Can I disable the air bag?

Aug 04, 2006 32 Replies

My wife drives a 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport. She is only 4' 10 " tall and has to sit really close to the steering wheel. I've read where people have been severely injured or killed when the air bag deployed even in minor accidents. I'm worried that she may be at a higher risk of getting a neck injury because of her small size. Is there a way to disarm the air bag system. I've heard that it's illegal to do this but we don't care. I would rather worry less about her safety. Please help.



Thanks, Dennis


I have heard that small people can have airbags disabled if it is a safety issue. I believe that a body shop could do it for you.

What you should do is check with your local agencies and find out if there are special provisions for your situation

Another thing that you should consider is your insurance company's view of this. In the event of a serious accident, you may not be covered if you have disabled the vehicle's safety features without going through the proper channels.

I have a friend who is a little bitty gal, if she's four feet tall then she's likely standing on a box. She was in an accident about three weeks ago and the air bags Mike Tyson punched her big time. From the way she looked after the wreck, I think you are definitely thinking on the right direction for your wife. My friend was pretty badly beat up by just the airbags.

Hope it all works out for you, and that never needs them. Do stop in and post your experience and any info that you come up with.

Kate .

The dealer must do this. The dealer can install (at your request) and i believe at no cost, a disable switch.

My 2000 TJ came from the factory with an airbag deactivation switch, but that's only for the passenger side.

Can't he just take out the airbag fuses?

Troy

Certainly not.

Missing fuses would be a dead giveaway that the system was intentionally disabled which might lead to proper legal sanctions and complications.

Since when is it illegal to drive without airbags?

Pull> Certainly not.

Disabling a safety device is against some state laws.

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is one but I can't find the reference. Picture this; Someone else uses your vehicle (even a thief) and crashes. The airbag does not deploy and the person is injured or killed. The family or individual then sues you for disabling the safety device.

Also; In the event of an accident, the insurance company may balk at paying medical costs because "if the airbag was operative the injury would have been less."

Stranger things have happened. If an idiot can sue McDonalds for burns due to putting scalding hot coffee between her legs while trying to drive, then there are no bounds.

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If someone is killed in a vehicle where the a safety devices were intentionally disabled, by removal of the fuses, might well lead to investigation of manslaughter or perhaps aggravated manslaughter or at the very least reckless endangerment.

If you wanted to disable the system you would be wiser to find another way, some unprovable way, to stop the current flow in that circuit.

I bet that there are provisions for just such a case as the OP presents though. He should start asking questions I would ask law enforcement, and my Insurance company. K.

That sounds reasonable, and right.

Take the fuses out, put 12v directly across them blowing the fuses, then reinstall.

Jeff DeWitt

billy ray wrote:

I hope you don't mind a lot of beeping, because the Jeep is going to sound the buzzer/beeper every 10-15 seconds when both fuses are blown, and flash the Airbag and seatbelt icons on the dash repeatedly.

... and risk blowing the bags too... Sounds like an opportunity to really f*** up your rig .

Kate

With a plaque warning thieves to switch it on?!

Seahag

in this day and age... possibly so. :/

Actually if you follow the dot guidance there is no way a thief could sue.

I'd rather replace the airbag with a claymore. :) That would both disuade thiefs and slow down speeders.

Hahahahaha! I agree! Maybe have both with a switch only friendlies would know about!

Seahag

I would be interested to know if those people were also wearing their seatbelts. I suspect that wearing a seatbelt will stop you getting so close to an airbag when it deploys, and and as they arrest you before impact, you and the airbag shouldn't meet at the same speed as if you were unrestrained.

Dave Milne, Scotland

How is that different from just removing the fuses?

Jeff DeWitt

Jeff DeWitt wrote:

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