Around 50,000 lives were saved by airbags between 1987 and 2017, according to the NHTSA. Because all new automobiles in the US have been required to include airbags since 1999, it is not surprising that some individuals feel a little apprehensive when operating a vehicle without airbags.
Because of this, many individuals who drive vehicles without airbags wish to retrofit them; however, it is still unclear whether this is feasible or safe. The solution, though, could disappoint you.
If an older vehicle’s trim level formerly had factory-installed airbags, you may add them. Installing airbags in a vehicle that has never had them would be much too difficult, and even if it were conceivable, anticipate a retrofit to cost thousands of dollars.
When Can an Old Car Get Airbags?
Once again, if your vehicle does not already have airbags, you cannot add them. In this scenario, you would get all the components from a donor automobile equipped with air bags and, ideally, install them on your vehicle without any alterations.
However, installing an airbag-equipped steering wheel into your automobile and expecting it to function is not a good idea. Instead, additional components like wiring, a new steering wheel, seatbelts, sensors, etc., are required.
As a result, the components alone will wind up costing at least $1,000 used, and installing them requires removing the whole vehicle. For example, the dashboard, seatbelts, and steering column must be removed so the wiring may be traced and the ECU replaced, among other things.
The point is that, even if all the components fit, which nobody can guarantee even if they are from the same automobile, you would still need to put in at least 30 hours of effort.
Additionally, keep in mind that it is exceedingly risky to change any anchor locations for the new seatbelts, sensors, or steering column. Also, if the system contains two or more airbags, you may not just install one, making the operation more difficult.
Finally, if an authorized airbag technician does not install the airbag system, you will not be able to homologate the airbag system in most states. And based on my free estimate, the total cost of the work, including materials and labor, would likely be $3,000 or more. And it makes far more sense to spend that money on a newer vehicle with airbags than on an old automobile.
Risks of Putting Airbags in an Old Car
The biggest risk of installing airbags in an old automobile is that airbags depend on other parts. For example, if you add airbags without updating the seatbelts, an accident will result in serious injury.
This is so that the seatbelts in vehicles with airbags can function properly. You will be extremely near to the steering wheel since the conventional seatbelts are designed to allow for some stretch to absorb part of the impact force.
Yet, airbag seatbelts are designed to keep you seated and prevent your head from entering the airbag inflation zone, which may be lethal. Other risks include broken parts, improper wiring, and severe injuries sustained while working. For example, the airbag may not deploy or deploy prematurely due to poor wiring, resulting in serious injuries or even death.
There are several obstacles to overcome if you wish to install airbags in a vintage automobile that has never had them. Among these are possible fire concerns should the airbag deploy and a shortage of room for all the components. Also, crumple zones built into the chassis of current automobiles prevent the airbag from inadvertently activating at speeds below five miles per hour, which is deadly.
What Parts Are Needed to Retrofit Airbags?
Airbags
Here, you must have the same number of airbags that your automobile originally had or as the system you are attempting to retrofit now has. The steering wheel or the passenger airbag is typically the two.
Airbag Wiring
Since airbag wiring employs gold-plated connections, it may be rather costly. You will also need to remove the door sills and the dashboard to install it since the wiring is complex and links to every airbag component.
Fuse Box
Like every other component, the airbag contains fuses naturally located in the fuse box. As a result, replacing the fuse box is necessary when installing an airbag system, which is a substantial task in and of itself.
ECU
Although having its control unit, the airbag system is also coded into the ECU. Today, the airbag system, engine, and vehicle model year must all be compatible with the ECU.
ACU
The ACU (airbag control unit) may be a stand-alone component or sometimes incorporated into the SRS unit. But, other than attaching it to a power supply, this will be a plug-and-play into the airbag harness.
G Sensors
Depending on the vehicle, G and impact sensors may be the most challenging to install; however, they may also be incorporated into the SRS unit and the steering column. Yet, since this is the most delicate part of the system, you should thoroughly investigate it for your particular automobile.
