Can you do your own airbag replacement?

We were recently asked a question about whether you can do your own airbag replacement and the answer is complicated…

To start with, I would pose the question: Why you would want to?

If your car has been involved in an accident serious enough to deploy the airbag. you have bigger problems that just replacing the airbag. There will be dashboard- and body panels which will also need replacement, as well as seat belt tensioners and maybe even a re-program for the airbag’s control unit (ECU).

If your airbag needs to be replaced due to a warranty recall you will have to take it in to be replaced to maintain your warranty, which means you won’t need to replace them yourself either.

Replacing the airbag is dangerous in itself, and if you don’t follow the manufacturer’s exact procedure while doing this, the airbag can go off during fitment.

So, I guess the answer is: yes, you can, but why would you? Rather have it done by a trained professional.