Average Airbag Replacement Cost (and Where to Buy)

Airbags are one of the most important vehicle safety innovations of all time. From 1987 to 2017, airbags saved 50,457 lives. Most people don’t even think about them until they’re involved in a collision.

If your car endures a major impact that causes air bag deployment or you purchase a vehicle which has had its airbags deployed, airbag replacement will be necessary and it won’t be cheap.

Because it’s not a simple matter of replacing a single part, it’s important to understand the TOTAL cost of airbag replacement to avoid unpleasant financial surprises.

Components of an Airbag System

Note: Not all vehicles have every component listed below. The exact configuration depends on your car’s make, model, and year.

Primary Airbag Units:

• Front airbags (driver and passenger)
• Side-impact protection (door and seat-mounted airbags)
• Curtain airbags (roof-mounted)
• Supplemental airbags (knee, far-side, etc.)

Sensor Systems:

• Impact sensors (front, side, rollover)
• Occupancy detection system
• Seat position and weight sensors
• Seat belt buckle sensors

Control Components:

• Airbag control module (ECU)
• Clock spring
• SRS warning light
• Wiring harness and connectors

Deployment Components:

• Igniter/initiator
• Pyrotechnic inflator modules
• Seatbelt pretensioners

Related Parts Often Needing Replacement:

• Interior trim (dashboard, steering wheel, headliner, pillars)
• Seat components and upholstery
• Door panels

All these components work together as an integrated safety system. When airbags deploy, they often damage multiple related components including sensors, clock springs, and seatbelt pretensioners. The ECU typically needs replacement or reprogramming.

Additionally, surrounding parts like the steering wheel, dashboard panels, and seats may need repair or replacement, depending on which airbags deployed.

Average Cost of Airbag Replacement

With so many components that need to be repaired or replaced, the total cost for airbag replacement from a professional can range anywhere from $1,000 to over $5,000. The labor costs account for about a third of the total.

The actual amount depends on many factors including the year, make, and model of the vehicle, locations and number of airbags, and the number and type of other related parts that may need to be replaced (such as the dashboard, airbag computer, springs, sensors, instrument panel, windshield, and steering wheel).

Obviously, airbag replacement in a newer Audi or Porsche is going to be more expensive than a 10 year old Honda or Ford.

The airbag on the driver’s side can cost $150 to $600 per bag. The passenger side airbag will cost at least $300 to $800.

Knee airbags and side curtains are not as common on front airbags but will also need to be replaced if deployed. Expect to spend almost the same as a passenger side airbag though these figures may vary depending on the design and size of the airbags.

After deployment, vehicles with seatbelt pretensioners will also need those repaired or replaced. Expect to pay between $80 and $120 to repair a pretensioner and even more to replace with new components.

At the very least, the ECU or airbag module will need to be reset costing about $50 to $150. If the airbag control module needs replacing, expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $1,200 for a new one.

Auto insurance is usually able to cover the cost of the airbag replacement once any deductible is met, though often the cost for replacement is so high that the insurance company will choose to “total” the car instead.

Related: Average Car Frame Damage Repair Cost

Where to Buy and Install Airbag Components

The best places to have components of your airbag system installed in your vehicle are certified auto body shops, car dealerships, or some auto repair shops. Some shops even specialize in airbags.

Airbags can be cheaper if purchased from online retailers, but these usually have a limited warranty. Care must be taken to avoid purchasing a faulty or counterfeit airbag as these can have dire consequences ranging from deploying too late in an impact to releasing metal shrapnel from the airbags when they deploy.

Repair of certain components or resetting the ECU is often possible and can be done through a good online retailer. MyAirBags is probably the most well-known company that provides airbag services. You simply ship them the bad parts and they ship them back to you in a repaired state.

Ebay is often a good source for SRS components but make sure you’re purchasing from a good seller with lots of positive feedback.

Related: How to Fix a Seat Belt That Won’t Retract

Insurance Coverage for Airbag Replacement

Most auto insurance policies cover airbag replacement if you’ve been involved in a collision that caused their deployment. But the process and coverage details vary by insurance provider and policy type. Here’s what you need to know about the general process.

Coverage Types

• Collision insurance typically covers airbag replacement if it deployed due to an accident, regardless of fault.
• Comprehensive coverage handles replacement if the airbags deploy from non-collision incidents like theft or vandalism.
• Some factory warranties may cover replacement if the deployment was due to a manufacturing defect or recall.

Filing Your Claim

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible following airbag deployment. Take photos of all visible damage.

As a policyholder, you have the right to choose any qualified repair facility. You’re not required to use shops from your insurance company’s network, though they may recommend certain facilities and make the process easier.

A “good” car insurance company will never try to force you to use their recommended shop, but that same shop will likely have high quality standards. If you use one of the many “budget” insurance companies, you’re often better off finding your own auto body shop.

Unlike an out-of-pocket car repair where finding a low price is a major factor, you should prioritize quality of work here. Do some research and see what auto body shops have the best reputation in your area. Think of where luxury vehicle owners take their cars for body work. Those are generally a good bet.

