Air Bag Cost

How Much Does an Air Bag Cost?

Driver Side: $200-$700+ Air Bag Only

Passenger Side: $400-$1,000+ Air Bag Only

Replace All: $1,000-$6,000 With Related Parts

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Designed to be used with a seat belt, an air bag is a safety restraint that inflates rapidly to prevent a vehicle occupant's upper body or head from striking the vehicle's interior during a collision. Most modern passenger vehicles have one front air bag on the driver's side of the vehicle and one on the passenger's side; some also have side-curtain or knee-level air bags.

Typical costs:

Driver-side air bags can cost $200-$700 or more each, for just the replacement bag, depending on the year, make and model of vehicle. Passenger-side air bags typically cost $400-$1,000 or more; side-curtain or knee air bags are less common and prices vary, but they typically cost about the same or slightly less than passenger-side air bags, depending on the size and design of the side-curtain air bag. Online retailers typically offer less-expensive air bags, with a limited warranty. For example, FiveStarAirBags.com lists its most popular driver-side airbags^[1] , including one for a 2004-2008 Ford F150 for $200; for a 2007-2012 Nissan Altima for $300; and for a 2007-2012 Chevrolet Silverado for $400.
The total cost for professionally replacing airbags that deployed in a collision can be $1,000-$6,000 or more but averages about $3,000-$5,000, depending on the year, make and model of vehicle; the number and location of the air bags; and the related parts that need replacing, such as the electronic control unit^[2] (also called the airbag computer or diagnostic unit), sensors, springs, the instrument panel, the dashboard, the windshield or the steering wheel. (Some passenger-side airbags are designed to deflect off of -- and break -- the windshield, and may also break the dashboard.) Labor at $30-$90 or more an hour is usually about a third of the total cost. For example, Lemurzone.com lists the parts and labor needed for a typical air bag repair^[3] , with an estimated total cost of $3,898.
Auto insurance typically covers the cost of air bag replacement, minus any deductible amount on the policy. However, the high cost of air bag replacement combined with the cost of repairs means insurance companies might be more likely to "total" a vehicle after the air bags have deployed in an accident. The Louisiana Department of Insurance outlines the proper use of air bag cost^[4] in determining whether a vehicle is a "total loss."

What should be included:

For safety, experts typically recommend having a professional mechanic or technician install replacement air bags. Airbag Center outlines typical air bag installation procedures^[5] and HowStuffWorks.com explains how air bag inflate^[6] .
Air bags cannot be re-used, and while it is legal to use a non-deployed air bag^[7] recycled from an identical vehicle, Edmunds.com suggests doing this only as a last resort. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warms against counterfiet air bags^[8] and suggests using only buying certified parts made by the original equipment manufacturer.
SaferCar.gov explains how air bags deploy^[9] and deflate^[10] .
For children under age 13 or others who are at risk of air-bag injuries because of size or medical condition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration allows the installation of an on-off switch^[11] to disable a front driver- or passenger-side air bag. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia discusses air bags and children^[12]

Shopping for an air bag:

Car dealership, auto repair shops and auto body shops typically install air bag replacements, as do specialty shops like Air bag service^[13] .
Search for local repair shops through the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence^[14] or the International Automotive Technicians Network^[15] .
Check for any complaints with the Better Business Bureau^[16] . Consumer Reports lists tips for finding a good mechanic^[17] .

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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments

My car was declared total loss

Amount: $0.00

Posted by: a user in Tampa, FL.	Posted: August 10th, 2020 08:08PM
Car Make: Ford	Car Model: Crown Victoria
Car Year: 1997	Auto Shop:

I had an accident a few days ago. Not only did both of the airbags deploy and tear apart the dashboard, but the rearview mirror and left side mirror broke. And that's just the accident related issues. It would not surprise me if the total cost of repairs were up to $6000.