[McClintoc]

My truck is about 12.5 years old and while it's easy to tell if most of the parts still work (headlights still come on, brakes still stop the truck, fuel pump still sends fuel to the engine, etc, etc) how do I tell if things like the air bags still "work"? Short of crashing my truck into a tree, is there any way to test the air bags? I'd hate to get in a wreck only to have my air bags not deploy because they are so old. Do air bags go bad?

 

[tbplus10]

Yes air bags do go bad, most air bags have a mfgr date and a "Placed In Service Date" on them.
Manufacturers offer a replacement recomendation time period for air bags but its normally ignored due to the expense involved in replacing the air bags.
Most (not all) air bags are considered expired after 10 yrs, its uncommon for them to be removed from service or replaced at that time though, cost's quite a bit to replace.

 

[McClintoc]

Yeah, I've heard air bags are super pricey to repack or replace.

 

[csltrains96]

You're worried about the age of your air bags? A lot of us are still driving a truck that never had them to begin with!

:happy:

 

[McClintoc]

Haha! That's actually a good point.

 

[01SilveradoBeast]

That's funny you mention that, I read an article about that a few weeks ago. How they used to call for a service every ten years or so. I can't find the one I was reading but edmunds explains it here...
http://www.edmunds.com/car-safety/do-car-airbags-expire.html

So, I'd say air bags don't expire...

 

[McClintoc]

That's funny you mention that, I read an article about that a few weeks ago. How they used to call for a service every ten years or so. I can't find the one I was reading but edmunds explains it here...
http://www.edmunds.com/car-safety/do-car-airbags-expire.html

So, I'd say air bags don't expire...

Thanks for the article! I like how it specifically mentions GM vehicles. As for my truck, the airbag light comes on at start-up then goes off and has never been on for a long period of time. Based soley on the article, I would say my airbags are good to go.