We previously warned consumers in the Safe Collision Repairs service area about increasing instances of airbag fraud more than two years ago. The press release titled, “Airbag Fraud on the Rise in the Tri-states of OH, KY & WV”, explained that on a growing number of totaled cars and trucks being rebuilt across the nation, airbags, because of their high cost, are not being replaced after they have deployed. It’s a fact that would alarm most consumers, causing them to think twice about buying a rebuilt car or truck - if only they knew.

Fraud victims – those fortunate enough to have learned their airbag was missing before having an accident “…have found airbags stuffed with everything from rags to packing peanuts to old shoes,” says Brian Osuch in a recently published Consumer Focus from Carfax. Likewise, Safe Collision Repairs’ inspections have revealed plastic Ziploc bags filled with mason sand; and most recently, expandable foam being used as a favored filler material inside deployed airbags

The filler material is used to pack the cavity that previously held the inflatable pillow in the detonated airbag module. Once the cavity has been filled and contoured during the rebuild process, rebuilders buy an aftermarket cosmetic cover, or have the airbag’s face upholstered to match the style and fabric of the car’s interior. Consequently, to the average Joe a repaired car’s airbag may look exactly as it should on the surface. But on the inside, the unit could be missing vital components that give these expensive and complex safety devices the ability to inflate and save lives.

It is totally unconscionable the lengths to which auto repair shops stoop to have consumers believe rebuilt cars are properly repaired, when in fact they know they are not.  To really make it convincing, auto rebuilders sometimes even go so far as to purchase low cost wiring kits on the Internet that manipulate the airbag function indicator lamp in a car’s dash panel. Once installed, these kits allow malfunctioning airbag lamps to mimic the action of airbag indicator lamps on safe-functioning automobiles. As a result, drivers who understand the function of the airbag warning lamp and rely on information it provides are tricked into believing their airbags are in ready status, waiting to protect them in an auto accident, when the truth is the units  have never been replaced and rendered functional from  previous auto crash damage.

Hire an auto inspector to examine used cars you may want to buy, but choose wisely

While it is wise to have cars inspected by a qualified inspector prior to purchase and after a collision repair, many auto inspectors - especially those entering the inspection field void of a background in auto body or auto mechanics – may not have the technical expertise to catch malfunctioning, manipulated or missing airbag modules or components. Inspections are often performed visually, using only the naked eye of the inspector, as opposed to using diagnostic scanners to explore the function of these complicated systems in an effort to uncover potential hidden problems.

Most inspectors charging $100-$300 for their service will have neither the equipment nor the time to test an airbag system, not to mention their indolent desire to take on the liability of stating with certainty an airbag is functional and will work fine when needed, or it isn’t and it won’t.

Ways to protect yourself from airbag fraud when buying a vehicle

1)  Ask the seller if the car you are considering has a damage history. But, don’t rely only on the seller's word - check the vehicle’s history for yourself on the website of Carfax or one of its competitors. Be aware that VIN history retailers may have lapses in reports that cause them to miss major incidences of loss in the life of a vehicle, particularly if damages were unreported to the police and repairs were paid privately instead of with insurance.

2)  Seek a qualified auto inspector to examine the car you are considering. You are probably safest choosing a professional inspector with proper diagnostic equipment. As an alternative you may even consider a mechanical or body technician with proper training and tools who is intimately familiar with the make and model of car you are considering. But, by all means, select someone that you trust, and pick them yourself. Be leery of hiring an auto inspector recommended by the seller. Remember, certificates and certifications mean little if the inspector or mechanic you hire doesn’t have the ability or tooling to uncover and report serious problems that might jeopardize your safety.

3)  Have your inspector request to see the invoice to make sure the body shop purchased a new original equipment (OEM) airbag from the parts department of an auto dealer rather than obtaining a used or surplus part from an auto salvage dealer or recycler. If possible, have the inspector request to examine the airbag prior to installation; He/she should find it is packaged in a sealed container from the provider.

Here again, this is an area where you need to be on your guard. Unscrupulous shops often order parts just to get invoices to keep on hand to use as a sales tool. Once they use the invoices to con you into believing they repaired the car correctly and get your commitment to buy it, they then return the unused part to the dealership for credit. This is not a new game, so your inspector should be savvy enough to flush out deceptive practices and paperwork shuffles such as this.

4)  Be prepared to walk away from cars that haven’t been repaired per the auto manufacturer’s guidelines. Granted, you may not know all that this entails, but your chosen inspector should know and should warn you about shortcuts that were taken as the car was being rebuilt. While a car may appear sound on the surface, failure to repair it properly could mean that its durability or crashworthiness is comprised.

Auto repair customers should exercise caution in choosing auto repair shops

Airbag theft is a lucrative business for crooks. Sadly, auto repair shops that know how to repair and replace airbags are, with the same knowledge, capable of stealing them from their customer’s cars with little chance of getting caught. If you don’t know the reputation of the auto repair shop you have chosen to deal with, be cautious. While a good number of shops are on the up and up, there is a substantial number of technicians and auto repair shops that have resorted to satisfying their greedy desires by thieving – and their numbers are large and rising. The California Highway Alliance has found faulty airbags in as many as 1 out of every 25 previously damaged vehicles. Exercising caution may prevent your car from being in the next set of airbag fraud statistics.

content & design 2002-2008 David Williams and SafeCollisionRepairs.com

About Safe Collision Repairs

For more than ten years, David Williams of Wheelersburg, Ohio's Safe Collision Repairs has worked with consumers and attorneys in the tri-states of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia to expose unsafe auto repairs and maximize recovery on auto insurance claims. Some of the company's services include Post-Repair Inspections, Prepurchase Inspections, Auto Damage Assessments, Lemon Law Investigations, Expert Court Testimony and Diminished Value Calculations using an advanced version of Network Information Communication's WreckCheck program.

Inquiries can be directed to: Safe Collision Repairs David A. Williams Post Office Box 70 Wheelersburg, Ohio 45694 (740) 456-1111 (740) 355-4056

Disclaimer

The content expressed on this website and in the article above represents the opinions of David A. Williams. Williams is neither an attorney nor public insurance adjuster, but is an expert, consultant, and writer specializing in the field of automotive collision repair and valuations. The information provided herein is not intended to be a substitute for legal or insurance advice. Because collision repair is a continually evolving science, any text, materials or links found herein are provided without claim or guarantee to their accuracy or completeness.