Steering Column
Older vehicles include an integrated cable loop for the airbag harness and a collapsible impact sensor built into the steering column. It will not be simple to replace the steering column and integrate all the new parts.
Seat Belts
The pre-tensioner seat belts also contain an explosive charge. However, this one ignites gas instead of sparks. Fitting the system might be difficult due to its size as well.
Should You Try to Install Airbags in a Decade-Old Vehicle?
It is obvious that adding airbags to an older vehicle is either practically impossible or quite challenging at best. It is risky on too many levels, beginning with possible injuries during installation, broken or outdated sensors, and injuries in the event of an accident brought on by incorrectly fitted parts.
It is crucial to note that just one instance of an airbag retrofit has been discovered on Google, and it is unclear if the endeavor was effective.
Also, the procedure will cost you thousands of dollars, so unless you own a pricey historic automobile, it is just not worthwhile. And rather than trying to install it yourself, seek an estimate from a professional company if you have a historic automobile. Finally, just to show you how much labor is involved, here is a link to the forum thread of the refit attempt.
Are airbags truly safe?
Airbags are not completely safe; no. Airbags may hurt people even though they are the second-largest advance in car safety behind seatbelts. For instance, severe burns, concussions, blunt force trauma, lung irritation, etc., are typical airbag injuries. In addition, malfunctioning airbags and not wearing a seatbelt when an airbag deploys may result in fatalities.
Do Airbags Ever Fail?
No, airbags are built to endure the lifespan of a car and never expire. However, all Mercedes airbags produced after 2002 for the American market have a 15-year expiry date.
Mercedes knows that the airbags will live longer than 15 years, and it is counting on the fact that no one will spend $5,000 to replace all the airbags in a vehicle that is 15 years old to make this seem a lot like responsibility avoidance if anything goes wrong.
Are cars without airbags safe?
Automobiles without airbags are safe but not as safe as automobiles with airbags. Seatbelts and crumple zones, assuming the vehicle was manufactured in the 1990s, are still airbag-free vehicles, making them very safe. A vehicle without airbags will never be safe as one without them, yet between 1990 and 2007, airbags alone in the US saved over 50,000 lives.
Can a car be legally driven without airbags?
Sure, a car may be legally driven without airbags, but only if the airbags were never installed when the car was manufactured. Nonetheless, it is unlawful to remove airbags from a vehicle that already has them, and airbags are a requirement for all new vehicles built after 1999.
Do Airbags Prevent More Fatalities Than Seatbelts?
No, seatbelts save more lives than airbags do. Airbags only have a 14% probability of averting a deadly result, whereas seatbelts have a 48% chance. Airbags without seatbelts will also be less effective and potentially result in fatalities or severe injuries.
Can You Replace Airbags Cheaply?
Certainly, replacing an airbag is pricey. Consumeraffairs.com estimates that the price to replace one airbag in a contemporary vehicle might reach $1,000. The overall cost may reach $6,000 if more airbags are deployed, but the typical cost is between $3,000 and $5,000.
Can My Car Get Additional Airbags?
No, your automobile cannot get extra airbags. Technically speaking, you could, but you would need to replace every part of the airbag system and the wiring for the vehicle and the airbags. The labor expense would be so excessive that you could get five years younger vehicle equipped with all the extra airbags you want.
Do 1990s cars have airbags?
True, many automobiles from the 1990s had airbags, including the smaller, less expensive hatchbacks. Nevertheless, airbags were not required in the 1990s. Therefore they were often included in the optional equipment. The response is that some do and others don’t. Yet airbags are included in every automobile built after 1999.
Conclusion
Ultimately, I can not truly claim that retrofitting airbags into an ancient automobile is impossible. After all, you can build, fix, or alter anything if you have enough money. But this is one of those instances when you can not justify the expense. It would be considerably less expensive to purchase a different automobile with airbags.
Yet, if you drive a vintage vehicle with airbags at various trim levels, you could get away with it. But remember that you need far more parts than just the airbags themselves and that even if you succeed, it will take days to finish.
