost thousands. Add that to the cost of fixing the crash damage, and it quickly pushes the total repair bill over the value of many cars, especially older ones or models that don’t hold their value well. This is why car totaled after airbag deployment is a very common outcome.

Deciding If It’s Worth Repairing A Car After Airbags Deploy

This is the big question. From an insurance company’s point of view, they do the math (repair cost vs. value) to decide if it’s a total loss.

From a car owner’s point of view, even if the insurance company doesn’t total it, you have to think if it’s worth spending the money.

Factors to consider:

• The Car’s Value: What was the car worth before the crash? Use online guides like Kelley Blue Book or NADA to get an estimate.
• Total Repair Estimate: Get a detailed estimate from a qualified repair shop. Make sure it includes all damage, including the full airbag system repair (bags, module, belts, dashboard, sensors, labor).
• Your Financial Situation: Can you afford the deductible? Can you afford the part of the repair cost the insurance might not cover if the car isn’t totaled?
• Sentimental Value: Is this a special car to you? Sometimes people repair cars with high sentimental value even if it costs more than the car is worth.
• Future Reliability: How reliable was the car before the crash? Will fixing this damage lead to ongoing problems?
• Safety After Repair: Can the car be safely repaired to meet original safety standards?

If the repair costs are close to or more than the car’s pre-crash value, it is likely not worth repairing a car after airbags deploy from a financial standpoint. You could spend a lot of money, and the car’s value will still be lower because it was in a major accident and had airbags deploy.

The Repair Process: Replacing Airbags After Accident

Replacing airbags after accident is a complex process. It’s not just swapping out parts. It requires specific knowledge, tools, and procedures.

Finding the Right Repair Shop

Not all body shops or mechanics are equipped to handle airbag system repairs. It’s crucial to find a shop with:

• Technicians trained specifically in Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), which is the technical name for the airbag system.
• Proper diagnostic tools to scan the system, read codes, and clear fault lights.
• Access to manufacturer-specific repair procedures and parts.

Using a shop that isn’t properly trained could result in a system that doesn’t work right, which is a major safety risk.

Steps in Post Airbag Deployment Vehicle Repair

A typical post airbag deployment vehicle repair process involves several steps:

1. Full Damage Assessment: The shop checks all crash damage, including looking closely at the structure and the airbag system components.
2. Estimating: A detailed estimate is created listing all parts and labor needed, including replacement of deployed airbags, seat belts, the control module, sensors, and any damaged interior parts like the dashboard.
3. Disassembly: Damaged parts are removed, which can involve significant interior disassembly to access the airbag module, sensors, and seat belt retractors. Dashboard replacement after airbag deployment involves taking apart a large portion of the car’s front interior.
4. Parts Ordering: New, correct parts are ordered. Using aftermarket or used airbag parts is generally not recommended and can be dangerous or illegal.
5. Installation: New airbags, seat belts, sensors, the control module, and trim pieces are carefully installed according to the manufacturer’s steps.
6. Wiring and Connections: All electrical connectors for the new parts are hooked up correctly.
7. System Programming and Calibration: The new airbag control module needs to be programmed to the car. The system needs to be calibrated to ensure sensors are working right and airbags will deploy correctly if needed in the future.
8. System Testing: The SRS system is tested using diagnostic tools to clear fault codes and ensure the airbag warning light is off. This shows the system is communicating and ready.
9. Reassembly: All interior panels, trim, and other parts are put back together.
10. Final Checks: A full inspection is done to ensure everything is correctly installed and the car is safe.

This process is detailed and time-consuming, which is why the labor costs are high.

Considering Safety After Airbag Repair

A major concern for anyone thinking about repairing a car after airbags deploy is safety after airbag repair. Can the airbag system really be trusted to work correctly again?

Yes, it can be repaired safely, but only if the repair is done correctly by qualified professionals using the right parts and procedures.

Why Proper Repair Matters

• Correct Deployment: The timing and force of airbag deployment are precisely calculated. If the system isn’t repaired correctly – perhaps a sensor is not installed correctly, the wrong module is used, or wiring is faulty – the airbags might not deploy when needed, or they might deploy at the wrong time or with the wrong force, which could cause injury.
• System Integrity: The entire SRS system works together. If one part is faulty or not communicating correctly (like a sensor or the control module), the whole system might be disabled, meaning none of the airbags will work in a future crash. The airbag warning light on the dashboard should indicate a problem, but you don’t want to rely on a warning light to know if your safety system is working.
• Seat Belt Function: If the seat belt pretensioners are not replaced or connected correctly, the seat belt might not protect you as intended in a crash.

How to Ensure Safety

To help ensure safety after airbag repair:

• Choose a reputable shop that specializes in collision repair and has certified SRS technicians.
• Ask about the parts they will use. New, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts are generally the safest bet for critical safety systems like airbags.
• Get a detailed repair estimate and final invoice showing exactly what was replaced and what procedures were done (like system scanning and calibration).
• After the repair, make sure the airbag warning light on the dashboard is off. If it stays on, the system has a fault and is likely not working. Take it back to the shop immediately.

While a properly repaired car can be safe, there is always a small possibility that a complex system involved in a crash might not return to its factory-original state perfectly. This is a risk some people are not comfortable taking.

What About a Salvage Title After Airbag Deployment?

If a car is declared a total loss by the insurance company but then repaired, it will usually receive a salvage title. A salvage title after airbag deployment is common because airbag repairs are a major reason cars get totaled.

