Vehicle scrappage

January 28th, 2012 - Joe Duarte

Many vehicles which on the basis of collision damage alone would not be scrapped are heading to the junkyard.

deployed-airbags

Airbag deployments shorten vehicle lives

Airbags may save lives but they don’t save vehicle lives, according to Lang Marketing.

The aftermarket analysts release a weekly Aftermarket Insight newsletter and the latest focuses on the effect of airbags on vehicle scrappage rates, finding that many vehicles are being unnecessarily scrapped after an air-bag deployment, due to the high cost of repairs.

The report claims that last year in the U.S., airbags deployed in over 1.2 million vehicles. Vehicle damage resulting from airbag deployment ranges from $1,200 to over $6,000 per bag (all figures in U.S. dollars) depending on the location of the bag (dashboard, door, roof, etc.) and the type of vehicle in which it is mounted. Government reports indicate that virtually all vehicles at least seven years old in which a single bag deploys are scrapped.

“As a result of airbag deployment, many vehicles which on the basis of collision damage alone would not be scrapped are heading to the junkyard,” states Jim Lang, President of Lang Marketing. “Deployment of a single airbag (some vehicles have eight or more airbags) will cause most vehicles at least seven years old to be scrapped.”

The report adds that increasing damage from multiple airbag deployments is scrapping many vehicles that would otherwise be repaired and returned to operation. If multiple bags deploy (many new vehicles are adding more airbags for increased occupant protection in crash situations), airbags can cause additional damage (beyond the crash itself) sufficient to scrap even new and expensive vehicles.

 

2 comments

  1. brewster says:

    Sure airbags are expensive but price out some of the headlight assemblies and the new led taillights. The new vehicle replacement parts are in part responsible for our high insurance rates.

  2. Joe M. says:

    The replacement insurance rider that is available now allows people to get a new vehicle even after a minor fender bender, so a perfectly good low-mileage vehicle is written off. All that is required is some time at a body shop to repair the damage and then return the vehicle to service. That is also why insurance premiums are so high.

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