The last I heard from Volvo, as long as the air bag cover is not torn or cracked, the airbag is good. The airbag system does self diagnostics, if the SRS light comes on, there is a problem (except for a few seconds when you start the car). If the light is off (except for a few seconds at start up) the system is functional. My only advice is to ensure the driver is wearing a seatbelt as these are first generation systems that pack a punch.

For a no airbag crash example, my wife crashed our 89 244 in 2002, 55MPH into a creek bank after a tire was cut. She suffered a hangman's fracture of the C2 vertebrae in her neck. By miracle of miracles and against all odds she survived and recovered fully after six months despite the clinical probability of recovering fully being at 3%. Her Neurosurgeon said that if the Volvo 240 would have had an airbag, she would have been able to walk away from the crash and avoid the broken neck and near lethal brain swelling.

After that accident, while she was recovering, I built her a 90 244 with air bag. After that, we moved up to a 92 245 with airbag. All of our vehicles now have airbags.

I liken the airbag/no airbag argument to wearing or not wearing a seatbelt, when I was young and "stupid" I refused to wear a seatbelt. It took two accidents for the "young, stupid, and "immortal me" to learn my lesson. Once I got out of the Hospital, I have always worn a seatbelt without exception. On a regular basis, my body reminds me in painful ways how stupid I was back then, roughly 28 years ago.

jorrell


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92 245 299.3K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!