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Soon, you won’t be able to buy an airbag for your car or truck on eBay. And what’s more, airbag-related parts like inflators and steering wheel covers will also be off-limits. The decision stems from concerns about faulty or counterfeit parts that could put people’s lives at risk. However, some pre-approved sellers can continue to sell related parts like control units, crash sensors, diagnostic modules, and passenger sensors.
eBay’s statement reads, “Effective September 24, 2026, airbags and airbag inflators are not permitted to be listed or sold on eBay by any seller. This policy applies across the entire airbag category. This decision was made following a comprehensive review of the risks these products may pose to eBay users.”
Several factors likely led to this decision, as fake, mislabeled, or faulty automotive components have spread through the U.S. in recent years, most of them originating from China and sold through online platforms. Back in April, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published a report claiming that “substandard Chinese airbag inflators” are likely to blame for 10 fatalities and two serious injuries in a dozen crashes over the past three years. The report also found that at least one of those had been purchased on eBay.
For what it’s worth, Amazon already prohibited the sale of airbags, as did Meta (via Facebook Marketplace), Alibaba, and Temu.
In July, the Wall Street Journal published an interview with Eui Seok Kang, who was severely disfigured when the airbag of his Chevrolet Malibu detonated after a crash. The investigation found that the airbag had been purchased aftermarket via eBay by the dealership that sold him the car. When he crashed, it “sent metal shards flying into [his] face.”
While most images of inflated airbags make them look like pillows or beach balls, or something with any sort of give, they’re far from soft or comforting. As Becky Mueller, a senior research engineer at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, recently explained to NPR, “Airbags are actually like a pyrotechnic device.” They inflate violently in a matter of fractions of a second to keep an occupant’s head and chest safe in a collision. But when any of the hardware is defective, they’re practically grenades going off right in front of you.
It’s imperative that if you ever need to repair or replace an airbag, do it through a reputable shop, not a questionable online listing.
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As deputy editor, Jerry draws on a decade of industry experience and a lifelong passion for motorsports to guide The Drive’s short- and long-term coverage.
