Airbags could be the only thing standing between you and a fatal crash, so they should always be in top working condition whenever you’re in your vehicle.
However, if you need to replace your airbags, you may wonder how much it will cost. If you’d like to find out, keep reading!
How Much Does It Cost To Replace Airbags?
A driver’s side airbag costs between $150 and $600 to replace while passenger-side bags could cost you between $300 and $800 each. If you’re looking to replace the whole airbag system, including the dashboard, sensors, etc., the cost could increase to between $1,000 and $5,000 or more depending on the type of vehicle and the extent of the damage.
Keep reading to learn about airbag replacement, including the cost in different places, popular vehicle models, and more!
How Much Does It Cost To Replace Airbags After a Crash?
The cost of replacing airbags after a crash depends on the extent of damage and how it affects the airbag system.
If the crash was minor and you only need the airbags replaced, then the cost will probably be in the low to mid-hundreds USD.
For a serious crash, you could be looking at a bill in the thousands if you have to replace the airbags on both the driver and passenger sides, dashboard, pre-tensioner seat belts, electronic controller unit (ECU), steering wheel, sensors, and more.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace An Airbag Sensor?
An airbag sensor costs between $50 and $300, while the labor for installation is within the same range, raising the total replacement cost anywhere from $100 to $600.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace Side Curtain Airbags?
Side curtain airbags will cost between $200 and $700 each to replace.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace Knee Airbags?
Knee airbags will cost between $400 and $1,000 each to replace.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace Airbags In Honda Accord?
If the airbag itself is all you need to replace, then the one on the driver’s side costs about $600 and the labor costs would be about $100, bringing the total to about $700.
Including labor, an airbag control module would cost between $676 and $704 to replace while the sensor replacement is between $252 and $279.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace Airbags In a Honda Civic?
A passenger-side airbag in a Honda Civic costs between $400 and $1,000, not including labor.
Labor included, the airbag control module in a Honda Civic would cost between $853 and $896 to replace while the sensor would cost between $389 and $421.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace Airbags In a Scion TC?
Scion TC airbags cost between $100 and $400 on eBay, while labor costs average around $100, bringing the total cost to between $200 and $500.
To replace the airbag control module, the cost is between $455 and $469 and $1,242 to $1,262 for the sensor, both including labor.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace Airbags In a 4Runner?
Toyota 4Runner airbags on eBay go for between $300 and $2,200, with driver’s airbags costing the least and curtain airbags costing the most.
As well, Toyota themselves sell steering wheel airbags for around $790.
A 4Runner crash sensor goes for between $706 and $724 while the airbag control module goes for around $500.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace Airbags In a Hyundai?
Hyundai dealerships could charge you between $800 and $2,000 to replace the driver’s side airbag, including the labor costs.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace Expired Airbags?
Unlike most vehicle equipment, airbags do not need to be replaced because they neither wear nor deteriorate in quality over time.
You can have the same airbags in a car for the duration of its life and they would remain effective throughout, as replacement is only required after the original airbags have been deployed.
To give you an idea of just how long airbags last, two 1973 Chevrolet Impala units that were among the very first to have working airbags were tested recently and they still deployed properly.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace Airbags In The UK?
When you get your airbags replaced in the UK, they will cost you between £200 and £400 each.
Depending on the extent of the damage and other components (i.e sensors to be replaced), the cost could be anywhere between £700 and £2,000.
Why Is Airbag Replacement So Expensive?
As stated above, airbags can last a very long time, so their prices stay high because they’re not components that are bought too often.
You should also keep in mind that the cost rises significantly if you’re not just looking to install a new steering wheel airbag.
Apart from the airbags that deploy from the dashboard, there are also special ones like knee and curtain airbags that use more complex technologies.
These are usually common in more expensive or modern vehicle models, so you should expect their prices to be as high as anything else for them.
Moreover, there are different components within the larger airbag system that could need replacing after a crash.
Something like the sensor will have to be replaced after a crash or if it gets exposed to moisture. Its sensitivity means that if you’re not experienced with cars or have the right diagnostic equipment, you could end up deploying the airbags if you work on it yourself.
Mechanics are aware of this fact, and they also know that having a functional airbag system is not something they have to talk customers into, therefore having little incentive to make their prices attractive.
To find out more, you might also be interested in reading up on how many airbags are in a car, how fast do airbags deploy, and if you can put airbags in an old car.
Conclusion
You don’t need to replace your airbags if they haven’t deployed, but you should have a professional inspect your airbag system regularly to ensure it’s still functional.
Airbag replacements cost anywhere from $150 to $5,000 depending on how much of the entire system is being replaced after a crash.