Everyone Is Stealing Airbags, Here’s Why!

Faulty airbags have led to a surge in thefts, affecting many states. Now, owners have to be twice as careful about where to leave their cars.

Author

Bernardo Montes de Oca
May 19, 2026

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Four Wheel Trends Automotive Newsletter
Issue #198 

Today, we’re talking about the rampant airbag theft crisis. It’s in the thousands, and we explain what you can do to prevent it.

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In The Know

Why Are Thieves Targeting Airbags?

​Picture this: you get up early for your commute. You step outside, and your car’s window is shattered. The first thought might be that they’ve stolen your radio, or a valuable you forgot to take home.

Upon further inspection, you realize there’s only one thing missing: the airbag. Thieves have expertly removed it, and it’s time to call the insurance company. Stories like these are becoming more common.

Chicago, Detroit, Maryland: the list goes on and on. Thieves are targeting vehicles across seemingly all states, with one goal in mind. They want your airbags, but why?

For years, owners knew that leaving their cars outside posed a risk of catalytic converter theft. After all, the precious metals are expensive and fetch high prices in the black market.

However, as this article reports, the new coveted item is the airbag, and it all has to do with the infamous Takata airbag recall. If you want to know more, you can read our special here.

With many factory airbags essentially ticking time bombs, mechanics want reliable airbags they can fit in their cars. While some opt for the legal way of getting them, situations like these always spark an illegal market, and some places, like Chicago, are more affected than others.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that around 50,000 airbags are stolen every year, but there’s one stat that’s even more fascinating. A black-market airbag costs about $200, while a dealer can charge $1,000 or more. That’s why the need has risen, as this bulletin reports.

What’s even worse is that some thieves are extremely talented. So, they could replace the airbag cover (if they haven’t shattered the window) and leave you driving without an airbag. That’s why if you see the airbag warning sign turn on, you should have your vehicle inspected as soon as possible.

To make matters even more challenging, the situation is so critical that the insurance might be a headache. As this article shows, dealing with a stolen airbag can have several repercussions.

There are reports that insurance companies are covering about $2,000 of the $3,000 total. That’s still $1,000 out of pocket that you have to pay.

Plus, your premium can increase. That’s why some people aren’t opting to call their insurance. So, they pay the $3,000 out of pocket.

There’s nothing wrong with doing this. However, airbags are required by law. So, if you drive without an airbag and get into an accident, your legal and insurance situation can become even more complicated.

So, what can you do? Unfortunately, a lot of the responsibility falls on us, as drivers, to stay safe out there. Parking is critical; illuminated areas, hopefully near security cameras, always help.

At least, some cities have begun offering free steering wheel locks, as this article explains.