Posted on 01/20/2008 4:44:49 AM PST by T Ruth
Scamming body shops removing airbags for profit, stuffing rags and other junk in its cavities.
In 2003, Damaras Gatihi was hit from behind while driving down I-5 near Seattle. After spinning a few times, her Corolla hit another car in a head on collision. This 50 year old nurses assistant died after her airbag didn’t deply, from a massive blow to the heart. This tragic accident ironically occurred on valentines day.More than just an expensive problem for auto insurance companies, air bag fraud is becoming an increasingly worrisome problem for all drivers. It is a public safety issue that has not received even close to the amount of attention it deserves. Even the Vice President of the American Insurance Association is speaking out. Janet Bachman states
“Unsuspecting drivers may be in for an incredible awakening that could be deadly.”
Although the data is incomplete about how widespread this problem may actually be, there are many warning signs pointing to alarmingly high numbers. Analysis has found that body shops around the country have been stuffing thousands of unsafe, fake, or re-manufactured airbags into cars throughout the country.
“Replacement air bag systems may range from $1,000 to $3,000, maybe more if the dashboard shell or other dash components are damaged by the force of a passenger-side deployment,” says Larry Gamache of Carfax. “Dishonest mechanics can generate a lot of money taking advantage of the unsuspecting consumer.”
-A study done in Miami, Fl found one particular shop who sold over 6,000 shells from stolen airbags.
-Last year one insurance company received over 400 claims for cars that had been repaired and given airbags that were fake.
-A Los Angeles based survey found that nearly 5% of cars on the road have fake or malfunctioning airbags due to fraud.
There are a number of different types of scams to be on the lookout for;
1.) The Switch
In this airbag scam, a body shop will remove your undeployed airbag from your car, and then install a deployed airbag from another car in the shop. After the insurance company makes an estimate on your car (for the inflated price of the airbag deployment) the mechanic will then put your airbag back in. (or more often than not, will replace it with junk, and make an added profit by selling the good airbag he had removed.) This type of scam can net a crooked mechanic over $4,000. For the unscrupulous, there is plenty of motivation to commit this type of fraud.
2.) The Pullout
This scam happens when you take your car to the mechanic after a small or minor accident. In this instance, the body shop pulls your airbag out to make it look like the airbag in your car has deployed because of a collision. They then inserts a salvaged or knockoff airbag in its place. This means your airbag has been unnecessarily deployed to commit insurance fraud, and you’re left paying the price.
Watch out for Salvaged Cars and Trucks
The issue of stolen or inadequatly replaced airbags seems to be especially bad with salvaged vehicles. These are the cars that insurance companies call “totaled” and are up for sale at autions for salvaged cars. A common scam is for body shops to take these cars in, repair them, and sell them for large profits. There are now almost half a million salvaged cars on the road that have been at one point in their lives been declared “totaled” by the insurance companies. You can bet that in their rebuilding of these cars, many shops do not replace or install new airbags.
The law is NOT on your side.
Horrifyingly, Federal laws do not mandate that body shops or repairs shops replace the airbags in vehicles following an accident. They also don’t put regulations on exactly how safe the airbags must be. This means that in the eyes of the Federal government, airbags are unregulated and of little concern. States can create their own laws regarding these issues, but most states have not taken the initiative to create laws that protect against these types of scams. Adrian Lund of the Insurance Institute for Highway Saftey says, “I think it’s quite weak. First of all, there are only a handful of states that really even address it.”
Can Inspections Protect Me ?
Florida, California, Utay, DC, Hawaii, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia all have laws pertaining to Airbags, but only Utah has requirements about airbags being repaired to their original condition. Unfortunately, state inspections won’t likely protect you, or detect possible airbag theft or scamming. Most inspectors just check for a warning light, but don’t check to see how the airbag has been installed (or uninstalled). This means crooked repair shops can get away with an airbag scam just by rigging the airbag light to work. Many predict that airbag fraud will only increase because many cars have multiple airbags which are also valuable. This is even more enticing for those dishonest repair people finding the possible profits to be made all too enticing.
How do I know if my car has been compromised? (courtesy of insurancefraud.org)
Airbags scams: Know the warning signals Unless you have X-ray vision, you can’t easily tell if a dishonest body shop tampered with the airbag while your SUV was being repaired. The airbag compartment is tightly sealed, and hard for you to get at –Same with that used or salvaged car you’re thinking of buying. If its history is altered, missing or incomplete, you don’t know what condition the airbag is in – or if you even have one. Watch for these warning signs…. Does The Dashboard light work? Newer cars have a dashboard light that comes on for a few seconds when the car is first started. This signals that the airbag system is working properly.
Check the Lights Thoroughly: If the light stays on, starts flashing or doesn’t flash on at all, the airbag system probably isn’t working. But be careful: Shady body shops can foil the light. They can install inexpensive devices that make the airbag light flash properly even when the airbag is gone, says Bruce Strain, president of Supplemental Restraint Specialists, which provides services for airbag and restraint system investigations.
