How to Prevent Airbag Theft

Federal regulators launched the largest automotive recall in history in 2016 after Takata's airbag inflators were linked to 28 deaths and more than 400 injuries in the United States. The recall ran in phases through 2019, and included 34 car brands across 19 automakers. According to Consumer Reports, the recall has comprised 67 million airbags from more than 42 million vehicles.

The same underlying defect was present, regardless of make or model. Every affected inflator was packed with an ammonium nitrate propellant that can degrade over time. Should that propellant break down, the inflator's metal housing can burst apart, sending sharp metal fragments through the interior instead of inflating the airbag.

Each automaker under the recall needed its own version of the replacement, a new inflator with a more stable propellant instead of ammonium nitrate. Since an automaker’s specific airbag housings and wiring had to be taken into account, a universal part was not possible as part of the recall.

While the recall fixed one problem, it deepened another that was already brewing. Thieves had been stealing airbags for resale well before Takata's name became attached to the recall, but said recall gave that black market new momentum. As the recall rolled out, demand for repairs spiked, legitimate replacement parts grew harder to find, and an already active black market found itself with a new customer base.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau estimates that roughly 50,000 airbags are stolen every year, resulting in more than $50 million in annual losses. A factory airbag typically retails for around $1,000 from a dealer, but a stolen one sells for a fraction of that, usually $50 to $250 on the black market.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identifies unscrupulous collision repair shops as the primary buyers, rather than individual consumers. Ordinarily, these shops would source a replacement airbag the same way a dealership does, through the automaker's official parts network. However, buying a stolen airbag for next to nothing on the black market allows a shop to skip the legitimate channel while still billing the customer, or their insurance company, the full price of a factory part. The owner of the car has no way of knowing the “new” airbag in their vehicle was ever stolen.

In essence, the black market for stolen airbags exists because everyone involved is making money under the table, from the thieves to the shop owner.  

NHTSA has warned that non-certified airbags, including stolen and salvaged units, may not meet federal safety standards. Some may fail to deploy, or rupture and send metal shrapnel into the cabin, a similar failure to Takata's, but could be caused by cheap construction rather than degrading propellant. At the time of this writing, 10 deaths and three severe injuries across 13 crashes have been linked to counterfeit or illegally imported replacement inflators, according to NHTSA data.

Although any vehicle can be targeted, a handful of Honda models account for a disproportionate share of airbag theft incidents nationwide. The Civic, Accord, and CR-V, especially 2016 to 2021 model years, keep showing up in police reports from major metropolitan areas. Since each of those models is a top seller for Honda, a stolen airbag can fit into thousands of nearly identical vehicles on the road, giving thieves a ready-and-waiting market the moment they remove one.

In February 2026, the Chicago Police Department issued its fifth community alert on the matter after a crew targeting Honda vehicles was spotted operating on the West Side. Officials have since compared the scale of recent Honda airbag thefts to the Kia Challenge, a viral TikTok trend which led to a rash of Kia and Hyundai thefts throughout 2021 and 2022.

While the idea of Honda vehicles being easy targets has been suggested, a company spokesperson told the Chicago Sun-Times that redesigning components to further resist theft could backfire, since determined thieves are willing to force their way inside anyway, leaving the vehicle worse off than before.

Meanwhile, thieves in Detroit have targeted airbags on several Chevrolet models, with police pointing to the same black market economics behind the Honda thefts. In the case of Chevrolet and Honda, both manufacture models that are among the top five most stolen vehicles in the United States, namely the Silverado, Accord, and Civic. Given the high production numbers of all three vehicles, thieves have a readily available resale market should they decide to strip a vehicle like that for parts, airbags included.

Factory airbag replacement at a dealership or body shop typically costs about $1,500, including parts and labor.

However, a stolen airbag usually means a damaged steering column, broken windows, and busted wiring harnesses. The additional mechanical and cosmetic damage will result in a higher repair bill, one that might be even higher yet for those who drive a luxury vehicle.

If you have comprehensive coverage, commonly stolen parts like airbags, wheels and tires, and catalytic converters are usually covered. In most cases, you will pay your deductible like normal, and then your insurer covers the rest. 

When my Ford Fusion was stolen in front of my house in Detroit in the spring of 2015, it prompted me to learn more about car theft. After my Fusion was recovered and everything was resolved with my insurance company, I scheduled a series of interviews with the Michigan State Police, asking if they would talk with me since I was an automotive journalist based in Detroit. I wanted to know how car theft rings operated, what vehicles they targeted and why, and what everyday citizens could do to minimize the chances of their vehicles being stolen.  

Over the years, when writing about car theft prevention, I still refer back to the interviews I did with the Michigan State Police a decade ago. 

That said, the best defense against airbag theft is the same as car theft in general. Since most vehicle thefts are crimes of opportunity, bad actors often look for the path of least resistance.

For example, a vehicle parked in a well-lit area or in a place with higher visibility, whether from security cameras or foot traffic, is less of a target than one parked in a dark, more secluded area. When parking downtown in a bigger city, look for lots or garages with gated entry, an attendant, or security personnel.

Avoid leaving valuables (electronics, jewelry, and so on) where they can be easily spotted by someone walking by. Even with window tint, which can serve as a theft deterrent, never leave anything of value in plain sight.

For most thieves, yes, a steering wheel lock is an effective barrier. As noted a second ago, car theft is a crime of opportunity, usually carried out via the path of least resistance. Steering wheel locks serve as a visual deterrent, signaling to a thief that your vehicle is more trouble than it's worth.

Best Steering Wheel Lock to Prevent Airbag Theft

Look for something constructed from hardened steel with a reinforced housing, since thieves may have tools that can cut through thinner metals.

The Club 3000, made by Winner International, is a common pick among reviewers for its chromoly steel construction and self-locking design that engages without a key. Likewise, the Stoplock Pro Elite features a drill-safe, pick-resistant lock.

All things considered, there probably isn’t one silver bullet when it comes to preventing your airbag from being stolen. However, you can follow general overall advice on car theft prevention, which is best thought of as a layered approach. While parking in a well-lit area and using a steering wheel lock is a good combination, consider a dash cam that has a parking mode feature for an extra layer of protection.

Dash cams with parking modes (or similarly named features) usually activate when someone walks by your vehicle, capturing a set period before and after the “triggering event.” While most dash cams require a hardwire kit to enable the function, it can provide an extra layer of security.

If the dash cam has a companion app, it may send a push notification to your smartphone the moment it detects motion. Some dash cams may even automatically upload that footage to the cloud, so you can view it on your phone right away.  

Other layers of protection include VIN etching or glass-break sensors that can trigger an alarm.

Of course, none of this means your vehicle and its airbag are totally theft-proof, but combining a few of the tips above together will raise the cost of doing business for a thief looking for an easy job.

If you ever do need an airbag replaced, whether after a theft or a crash, ask the shop where the part is coming from. A reputable shop or dealership will use a genuine OEM part and shouldn't hesitate to say so. It's also worth watching the airbag warning light after the repair. If it stays on, flashes irregularly, or never lights up when you start the vehicle, get it inspected right away.