Senate Bill 48 - Buyer Beware - Your Airbags Could Be Salvaged

Imagine you're shopping for a used car. No matter if you purchase the car from a reputable dealership or out of classifieds there are a few items you are going to check. You'll no doubt test drive the vehicle, look under the hood, and possibly check into the history of the specific car prior to purchasing it.  One item you might not think about is the condition of your vehicles' airbags.

According to proponents of SB 48, unscrupulous body shops, car dealerships, and sellers have, in the past sold salvaged and previously deployed airbags from total loss vehicles to unsuspecting consumers. SB 48 requires that a record be kept by those installing replacement airbag and that the buyer is made aware of the salvaged airbag prior to purchase.

So, what's the big deal? According to proponents of the legislation, there is no way to tell the authenticity of the airbags or if the salvaged airbag compartment has been tampered with (proponents testified of airbag compartments filled with rags, telephone books, or nothing at all once deployed.)   Also, with over 75,000 airbags being stolen annually,  proponents also agree that the proposed legislation will reduce fraud while promoting occupant safety.

Opponents of the legislation argue that the perceived problem of salvaged airbags is just that - a perception.  They testified that there were no cases in Maryland of airbag failure that could be traced to a stolen or salvaged airbag.   They also fear that the legislation, if passed, will remove consumer choice from the marketplace.  They further argued that a market for salvaged airbags exists, pointing to a recent car.com study in which salvaged airbags were searched for 1.2 million times over the course of a year.  Still many respected organizations and carmakers including Nissan, GM, and the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration have stated that salvaged airbags are unsafe and have advised against the use of them.

A work session was suggested by both sides at the conclusion of the hearing.  We'll keep you posted on how things turn out.