Rebuilt Airbag

You Suspect That Your Vehicle Might be Fitted with a Rebuilt Airbag? If so, This is What Must be Done... WHAT TO DO?

Where to go?
Go to an authorized car dealership. You cannot check the airbag out yourself.

When?
Right away. Should the dealer not be able to replace the airbag at once, ask that it be temporarily deactivated. Never attempt to deactivate an airbag yourself; this could be very dangerous.

Time required and cost?

• The amount of time required and the cost vary with the type of vehicle
• The charge for airbag verification, deactivation and installation will be at the vehicle's owners expense

What about reimbursement?

• Owners of vehicles equipped with rebuilt airbags who deal with an insurer or a body shop should check their policy.
• Québec's consumer protection branch, the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC) has prepared two kits of documents for consumers who want to exercise their rights before the courts. (See below.)

Frequent Questions

Which vehicle owners are likely to have this type of airbag?
Where should these people go to have their airbags checked (and how much will it cost)?
What avenues are available to consumers whose vehicles have rebuilt airbags?
If there are any doubts about an airbag, is it best to have it deactivated?
Is it possible and safe for vehicle owners to attempt to disable the airbags themselves?
How can those concerned obtain further information?

Q1: Which vehicle owners are likely to have this type of airbag?
A: Vehicle owners whose airbags have been replaced since 1998, more specifically, owners of damaged or rebuilt vehicles or of used vehicles bought since 1998, are likely to have rebuilt airbags.

Q2: Where should these people go to have their airbags checked (and how much will it cost)?
A: We recommend that the airbags be checked by an authorized dealer. The owners of the vehicles concerned must pay for these checks. The cost may vary from dealer to dealer.

Q3: What avenues are available to consumers whose vehicles have rebuilt airbags?
A: Québec's consumer protection branch, the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC) indicated in a press release on February 6, 2002 that consumers whose vehicles were fitted with rebuilt airbags still have a possible remedy for their problem despite the fact that the two firms which had produced the defective bags, Coussins gonflables Demers inc. and National sacs gonflables inc., were given bankruptcy protection as of December 20, 2001.

The OPC has prepared two kits of documents for consumers who want to exercise their rights before the courts: one for people who purchased a used vehicle equipped with rebuilt airbags, and the second for cases where an airbag was repaired on a vehicle that had been involved in a crash. Consumers can get their kit by phoning 1 888 OPC-ALLO (1 888 672-2556).

Q4: If there are any doubts about an airbag, is it best to have it deactivated?
A: If dealers cannot immediately replace the rebuilt airbag with a new one, we recommend that they temporarily deactivate the rebuilt airbag until a new one can be installed.

Q5: Is it possible and safe for vehicle owners to attempt to disable the airbags themselves?
A: We strongly advise against attempting to disable a rebuilt airbag yourself because it is simply too dangerous. Only an authorized dealer may safely carry out deactivation.

Q6: How can those concerned obtain further information?
A: Information is also available by calling the Société.

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