Question RE: Airbags

[CSR]

Guys,

I've been trying to do a bit of research about aftermarket seats and it seems that the OEM Recaro option from VW that you get, does NOT have side airbags.

What would the concensus be then from a legal / insurance claim / roadworthy side of things if you have bought a car that had side air bags and then upgraded to the recaros which DO NOT have side airbags?

I'm reading mixed opinions on the interwebs...Would love a definitive answer as I am thinking of upgrading to Recaro Sportster seats which don't have side airbags (and even if I got the option with it they are not ADR certified).

Clem

[pat25d]

Don't know about legal, but i doubt insurers would care.

Activation of airbags costs insurers heaps and if it's a serious accident the car would be a write off anyway.

[NickZ]

Your comprehensive insurance should be fine as long as you disclose it when you apply for the policy.

CTP may cause issues though.

[Stuwey]

Straight up, it is ILLEGAL to remove airbags from a vehicle. No matter if it's front/side/knee/whatever.

You're lowering the safety standard, which you can't do.

If it isn't legal, then it isn't roadworthy. I can see there being a very fine print legal battle if your passenger were to be injured, as it could be taken that it would be as a direct result of the removal of airbags.

If you're like me and not worried, do it. I fitted the same seats. If you have to ask about the legalities, then don't!

[ozgti]

If the airbag is disconnected but still attached to the vehicle, then yes it is unsafe and therefore a blue/pink slip failure (faulty airbag). However, if the plug is there but there is no airbag, then there is no airbag, so it should be all clear. I know that there used to be some models of cars that have the wiring loom for all the airbags but dont have all the airbags.

How legal something is depends on what legality you are talking about. I'm fairly certain the cops aren't going to give a stuff whether your car had this airbag or that, but a lawyer will argue that it is a safety feature hat was designed by the manufacturer to help save you from injury in an accident.

[Ben J]

Realistically what are the chances of you being involved in an accident where a passenger gets injured only due to the fact that that seat airbag is not there, and that they then get a lawyer and take it to court? How are they even going to know if there was once an airbag there.

Put the recaro's in.

[wai]

Realistically what are the chances of you being involved in an accident where a passenger gets injured only due to the fact that that seat airbag is not there, and that they then get a lawyer and take it to court? How are they even going to know if there was once an airbag there.

Put the recaro's in.

It is not that simple. All one party to the dispute had to do is inject a reasonable doubt. It is not that the lawyers for the injured/deceased have to prove that the side air bags would have save a life/injury, but that a conscious act by you rendered a safety device ineffective and as a result you have to prove that the lack of a bag did not contribute to the death/injury.

Just take the "disable front air bag" deletion on cars in Australia. My Caddy has a blank plate where the key would normally be.

It's not worth it, and seat manufacturers need to get their act together and start offering aftermarket seats that have the necessary airbags.

[CSR]

Guys I did actually get a confirmation from Vicroads, I posted it on VWGolf but forgot to post it here.

Basically since the car came with the optional recaros from factory (WHICH DON'T HAVE SIDE AIRBAGS) then you can get an aftermarket seat w/out side airbags. If there was no option from factory, then it would be illegal. Stupid stupid laws, but if they weren't stupid they wouldn't be laws I guess .

This was resolved over the phone and I afterwards sent an e-mail asking for written confirmation which to this day (a week later) I still haven't gotten...I think it's pretty normal for long waits from Vicroads however.

It is not that simple. All one party to the dispute had to do is inject a reasonable doubt. It is not that the lawyers for the injured/deceased have to prove that the side air bags would have save a life/injury, but that a conscious act by you rendered a safety device ineffective and as a result you have to prove that the lack of a bag did not contribute to the death/injury.

Just take the "disable front air bag" deletion on cars in Australia. My Caddy has a blank plate where the key would normally be.

It's not worth it, and seat manufacturers need to get their act together and start offering aftermarket seats that have the necessary airbags.

Recaro Sportster CS do have an optional side air bag but it is not ADR approved so it's useless in Aus and costs too much to bother getting approval for such a niche market (that's the way I see it anyway).