Airbags how long do they last

This article was published more than 11 years ago. Some information may no longer be current. How long do airbags last? Is there a replacement schedule? My local dealer says no, that they are good for the life of the car. That's fine, but what is the expected life of a car - the average life?

How long is that? Answer: Generally speaking when manufacturers talk about the average or expected life of a vehicle, they are referring to mileage, although in some cases it can be years. On average, the industry figures consumers drive about 33, km a year and figure a lifetime to be in the range of eight to 10 years or in the , - , km range. Obviously, your Vette is outside either of those. But the airbag is a sealed unit, not exposed to the elements or wear and tear or other factors that would affect the life of other components.

It is generally believed within the industry that airbags are good for years without concern. The various sensors and mechanisms that sense a crash and trigger an airbag deployment are solid state electronics controlled by a monitoring system that checks their efficacy every time you turn on the ignition.

When you turn on the ignition of the vehicle, you should see the airbag symbol light up and then switch off. If the symbol does not light up at all or the airbag light stays on for an extended period of time, you should have your airbags checked by a qualified mechanic. Now, imagine a seamless segue here… Right. AutoGuru lets you search, compare and book from over qualified mechanics across Australia.

Image credits: Deployed airbag - jimmyyyy ; 'Airbag' on dash - Tom Mascardo. Rachel spent her early adult life around cars, motorsport and hands-on with her own cars. Some cars struggle through lengthy winters, and temperatures dropping to Fahrenheit. Others sit in desert sun, where ambient temperatures hit degrees — and where the figure can reach at the top of the instrument panel. Humidity can vary just as widely. The good news, according to analyst Upham, is that some compressed gas inflators are already equipped with sensors that can reveal when they lose pressure or face other possible malfunctions.

Unless the industry can come up with reliable tests or sensors capable of quickly determining when an airbag goes bad, then, the only solution may be to mark them with an expiration date. And what then? Experts offer several possible approaches:.

While federal regulators are especially worried about the oldest of the Takata airbags still on the road, they insist that newer models remain safe to drive. Indeed, while as many as 15 people may have been killed by malfunctioning Takata airbags worldwide, the NHTSA and safety advocates contend airbags routinely saves hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives each year in the U.

Paul A. Eisenstein is an NBC News contributor who covers the auto industry. IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Politics Covid U. News World Opinion Business. Share this —.