What a Salvage Title Means

A salvage title means the car was damaged and the repair costs were more than a certain percentage of its value. It signals to future buyers that the car had significant damage.

• Lower Value: Cars with salvage titles are worth much less than cars with clean titles, even after being fully repaired. People are often hesitant to buy them due to concerns about hidden damage, future reliability, and safety (especially after airbag deployment).
• Difficulty Getting Insurance: Some insurance companies might be unwilling to provide full coverage (comprehensive and collision) on a car with a salvage title. If they do, the premiums might be higher.
• Resale Challenges: Selling a car with a salvage title can be very difficult.

The Rebuilt Title Process

In most places, a car with a salvage title cannot be legally driven on the road until it is repaired and passes a special inspection. If it passes, it might be issued a “rebuilt” or “restored” title. This shows it was repaired after being salvaged, but it still carries the history of being totaled.

Repairing a car that was totaled and getting a rebuilt title can sometimes be cost-effective if you plan to keep the car for a very long time and the repair costs are well within your budget, and you trust the quality of the repair implicitly. However, if you plan to sell the car within a few years, the low resale value associated with a salvage/rebuilt title often makes it a poor financial decision.

Pulling It All Together: Is It Worth Repairing?

So, can a car be repaired after airbags deploy? Yes, technically it can. Is it worth it? This is where the different factors collide.

Factor	Impact on “Worth It?”
Airbag deployment repair cost	High cost makes it less likely to be worth it, especially for older or less valuable cars.
Car’s Pre-Crash Value	Higher value car is more likely to be worth repairing.
Extent of Crash Damage	More damage beyond airbags makes repair less likely to be worth it.
Safety After Repair	Can you be confident the system will work again? Requires qualified repair.
Insurance Total Loss	If totaled, insurance won’t pay full repair. Repairing yourself likely gives salvage title.
Salvage Title Implication	Lowers future value greatly, harder to sell.
Cost to Replace Airbags	Just one part of the cost, but a significant one.
Dashboard Replacement Cost	Can add thousands, making repair much less likely to be worth it.
Post Airbag Deployment Vehicle Repair Complexity	Requires skilled labor, adds to cost and time.

For many cars, especially those more than a few years old, the cost to repair the airbag system plus any other crash damage will quickly exceed the car’s market value. This leads to an insurance total loss airbag deployment situation.

Even if the insurance company doesn’t total it, the owner must weigh the high repair costs against the car’s value and the potential future issues or reduced value due to the crash history.

Repairing a car after airbag deployment might be considered worth it in these cases:

• The car is new or has a very high market value compared to the repair costs.
• The crash damage was minor, with only one or two airbags deploying, keeping repair costs relatively low.
• The car has high sentimental value to the owner.
• The owner plans to keep the car for its entire life and is not concerned about resale value.
• The repair is being done by a highly trusted, certified professional using proper parts and procedures, giving confidence in safety after airbag repair.

In most other cases, the financial reality of the airbag deployment repair cost, coupled with the potential for a salvage title after airbag deployment and concerns about safety after airbag repair, means that the car is better off being replaced than repaired.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to replace all airbags in a car?

Replacing all airbags that deployed, plus the control module, sensors, and any affected parts like the dashboard and seat belts, can easily cost between $3,000 and $10,000 or more, depending on the car’s make, model, and how many airbags deployed. This is often the main part of the airbag deployment repair cost.

Does airbag deployment automatically total a car?

No, airbag deployment does not automatically total a car. However, because the repair costs associated with replacing the airbags and related components are very high, airbag deployment significantly increases the chances that the car will be declared a total loss by the insurance company, especially if the car is older or has lower market value.

What happens to a car after the insurance company totals it?

When an insurance company totals a car, they pay the owner the car’s actual cash value (minus the deductible). The insurance company then takes possession of the damaged car. They usually sell it at a salvage auction. It will then get a salvage title. Someone might buy it to repair and resell, strip for parts, or crush for scrap metal.

Is it safe to drive a car after airbags deploy but before repairing them?

No. It is generally not safe to drive a car after airbags deploy, even if it seems driveable. The airbag system is compromised. The airbags will not deploy again if another crash happens. Also, there might be hidden structural or mechanical damage from the crash that makes the car unsafe to drive.

Can I just replace the deployed airbags and not the control module?

No, this is not how the system works. After airbags deploy, the crash data is stored in the airbag control module. The module needs to be reset or, more commonly, replaced and reprogrammed to ensure the system is functioning correctly and the airbag warning light is off. Simply replacing the bags without addressing the module and other sensors is unsafe and will leave the system inactive.

Will my insurance go up if my airbags deploy?

Yes, being in a crash that causes airbag deployment is likely to result in your insurance rates going up. The increase depends on who was at fault for the accident, your driving history, and your insurance company’s policies. Even if you were not at fault, being involved in a claim can sometimes affect rates.

Can a car with a salvage title get full insurance coverage?

It can be difficult. Some insurance companies will only offer liability coverage for cars with salvage or rebuilt titles. Others may offer full coverage but require a special inspection first, and the coverage might be limited to the car’s salvaged value.

Is dashboard replacement after airbag deployment always needed?

If the passenger-side airbag is located in the dashboard, and it deployed, the dashboard panel is usually torn open and damaged beyond repair. In such cases, a full dashboard replacement after airbag deployment is necessary. This is one of the most expensive parts of airbag system repair. If only the driver’s or side airbags deployed, a dashboard replacement might not be needed.