# Airbags: State Inspection & Carfax

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-state-inspection-carfax/801282>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 11, 2017, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-state-inspection-carfax/801282 "2017-11-11T02:59:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-state-inspection-carfax/801282/1 "2017-11-11T02:59:25Z")

</div>

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?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-state-inspection-carfax/801282/2 "2017-11-11T03:42:07Z")

</div>

I can answer one of your questions. No, many auto shops are not tied into Carfax.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-state-inspection-carfax/801282/3 "2017-11-11T11:56:22Z")

</div>

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.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-state-inspection-carfax/801282/4 "2017-11-11T15:18:39Z")

</div>

> [@Jinx](#):
>
> 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?

first, go to [safercar.gov](http://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.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![goldmund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a4c791/32.png) [@goldmund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldmund)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-state-inspection-carfax/801282/5 "2017-11-12T01:21:59Z")

</div>

> [@jz78817](#):
>
> first, go to [safercar.gov](http://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 Histor](https://www.vehiclehistory.com/)y provides the same information for free.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-state-inspection-carfax/801282/6 "2017-11-12T02:10:51Z")

</div>

> [@Jinx](#):
>
> Last, other than owner’s own repairs, will every shop that works on a car tie into the Carfax database?

Why would you think that “every shop” ties in to the Carfax database??? 😕