Also, we hope that most people surfing the web will have their inquiries answered by our posted information, which we constantly update. The Institute does not recommend using airbag modules recovered from salvaged vehicles for several reasons. Therefore, matching a correct airbag module to a car that is being repaired is not straightforward. Another issue involves the possibility of water damage. There is a risk that salvaged airbag modules will be from vehicles that have been in floods.
Water damage can adversely affect airbag inflation characteristics.
This problem may also arise if a salvaged airbag is directly exposed to water after being removed from a car. Finally, the widespread use of salvaged airbags for repairs is likely to exacerbate the already significant problem of airbag theft. The Institute does not track or investigate vehicle defects. Jobs in this field range from various technicians with high school plus vocational training or a 2-year college associate technology degree to researchers with a Ph.D., typically in an engineering field. For someone interested in full-scale crash testing per se, there are only a few places in the United States to get involved.