Will the pillow fit?

Airbags are equipment that the driver does not want to use, but expects them to perform their function if necessary.

Airbags are a piece of equipment that no driver wants to use, but everyone expects them to do their job when needed. But for them to work this time, they must be on standby.

In a new or old car, we are sure it will. But will they really work for 10 year olds and up?

Airbags appeared more than 25 years ago, but then they were installed only as an accessory on the most expensive models. However, for some time now airbags have become standard equipment on most new cars, and now, and certainly in a few years, there will be many cars with airbags 10 years old and older. Then maybe the question arises, is such a pillow safe, will it work or will it not work soon?

Unfortunately, there are no clear answers to these questions. According to manufacturers, old pillows should not explode on their own. Maybe the problem is that they won't shoot if necessary. That is why, for example, Renault, Citroen, Peugeot, Fiat, Skoda recommend replacing airbags every 10 years. Honda also recommends replacing some parts in older airbags every 10 years, while Ford guarantees airbag performance for 15 years. On the other hand, in Mercedes, VW, Seat, Toyota, Nissan, currently produced by Honda and Opel, the manufacturer does not plan to replace any components after a certain period of time. Of course, if the diagnostics does not find faults.

This information should be treated roughly and with some detachment, because the cars we use come from very different regions of the world and these versions may differ significantly from those officially sold in our country. In order to be absolutely sure that the airbags in our car are working, go to an Authorized Service Center and there, after proper diagnosis and verification of the chassis number, we will receive a binding answer.

It often happens that the theory is very far from reality. This is likely to be the case with recommended airbag replacements. Do not expect drivers to be happy to replace airbags with new ones, as the cost will be an obstacle. The cost of pillows in a 10 or 15 year old car will be more than the cost of the entire car. So the manufacturer's recommendations are likely to be just wishful thinking.