If the insurance provider hasn’t brought it up, ask about rental car coverage during the repair period. Most policies have a max dollar amount per day and per month to cover a car rental while your vehicle is in the shop. A lot of work goes into repairing a car that’s had its airbags deployed so you’ll often be without your car for weeks rather than days, depending on the shop’s availability.

Cost Considerations

Insurance will cover airbag replacement after you meet your deductible. However, because replacement costs often reach $3,000-$5,000 or more, insurance companies frequently declare vehicles a total loss, especially on older cars where repair costs exceed the vehicle’s value.

Important Tips

• Never skip reporting airbag deployment to your insurance. In almost every case, it’s worth a possible insurance rate increase versus paying completely out-of-pocket for repairs.
• Request OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts when possible.
• Keep copies of all estimates, communications, and repair documents.
• Get all coverage agreements in writing before repairs begin.

Your insurance rates may increase after filing a claim, but this varies by provider and circumstances. Some companies offer accident forgiveness programs that might prevent rate increases.

Buying a Vehicle With Airbag Issues

Red Flags and True Costs

A vehicle with deployed airbags or an illuminated SRS light might seem like a bargain, but repair costs often exceed the initial savings.

A simple SRS warning light could indicate minor issues like a faulty sensor, or major problems like missing airbags. Without professional diagnostics, you won’t know the full extent of repairs needed.

Auto Auction Warnings

Many damaged vehicles show up at auto auctions at very attractive prices. While the visible body damage might look like “an easy fix”, the airbag system replacement costs are often overlooked or underestimated. Sure, the cost to replace and paint that bumper may only be a few hundred dollars, but that’ll only be a fraction of the total repair costs.

Remember, there’s a reason why many of these cars were written off as a “total loss” after an accident. It’s because the insurance company determined that repair costs would exceed the vehicle’s value. That bargain price tag usually comes with expensive hidden repairs.

What to Check:

• Get the VIN and check for open recalls
• Request accident history reports
• Have a professional scan the SRS computer
• Look for signs of previous deployment (torn fabric, damaged trim)
• Check if airbags are actually present behind covers
• Verify if previous repairs used genuine parts

Hidden Problems

Even if airbags were replaced, improper installation or counterfeit parts could make the system dangerous or ineffective. Some vehicles may have had airbags removed without replacement, which is illegal in many areas.

Even a simple blinking air bag light may indicate a huge issue. Just because the seller says it simply needs to be reset doesn’t mean that will fix it. If it was that simple, wouldn’t they have simply fixed it before putting it up for sale?

Professional Inspection

Before purchasing, have a qualified mechanic inspect the entire SRS system. The diagnostic fee ($100-200) is worth avoiding thousands in surprise repairs.

Final Advice

If you’re still interested in the vehicle, knowing that it has issues with the airbag system, calculate repair costs before negotiating. If repairs will cost $4,000, the car should be priced at least $5,000-6,000 below market value to make financial sense. Also, consider that some insurance companies may charge higher rates or refuse coverage for vehicles with unrepaired safety systems.

What Are Airbags?

Vehicle airbags are a form of safety restraint used in conjunction with seat belts to protect the head and the upper body of the driver and the passengers of a vehicle in the event of a frontal or side-impact crash. Airbags are more accurately known as a Supplementary Restraint System, or SRS. 

Passenger cars have been manufactured with frontal airbags since 1998, and pickups, SUVs, and vans have had them since 1999. Side airbags are still optional in some vehicles produced today, though many manufacturers include them in the standard package. 

After an impact, there are a variety of parts to evaluate depending on which airbags deploy: front airbag sensors, airbag ECU, driver airbag, passenger airbag, front pretensioner seat belts, dashboard (on some models the passenger airbag is fitted on the dashboard), and sometimes the steering wheel itself.

How Do Airbags Work?

An airbag is rapidly inflated by a controlled explosion in the event of a moderate to severe impact, then deflates as it comes in contact with a person’s head or body.

Collisions are detected by the impact sensors, which transform a decrease in acceleration into an electrical signal that is sent to the airbag ECU. This computer then instructs the airbag to deploy. 

During an impact, the sudden stop can cause severe injury to the driver or passenger due to inertia (resistance to change in motion, such as change in direction of movement or speed).

Seat belts help to restrain the driver’s or passenger’s body, but the head needs something to keep it from colliding with the dashboard or windshield – that’s where the frontal airbag comes in. Secondary airbags in other locations help to cushion various parts of the body.

The following video may help you understand how airbags work:

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Mark Stevens

Owner at Car Treatments

Mark is a veteran auto technician who has honed his skills with over 19 years of service working at various independent shops. While Fords and Mazdas are his specialty, he enjoys working on practically any vehicle (except a Nissan 300ZX).

He’s known for his attention to detail and problem-solving skills and enjoys coming up with out-of-the box solutions when the situation requires it.

When he's not troubleshooting customers' cars, you'll most likely find him working on his current project ('96 Bronco) or cooking Italian food for his family.

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