Invoice in order? Check the body shop’s invoice to make sure the shop bought the airbag from a car manufacturer, dealer or recycler.
History of complaints? See if the body shop has a history of consumer complaints - before you get repairs. Call your local Better Business Bureau.
Fake airbag cover? Fraudulent airbag covers rarely have the vehicle’s logo imprinted. The color also may be slightly off, even if the cover fits well.
Vehicle history ok? Thinking about buying a used vehicle? Get its history report from commercial services such as Carfax.com. If the report shows the vehicle was in a major crash or flood, you should have a certified mechanic check it out before buying.
Avoid tampering. Don’t try to open the airbag compartment yourself. You could be injured, and damage the airbag system.
Get a mechanic. When in doubt, have a certified mechanic or reputable airbag technician check out your airbag. Your next drive should be in a safe car, not an ambulance.
For more info, check out the following report on used cars airbags at Consumer Affairs
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/airbags/air
Thanks for posting this.
***There are now almost half a million salvaged cars on the road that have been at one point in their lives been declared “totaled” by the insurance companies. You can bet that in their rebuilding of these cars, many shops do not replace or install new airbags. ****
Probably re built in southern Missouri and sold in Arkansas.
Our company bought a brand new car from a dealer near here. Paid CASH for it also. A couple of years later it was noticed that there was a minor difference in paint color on the rear quarter panel and trunk. Then cracks were apparent and it was evident that lots of Bondo had been applied to the auto.
NEVER BUY A USED CAR IN ARKANSAS unless you can get it inspected first.
I bought a nice used truck here. Not long after it wqas evident it had been in a flood.
When I look back, I realize that every used auto (except one)I have bought in Ark has been a wrecked rebuilder.
I’ve done quite well in accidents wearing seat belts (even before I was forced to by Big Brother). I’d be just as happy with no air bag (or a bogus air bag), then with a bunch of pyrotechnics staring me in the face.
(no to mention the 100+ decapitated kids from air bags that did work correctly)
So, I think these crooks are doing society a service.
Ditto. Saved my noggin and/or my life more than once.
Southern Missouri,is the name of the city most associated with such stunts the same as a troubled mid-eastern nation?
There’s a long article on just this issue in the most recent issue of Reader’s Digest, for those who are interested and/or prefer dead tree sources.
A friend purchased a new BMW from a most major Chicago dealer.
Couple of years later he had the hood up and I notice bits of over spray around the engine. This was his baby only goes out in the sunshine always clean. He says not a mark on it never been in a body shop!
This car was never quite right at high speed, it would wander a bit back and forth.
The dealer always had some line, the wheel was bent ($500), must be the tire was damaged two new tires (with less then 10k)....
He takes it to an independent who just does BMW’s, he knew the rest of the story.
He had worked for the dealer when this car came in they liked to “check out” the hot new models and with this one they hit a curb!!!
Yeah, you may wake up dead.
Oh, he think it’s ironic because it was her heart...well, I still think that’s just a ‘weird coincidence’ , not ironic, but anyway...
I almost bought a van in Ohio from a Dodge dealer in North Olmsted. I forget the name of the place. It was only about 4 years old but had rust inside the lower edge of the door and bubbled paint that leaked water you you popped the bubbles. The salesman said, “Oh, we can just sand that rust down and repaint. It will be good as new.” Sure. They had done a good job of cleaning the car up. It didn’t even smell. The clincher came when I saw the inside of the rear vents were covered with a thin layer of dried mud. Flood car for sure.
“I’d be just as happy with no air bag (or a bogus air bag), then with a bunch of pyrotechnics staring me in the face.”
I’ve thought of this. I have a 12 yr old Ram 1500 and I often wonder how stable ageing airbags are.
While I’m sure these things happen, it must be limited.
Vehicle repairs are traceable. An airbag that doesn’t deploy because it’s stuffed with rags equals someone being sued and potentially going to jail for life. I hate car dealerships with a passion having worked for a number of them back in the early 90s. I do know however, not a single one of them would scrimp on something so “sue-able” as not replacing an airbag.
Can’t the con artists be held liable for murder?
Nice to be posting on this site, where people don’t immediately buy the party line (and tell me how wonderful air bags are).
And if they did trigger on my car, and I could fix the damage myself, then no way would the air bags be replaced. From what I remember, you just need a resistor in the circuit to trick the computer (and big brother, if you have safety inspections).
As to stability...good question. Obviously cars are not the most benign environment in which to store pyrotechnics.
“Can’t the con artists be held liable for murder?”
Maybe, maybe not. Who’s to say that the airbags were not removed after the repair...maybe by a shop doing unrelated work, just to sell them on the black market. I’m not saying that it happens, just that there are defenses against being held liable, should an accident occur requiring air bags (which is unlikely anyway).
In any case, why would a shop that is fraudulent even care about being sued.
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Thanks Ralph Nader.
They seem to have mastered it in the middle east. ;)
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