How can I find out if a used car (private sale or not) has had the airbags replaced - assuming they were part of the massive airbag recall? Does passing state inspection mean anything in this regard? …Or, will Carfax tell me if the airbags have been replaced? Last, other than owner’s own repairs, will every shop that works on a car tie into the Carfax database?
I can answer one of your questions. No, many auto shops are not tied into Carfax.
Surely, if the work was done as part of a recall, and paid for by the manufacturer, that will be recorded on the database for that car. You may need to check with the manufacturer though. I look on Ford Etis for my Ford.
first, go to safercar.gov and look for the “Takata Recall Update” on the right side of the page, and search for your VIN. it’ll tell you if your car is affected. If it is, you then should be able to ask the service advisor at a dealer for your brand of car if they can look up whether the repair was done or not.
This is great for checking recall status. For the rest of the things you’d check on Carfax, don’t bother paying them. Vehicle History provides the same information for free.
Why would you think that “every shop” ties in to the Carfax database??? 