Air bags and seat belts need checks before you drive again

What a certified collision repair specialist wants you to know

For survivors and families3 min read

Vehicle repair and total lossAirbagsSeat beltsVehicle safety systemsRepair shop

An air bag can only go off once. If one deployed, an authorized technician has to replace it before anyone drives the vehicle again. A crash can also damage seat belts and the devices that tighten them, or use them up. A cabin that looks clean doesn’t prove the restraint system is ready for another crash. Repairs should follow the vehicle maker’s instructions for your exact vehicle. [1, 2]

Find out what the shop inspected

Tell the repair shop the details of the crash. Include which seats had people in them and which air bags opened. Ask for an itemized list of every part that was inspected or replaced. It should cover air bags, belt assemblies, buckles, tightening devices and sensors. It should also cover any child seat anchors that apply. [1, 2]

Each vehicle maker has its own instructions. A warning light that shuts off tells you something. Still, it can’t stand in for the required hands on checks and documented repair steps. [1, 2]

Check the parts and the paperwork

Ask the shop to name the replacement parts. Have them confirm the work followed the vehicle maker’s current procedures. Keep the estimate, work order, parts record and final inspection result. [1, 3]

NHTSA has warned about dangerous, substandard replacement air bag inflators in some vehicles that were repaired in the past. The inflator is the part that fills the bag. If you don’t know a used vehicle’s repair history, have a qualified technician check its air bags. [1, 3]

Wait before you get back on the road

Set up another safe ride and get professional repairs if any of these is true:

  • An air bag deployed and hasn’t been replaced.
  • A belt is frayed, won’t latch or won’t pull back in.
  • The restraint warning light stays on.

Don’t try to reset or change the system on your own. [1, 2]

Questions for the repair shop

  1. Which restraint parts did the vehicle maker require you to replace?
  2. Did you check every seat belt that was in use, plus any child seat anchors involved?
  3. May I have the final repair and inspection records?

Get the restraint repair list in writing

Before you take the vehicle back, ask for a written list of the restraint system repairs. [1, 2]

Sources and further reading

  1. 1NHTSA, replace used air bags after a crash
  2. 2NHTSA, restraint system parts after a crash
  3. 3NHTSA, dangerous replacement air bag inflators

These tips cover general U.S. vehicle safety. The exact repair steps depend on the crash damage and on the vehicle’s maker, model and year. Have a qualified repair professional inspect the restraint system before anyone uses the vehicle again.

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