Hi
I have a 10-yr old Primera. There is a sticker on the sun visor that says to have the air bag system serviced(?) every 10 years.
I'm guessing that this is something that really has to be done but just wanted some opinion from people on it.
Does it have to be performed by Nissan or can a local garage or specialist do the same job but a lower price?
Chris
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I'm also curious about this. It's not something that is listed in workshop manuals or as part of services. Also, what happens if you do not service it, is there just a chance it may not work, or is there a chance of it injuring you or going off for no reason?
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P3t3r, you're thinking exactly what I'm thinking. If I have an accident I want to know that it's going to work as it should.
Doing a Google search brings up some info on Volvo airbags. From what I've read their 10 year service involved replacing the airbag (but on later cars the service interbal was increased to 20 years).
Hoping someone can enlighten us?
Chris
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Ideally airbag components should be replaced after a defined period. Initially most manufacturers stated 10 years, but many have reviewed this upwards. Basically the detonator and propellant degrade over time. Best ring Nissan UK is you want the latest recommendation. To replace the airbag units on a 10 year old Primera would not be economically viable - best scrap the car ;-)
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There was some recent tests done by makers, on aged airbag systems. Mostly it seems, as said by Aprilia, that they are revising those estimates of life upwards, to 15-20 years
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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>>To replace the airbag units on a 10 year old Primera would not be economically viable - best >>scrap the car ;-)
That made me smile ;-)
On a serious note, if there is a big bill for airbag servicing on a 10 year old (or older) car surely this affects the resale value??
If the detonantor and propellant degrade over time then I'm guessing there's a chance the airbag won't actually work or will be a little half hearted when it goes off.......
I'll phone Nissan Monday and let you know what they say.
Chris
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Dont worry about it, The 10year airbag thing is universaly ignored. No-one gets it done.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Exactly. My 1995 Citroen has a 12 year old air bag in it but I'm not going to scrap it because of that, or get it changed either. If it works it works and if it doesn't, oh well, it'll be like I was driving a car without an airbag (plenty of them around still).
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As a 'just in case' option, considering the Omega will celebrate it's 10th birthday, this year & is fitted with a number of airbags, I now carry a supply, of already inflated, party helium baloons.
These don't appear to be main dealer only, parts, so are readily available to fit most models, from any greetings card store, close to you.
VB
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as i get older and my car gets older........i'm growing my own airbags.....at the moment i'll be o.k. with a lower mid torso impact and the neck's getting increasing padding as time goes on.....:-)
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I don't think your insurance companies (or the third party's compnay, if it's their fault) are going to be too thrilled if your cars are involved in a serious accident and the airbags fails to inflate, either properly, or at all.
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this has come up now and again on this forum.
early ones include:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=3259&v...f
Re: Car life. - peter Sun 6 Jan 02 12:33
In the future, car life will not be limited by mechanicals, or even by rust and corrosion, see previous posts about out of date airbags at about 12-14 yrs
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When (not if) this becomes an MoT item people will be throwing away perfectly usable but 'unsafe' vehicles since the costs of replacement will easily exceed the value of the vehicle. Insurers will probably get in on the act to. ....
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=3348&m...e
Older cars-airbags-insurance - alan Tue 8 Jan 02 21:32
Hi
I saw an article in a paper that claimed that after about 10 years airbags will need to be replaced(an great cost) Failing to do so will invalidate your insurance in the event of an accident.
As the cost of the airbags may be more that the car is worth does this been built in obsolesence to many older cars.
As I think we have had airbags on most cars for about 8 years... the outcome could have an impact on the second hand market.. any comments alan
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So the question has never really been answered before?
I guess that in the event of a serious enough accident the insurance company could get out of a payout by saying that your airbags didn't work (or didn't work properly). After all, don't the airbags (the same as other safety aspects) determine the insurance group of the vehicle?
So if I didn't have airbags I should be paying more in insurance?
Chris
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So if I didn't have airbags I should be paying more in insurance? Chris
Nope. Your car needs to have an MOT, airbag life is not part of an MOT. Your insurance company have no comeback if your airbag was not replaced.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Reading this thread, I could remember posting something relevant in the dim and distant past, but could not find it. Thankyou Dalglish ( I had forgotten I was 'Peter' in those days, at some point we all had to register, and somebody stole my handle). How time flies.
It will interesting if somebody from the insurance industry can make an informed comment on reduced payouts in the event of airbag failure where the previously specified design intervals have been exceeded.
Meanwhile I will continue to drive my mixed fleet of new and old, well, once the leg is out of plaster!
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pmh (was peter)
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Thinking on this, with the 'compensation culture' we have, is it more something for the manufacturer's to cover themselves, rather than a way for the insurance companies to wriggle out of a payment.
After all, as has been said, it's not something that can be tested, as such.
If you have an accident in your 12 year old car and the airbags don't go off, which means that you sustain injury then you can't sue the manufacturer for damages because they told you to have the airbags serviced after 10 years, which you didn't do because of the cost compared to the value of the car.
Chris
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When I changed the Mondeo's steering wheel (due to a worn rim which was starting to look a bit tatty), I noticed when transferring the airbag unit over to the "new" wheel that it's stamped with "2015".
The replacement wheel was from a 1998 car, and this was stamped "2013". So I guess Ford recommend replacing airbags after 15 years.
Can't see the take-up on that one being anything to write home about, personally.
Cheers
DP
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04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
97 Ford Fiesta 1.4 16v Chicane (for sale)
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airbags are a secondary restraint and should be treated as such
dates or no dates
sorry guys/galls
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If you have an accident in your 12 year old car and the airbags don't go off which means that you sustain injury then you can't sue the manufacturer for damages because they told you to have the airbags serviced after 10 years which you didn't do because of the cost compared to the value of the car.
I would guess that's true, but not servicing the airbags would give the insurance company an excuse to reduce the payout in the event that you were seriously injured. If it was a passenger that was injured and the accident was the the drivers fault, then the insurance company probably have to pay up - however they potentially could seek some redress from the cars owner if it was believed that airbag failure exacerbated the passengers injuries.
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Have spoken to Nissan today and of course it needs to be done because the airbags have a shelf life and there's a possibility that they may not deploy in the event of an accident. Cost to replace - £792 (£316 each side + £169 labour).
Phoned my local 'backstreet' garage that I use for my servicing and they are of the opinion that the airbag warning light will tell you if there's a problem with the system and if you're in an accident that's serious enough for the airbags to deploy in a 10-yr car you're in a spot of trouble anyway.
Needless to say, at that price, I'll take my chances.
Chris
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