Airbags deploy only above a crash severity threshold, so a deployment record is a reliable indicator that an impact was substantial rather than a parking knock.
Replacing a deployed system properly means new airbags, new seat belt pretensioners and a replaced or reset control module. It is expensive, which creates an incentive to cut corners.
Improper repairs range from fitting a cover over an empty housing to installing a resistor that stops the warning light without any airbag being present. Both leave the vehicle with no restraint protection at all.
Why it matters
An airbag that will not deploy is invisible until the moment you need it, which makes this one of the most dangerous defects to inherit unknowingly.
How to check it
Turn the ignition on and confirm the airbag warning light illuminates and then goes out. A light that never comes on at all is a warning sign, not a good sign.
Does this apply to the car you are looking at?
Run the VIN or plate and see what is actually on record.
Related terms
Definitions are general guidance, not legal advice. Title rules, total loss thresholds and inspection requirements are set by each state and change over time, so confirm the position with the motor vehicle agency for the state the vehicle is titled in before relying on it.