Does Airbag Deployment Count as a Major Accident?
3 Answers
Airbag deployment is considered a major accident. The airbag is a one-time-use active safety device that cannot be reused once deployed. In the used car market, if a vehicle has experienced a significant collision resulting in airbag deployment, it can be classified as having been in an accident, leading to a depreciation in its value. The deployment referred to here is the normal activation upon impact, not due to design defects or malfunctions of the airbag itself. Although airbags cannot be reused, they can be repaired or replaced. Here is additional information: 1. Composition of Airbags: The automotive airbag system consists of four parts: impact sensors, the airbag ECU, the inflation system, and the airbag itself. 2. Replacement of Airbags: After an accident, not only the deployed airbag needs to be replaced, but the airbag ECU must also be replaced. Most collision accidents do not damage the airbag ECU, but the ECU stores a record of the airbag deployment, which cannot be erased through conventional methods, hence the need to replace the airbag ECU as well.
When it comes to whether airbag deployment counts as a major accident, I, as someone working in auto insurance, have deep firsthand experience. Every time we handle claims involving popped airbags, they’re almost always classified as severe damage, with repair costs easily soaring into five figures. These cases are a nightmare for insurers—once the airbags deploy, the vehicle’s sensors and computer modules usually need replacement, and worst of all, the frame structure might be compromised, making repairs as complex as assembling Lego blocks. While water damage can sometimes be mitigated, airbag deployment means the engine bay or front end took a brutal hit. Even if repaired, safety risks linger, and resale value plummets by 30–40%. Owners in this situation should skip patch-up jobs—opting for a total-loss settlement is the smart move.
I've been a repair master for twenty years, and I've seen countless cars come into the shop with deployed airbags—nine out of ten have serious structural damage. Forget about the entire safety system being totaled and needing replacement; just dismantling the dashboard is a nightmare. The wiring layout can never match the factory standards. The worst part is the shockwave from the airbag deployment can warp the car's frame. Even a slight bend of a few millimeters in the steel beams will make the steering feel off after repairs. Last time, a Japanese car with deployed airbags had its ABS sensors throwing errors within three months post-repair. Upon inspection, it turned out the wiring harness wasn't aligned properly. For minor dings and scratches, I'd guarantee a perfect fix—but once the airbags go off, the safety performance is definitely compromised.
