Average Airbag Replacement Cost (and Where to Buy)

Last Updated on June 21, 2022

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.

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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.

Because you’re not going to be replacing a single part, it’s important to know the total cost of airbag replacement to avoid unpleasant financial surprises. Before we get into the average airbag replacement costs, here’s a primer on airbags.

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

What Are Airbags?

parts of airbag system

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. 

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:

Components of an Airbag System

  • Driver and passenger airbags (steering wheel, dash, and sometimes in the door and/or seat)
  • Clock spring
  • Impact sensor(s)
  • Igniter
  • SRS warning light
  • Passenger seat switch
  • Pyrotechnic inflator
  • ECU
  • Seatbelt pretensioners

All of these components are linked in the airbag system. Airbags which deploy typically damage all related components such as the airbags themselves, crash sensors, clock spring, and seatbelt pretensioners. Even the ECU will need replacement or if possible, be reset.

Though not necessarily part of the SRS system, the steering wheel, sections of the dash, or seats may need to be replaced or repaired at this time depending on which airbag deployed.

Average Cost of Airbag Replacement

cost to replace air bag

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

where to buy airbag parts

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.

Other Advice

airbag light flashing

For safety purposes, it’s crucial to hire a professional technician to install the replacement airbags instead of trying to do it yourself. Airbags can deploy accidentally during installation or removal, which can cause severe injury. 

Airbags which have deployed cannot be reused. It may be legal to use an airbag which has not been deployed from another vehicle of the same type, though this should be done only as a last resort.

An on-off switch for the passenger airbag should also be installed in your vehicle if you have passengers who are 13 years old or younger, less than 5’ tall and sitting less than 10” from the airbag, or have certain medical conditions.

In these cases the benefits of the airbag can be outweighed by the risks, as the size and air pressure in the airbag could inflict serious injury on the passenger.

32 thoughts on “Average Airbag Replacement Cost (and Where to Buy)”

  1. Hi There,

    I have a 2000 318i BMW that has just had the passenger side ceiling/side air bag deployed as well as the passenger door/armrest airbag.

    I’m not sure if the vehicle is economic to repair.

    What do you think the cost to replace would be. Vehicle has 125,000k in average condition.

    Thanks for any advice
    Kelly

    Reply
    • If you scan the airbag code, it should help you narrow down the problem. It could be a bad sensor, the clock spring going out, a corroded connector, etc. You won’t really know until you get the code scanned and do some poking around.

      Reply
    • What do you mean “sensors keep coming on”? Are you referring to the check engine light? What codes were shown when you got the check engine light scanned?

      It’s impossible to say what that will cost without knowing exactly what went wrong.

      Reply
  2. Hello! I have a honda accord coupe 2009 needs replacement both airbags after an accident. How much will it be to get it done? thank you

    Reply
  3. I have a 2008 acura mdx that need passenger curtain bags and front seat passenger airbag need replacement I would like to get an estimate of how much would the repair cost

    Reply
  4. I just got in a accident a few weeks ago in my 2004 crossfire, the repair shop called and said my insurance didnt do estimate for airbags but the repair shop said it would be around $6000, isnt that alot for 1 passenger door airbag?

    Reply
  5. Hi I have a Mitsubishi colt that has its 2 airbags removed,the one for driver and the one for passenger.
    I would like to know the cost for its repairs.

    Reply
  6. Good Morning

    Please, I have Acura 2008 TSX that had accident and 4 airbags were deployed.
    Steering, passenger dashboard, driver side, passenger curtain and driver seat. Is it possible to get all these well fixed and what’s the approximate cost.

    Reply
  7. Honda Jazz 2004 make, I need a new airbag system for the driver’s side (including seatbelt? it won’t retract properly after the accident). My friend (mechanic) replaced the door but isn’t qualified to do the airbag replacement. How much will it be? Is there somewhere online I could buy the airbag and then send to a specialist? Thanks!

    Reply
  8. 1995 Vs Commodore Acclaim. How much should I expect to pay to get the passenger side air bag replaced and where would I go to get this done.

    Reply
    • I have no idea, honestly. We don’t have that vehicle in the US. I would try calling a few shops in your area. At the very least they should be able to point you in the right direction.

      Reply
  9. I have 2007 Honda accord with 145000kms that had an accident. Impact was on passenger side door and panel and due to that side curtain bag (ceiling) on front passenger side and back of passenger side were deployed. Front passenger door need to be replaced for sure. back passenger side door is affected due to the impact. is it worthy to repair or scrapping the car is better option .. ? need an opinion please. thanks

    Reply
    • It’s really up to you. I couldn’t give any sort of accurate assessment without seeing pictures. Even then, I don’t do body work so I would defer to a body shop. It’s probably best that you show some pictures to a body shop to figure out how difficult that will be to repair, and then make a decision based on that information.

      Reply
  10. My 2008 Chrysler 300 had an accident and both seat belts are tight and airbags both airbags were deployed approximately how much does that cost so is it worth fixing or should I just junk it?

    Reply
    • I don’t know for sure, since I don’t work on SRS equipment. As long as there’s no power to the airbag, it seems like it should be fine. However if you have any doubt, I would just wait until you have all the parts.

      If you are driving the truck, I would definitely wait to be safe.

      Reply
  11. I was in an accident and my airbags didn’t deploy but the passenger side in front and back smoked and the service airbag sensor came on is that an expensive repair.

    Reply

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