Airbags are easy to take for granted on a used car because you can't see them. A car that has had a serious crash may have had its airbags deployed and then replaced properly, replaced with cheap or counterfeit parts, or not replaced at all. You can't open the airbag modules to check, but you can read the warning light, inspect the trim, check recalls and dig into the car's claim and service history.
The quick version: switch on the ignition and make sure the airbag (SRS) warning light comes on for a few seconds and then goes off. If it doesn't, stays on or blinks, have the system checked before you pay.
Used car airbag check at a glance
- Warning light: should light up briefly at ignition and then go off.
- Trim: steering-wheel pad and dashboard panels should match in colour, texture and fit.
- Seat belts: front belts should pull out and retract smoothly; pretensioners work only once.
- Recalls: check the VIN on the maker's recall page.
- History: ask for insurance claim records and authorised service invoices.
- Repairs: genuine parts fitted by an authorised workshop only.
1. Read the airbag (SRS) warning light
Every airbag system runs a self-check when you switch on the ignition. Kia's Indian owner's manual says the warning light "should appear for approximately 6 seconds, then go off", and asks owners to have the system checked if it doesn't come on, stays on after about six seconds, comes on while driving or blinks (Kia owner's manual). Honda's City manual says much the same: the indicator "comes on for a few seconds, then goes off", which "tells you the system is working properly" (Honda City owner's manual).
Watch the cluster closely when you turn the key or press the start button:
- Light comes on, then goes off after a few seconds: normal.
- Light never comes on: a red flag. Both Kia and Honda say the system should be checked if the light doesn't come on.
- Light stays on or blinks: the system has detected a fault and may not work in a crash.
Recheck the light at the end of your test drive, too.
2. Inspect the steering wheel, dashboard and seats
When an airbag deploys, it bursts through its cover, so the steering-wheel pad or a section of the dashboard has to be replaced. Look for:
- A steering-wheel centre pad that looks newer, shinier or a different shade from the rest of the wheel.
- Dashboard panels with uneven gaps, scratches, glue marks or a slightly different texture on the passenger side.
- Loose or misaligned trim on the roof lining above the doors (where curtain airbags sit) and on the outer side of the front seat backs (where side airbags sit).
- Front seat belts that don't pull out or retract smoothly. Honda's manual notes that seat belt tensioners "can only operate once", so they must be replaced after they fire.
None of these alone proves a deployment, but together with other signs of a major repair they are worth questioning. Our guide to checking a used car's accident history covers panel gaps, paint and chassis checks.
3. Know what should be replaced after a crash
Carmakers are clear that airbag systems are single-use. Honda's City manual states: "If an airbag has inflated, the control unit and other related parts must be replaced." It also advises that after a moderate-to-severe collision, the seat belt tensioners and belts should be inspected by a dealer "even if the airbags did not inflate", and recommends against using salvaged airbag parts.
So if the seller admits to an accident, ask for the repair invoice showing:
- the airbag modules replaced;
- the airbag control unit and related parts replaced as the maker requires;
- seat belt pretensioners replaced where they fired;
- the work done at an authorised workshop with genuine parts.
4. Watch for fake and tampered airbags
Counterfeit airbags are a real risk. In April 2024, Delhi Police arrested three men and seized hundreds of fake airbags bearing the names of major car brands from two workshops near Mata Sundari Road in central Delhi, PTI reported.
That is why the invoice matters. A crash repair done "outside" for a suspiciously low price, with no record of genuine parts, is a reason to walk away or insist on an inspection at an authorised workshop.
Also check for things that can stop airbags working:
- Aftermarket seat covers over front seats with side airbags. Honda warns against covering front seat backs without consulting a dealer, and Tata's Curvv EV manual says fitting seat covers on a driver's seat with airbags is "strictly prohibited".
- Accessories stuck on the steering-wheel pad or the passenger-side dashboard.
- Non-standard steering wheels or dashboard modifications.
5. Check airbag recalls by VIN
Several airbag recalls have affected cars sold in India:
- Maruti Suzuki (January 2023): 17,362 Alto K10, S-Presso, Eeco, Brezza, Baleno and Grand Vitara cars built between 8 December 2022 and 12 January 2023, over an airbag controller that could stop the airbags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying, Autocar India reported.
- Toyota (January 2023): around 1,400 Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Glanza cars from the same build window, for the airbag control unit, according to Autocar India.
- Kia Carens (October 2022): 44,174 units for a possible airbag control unit software error, Autocar Pro reported.
- Honda (July 2019): 5,088 older cars, including 2,099 City cars built between 2007 and 2013, for replacement of Takata front airbag inflators, per Honda's announcement. Honda ran several earlier Takata campaigns too.
Most makers let you check by VIN (the chassis number on the RC). Maruti Suzuki's recall page and Honda's recall microsite both take the VIN, or you can ask an authorised dealer. Match the chassis number on the car with the RC, and confirm the registration details with Hooter's free RC details check.
6. Dig into claim and service history
- Insurance claims: ICICI Lombard says past claims linked to a vehicle can be checked through the Insurance Information Bureau's V-Seva portal, or through the insurer's records, and notes the database can take up to two months to update. Ask the seller to share this with you.
- Service records: authorised workshop records show major repairs. A big gap in the history around the time of a known accident deserves questions. See why service history matters.
How many airbags should the car have?
India's rules set the minimum. The driver airbag was mandated under G.S.R. 1483(E) of December 2017 for cars made from 1 July 2019, and the front passenger airbag under G.S.R. 148(E) of March 2021 for new models from 1 April 2021, with existing models given until 31 December 2021 after an extension (PIB). A 2022 proposal for six mandatory airbags was not made law; in September 2023 Union minister Nitin Gadkari said "we do not need to make six airbags mandatory now", Autocar Pro reported.
So a recent car should have at least two front airbags, and many now have six as standard. Check the car's brochure or the maker's website for how many airbags that variant and year came with, then make sure the covers are where they should be.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Starting the car before you're watching the dashboard, and missing the light check.
- Trusting "never been in an accident" without seeing claim and service records.
- Ignoring a newer-looking steering-wheel pad or dashboard panel.
- Skipping the recall check because the car "looks fine".
- Fitting aftermarket seat covers over side airbags after you buy.
FAQs
How do I know if a used car's airbags work?
Watch the airbag warning light at ignition: it should come on for a few seconds and then go off. If it stays on, blinks or never lights up, have an authorised workshop check the system.
Can deployed airbags be repaired?
No. Carmakers treat airbags as single-use. After a deployment, the airbags, control unit and related parts such as seat belt pretensioners need to be replaced, ideally at an authorised workshop with genuine parts.
Should I buy a used car whose airbags have deployed?
Only with a complete repair invoice from an authorised workshop, a clear warning-light check and a thorough structural inspection. Otherwise, walk away.
How can I check a car's accident history in India?
Ask for insurance claim records (the IIB V-Seva portal or the insurer), authorised service history and repair invoices, and inspect the body for signs of repair.
Are six airbags mandatory in India?
No. Front airbags for the driver and passenger are mandatory; the six-airbag proposal was not made compulsory.
The bottom line
A five-minute airbag check can save you from buying a car that won't protect you in a crash. Watch the warning light, inspect the trim and seat belts, check recalls by VIN and insist on records for any accident repair. Pair it with our used car inspection checklist and our guide to checking tyre age and condition, then browse used cars in Delhi NCR on Hooter.