Car Airbags : Need guidance

Hello,

I am debating over whether to buy a car with airbags or not. I have following questions:

Does factory fitted airbags inflate even when the collision/accident is minor such as a bicycle collides with front of car in head on way or when cars collide each on their sides?

Once the airbags are inflated, when I put them back, is that work done by car manufacturere or mechanic shop? Does that compromise the quality of airbags compare to when a new car with airbag was delivered?

Regards,
Ritesh

Hi Ritesh,

 Well, the air bag will shoot out only if the car has some certain impact (say for example @ 80KMPH or more). It does not shoot for any minor collision at all.

Usually the manufacturer does replace the Air bags, but the quality would not be good when compare to new one. My suggestion, if the car has an major impact, it is preferable to sell and get a new one.

Cheers 

Hi Ritesh, Its better to go for cars with airbags as these are necessary safety feature which saves life. Sagayaraj

As explained by Ritesh it opens up only because of certain degree of impact. But there are cases of opening up without any reason and which resulted in injuries also. Passenger airbags are not adviced for pregnant women and babies. I am not sure but you can check installing a retrofit on-off switch, that switch can give you option to activate/deactivate(in case you are driving in the city or congested roads etc.). Also check if Airbags are covered under your insurance policy. Cheers Azad

Thanks For your replies.

I asked the same question to Maruti Car dealer and he said that once the airbags inflates, there is no way a new airbags can be fitted into car. So basically after one inflation of airbags, car becomes without airbags. Is that right?

-Ritesh

Ritesh,

It is true that once the airbags get deployed, they cannot be used again. The whole unit will have to be changed which will have the airbags affixed.

airbags & abs should be mandatory , but here manufacturers offer them as extra or one with the top most variant , this should change

once airbags have been used u may need to replace the car itself

Dear Somnath,

In case of an accident where the airbag gets deployed, you wont have to change the car. The airbag unit, which might include the whole dash for some cars would be changed.

Just imagine, if you have a front driver's side impact, say in a Merc or a Lambo (just taking your profile pic car as an eg.), would you buy a new car altogether? It is a misconception that a lot of people have. The change would be only towards the airbag unit and there is no need to change your car.

Thanks Everyone,

I haven't got the answer to my question that whether car vendors  like Maruti can replace inflated airbags with a new set of airbags in my car?

Maruti Sales person for SX4 said it cannot be done. So basically as per this sales person airbags in car are for saving the driver and passenger once in a lifetime of car. Per this sales person, if you need to drive the car with airbags, then once airbags inflates change your car . I am confused whether it is true?