It’s such a relief to know when you’re getting a good deal on a car, and can trust that your money is being put to good use. But what about the safety features? I recently had an uneasy feeling about a car airbag I installed in my car. I just had a feeling something wasn’t quite right. I wondered: how can you tell if a car airbag is fake?
I dove in, spending the better part of an afternoon researching on how to spot a fake airbag. From reading reviews of online merchants selling them, to chatting with my mechanic about the telltale signs, I’m now a bit of an expert on how to tell the difference between real and fake car airbags. So here’s what I learned:
To start, the packaging the airbag comes in is a huge indicator. Genuine airbags will come in a tamperproof box or foil pouch that will have manufacturer marking on them. Fake airbags will likely have generic packaging that’s lacking any kind of branding.
Another red flag is the pricing. While this isn’t always the case, many times a genuine airbag will only cost around 10% of what your car is worth, and a fake should cost around half of that. So if you’re paying higher than 10%, chances are it’s a fake.
On the contrary, if you find one for a much lower price it might just be a refurbished airbag. Refurbished airbags can be a great option that are safe– some manufacturers even offer a warranty with them.
One more way to tell if you’re dealing with a real airbag is to look for the VIN number. Legitimate manufacturers will have the car’s VIN number stamped on the airbag. It’s a way to track and prove that the product is real.
It’s also a good idea to inspect the label on the airbag. Many counterfeits will be missing or have typos in the product description, so it’s a good indicator that you should be wary.
While shopping for car airbags online, be sure to double check the reviews of the seller, and the store. Make sure there’s plenty of positive feedback about how they handle customer service and product quality. Google the store’s name and “reviews,” and read any forum posts from previous customer experiences.
Still have doubts? Most insurance companies offer free airbag inspections for real airbags, and you can always get a second opinion from a trusted mechanic to guarantee you’re buying an original and safe product.
Now that I’m an expert on fake or genuine airbags, I’ve got to ask myself– Is this really the type of car part I want to risk my safety on? If you’re ever in doubt, my suggestion is to pay the extra cost for a real one that you know is safe– your life could count on it.
The next time you want to replace an airbag, make sure to check the manufacturer details on the box, compare the costs to what your car is worth, check for the VIN number and product description, read the reviews of the seller, and get a second opinion from an expert.
But the reality is, most people don’t bother to check– they simply assume the product is real. And that can be a risky choice. Many fakes don’t deploy at the same rate as a real one which can cause serious injury or even death. So I suggest you don’t take that one for the team.
Also, don’t forget to inspect the wiring. It’s essential that any connections to the airbag are in tact, and not tampered with. You’ll need to make sure the plug has no exposed wires, and make sure everything is connected properly.
It’s important to also check the placement of the airbag to make your sure it’s in the exact spot and orientation that matches your car’s specifications. A real airbag will fit snugly and align perfectly with the steering wheel, while a fake one could be too long or too short, which could create an unsafe condition.
If you don’t feel confident enough to check any of the above indicators yourself, then you can enlist the help of a car expert. Experienced mechanics are trained to know if a part is real or not by inspecting it firsthand.
Ultimately, being an informed consumer is key when it comes to buying a car airbag. You never want to skimp on safety! It’s worth it to do a little extra legwork and research to make sure you end up with the real deal.