Without x-ray vision, it is difficult to tell whether a dishonest body shop has tampered with the airbag. The airbag compartment is tightly sealed, and hard to get at. Buyers of used cars also have no way of knowing what is hidden in their airbag compartments. The car's history may be missing or incomplete, or may even have been altered.
Signals that may indicate airbag problems include:
Warning lights
Newer cars have dashboard lights that come on for a few seconds when the car is first started. This indicates that the airbag system is working properly. If the light stays on, starts flashing, or does not flash on at all, the airbag system probably is not working.
Shady body shops can foil the light, however. They can install inexpensive devices that make the airbag light flash properly even when the airbag is gone, cautioned Bruce Strain, president of Supplemental Restraint Specialists.
Invoices
Check the body shop's invoice to make sure that the shop bought the airbag from a car manufacturer, dealer, or recycler.
Fake airbag covers
Fraudulent airbag covers rarely have the vehicle's logo imprinted on them. The color also may be slightly off, even if the cover fits well.
Vehicle history
A number of online services provide vehicle history reports, showing such information as whether the vehicle was in a major crash or flood.
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