Auto Recycling Phony Components

In the auto recycling and vehicle scrap business there is a debate on the safety of replacing the airbags in a vehicle with pre-installed units. Traditionally, auto airbag replacement has been limited to being a dealer service item. Companies that handle scrap car removal, also referred to as “buy my junk car” companies or “scrap my car” outfits, come across many vehicles with bags that have not been deployed that seemingly could be recycled.

In the April 24, 2015 edition of nbcmiami.com, Myriam Masihy produced an article titled ‘Shop Owner Busted for Installing Fake Airbags’ with the following report: “One south Florida man was recently arrested for installing bad airbags or no airbags at all. A routine inspection at Mas Interior Repairs in Hialeah turned into a multi-agency investigation when Miami-Dade Police say they found fake airbags inside several cars. The vehicles with the fake airbags were headed for local car dealerships where they could’ve been sold to unsuspecting customers. The authorities say the bogus airbags would have put drivers at risk of injury or death.  The shop’s owner, Aristides Santiesteban, is charged with 3 felony counts of installing fake or junk-filled airbags.

Investigators say they have the evidence to prove he was swapping out airbags & sent us pictures showing piles of airbags inside the repair shop. Santiesteban is fighting those charges but has already paid a thousand dollars in fines for operating without a license. The NICB says consumers need to be aware of this potential problem.

To ensure that your airbags are in top condition, make sure the airbag light goes on when you start your car and then turns off. You can also have your vehicle inspected or run a Carfax report to see if it’s been in an accident.  The National Insurance Crime Bureau says some 50-thousand airbags are stolen each year. While an airbag normally costs $1,000-$3,000 dollars, on the black market it goes for just $50-$200.” The full article is available here: http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Shop-Owner-Busted-for-Installing-Fake-Airbags-in-Cars-Headed-to-So-Fla-Dealerships-301267281.html

It could actually be more dangerous than these phony bags not deploying in the event of a collision is the possibility of a replacement air bag accidentally deploying while driving. Imagine if a haphazardly reinstalled bag exploded into the driver’s face while on the highway! We will continue to monitor the aftermarket airbag industry in the coming months to see if other more affordable options surface in the market, because certainly the OEM product with dealer installation is going to be overpriced.

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