Airbag Thefts Surge in Chicago, Leaving Drivers Facing Costly Delays

Airbag thefts in Chicago are on the rise, as are repair wait times. Here’s what to know. – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)

Chicago resident Kieran Degenaars stepped outside one Saturday morning in March to find his 2018 Honda Civic with a shattered driver-side window and glass scattered across the pavement. What he first assumed was a random break-in turned out to be something far more targeted: the airbag inside the steering wheel had been removed. The incident left him without a vehicle for nearly three weeks and more than $1,200 in rideshare expenses after insurance covered only part of the roughly $3,300 repair bill. Similar stories have multiplied across the city in recent months. Police community alerts and local repair shops point to a clear uptick in thefts that focus on a single, high-value component. The pattern has created ripple effects for owners who suddenly find themselves navigating long waits for replacement parts.

Targeted Break-Ins That Take Less Than a Minute

Thieves often complete the entire operation in under 60 seconds by smashing a window and prying the airbag free from the steering wheel. Retired Chicago Police Deputy Superintendent Anthony Riccio, who once oversaw efforts to track these crimes, explained that the black market operates with precision. Body shops sometimes place specific orders for airbags matching popular models, prompting thieves to locate and strike those exact vehicles. The thefts have concentrated in certain neighborhoods. Analysis of 151 community alerts issued between December 2025 and April 2026 showed the highest concentration in Lake View, followed by Humboldt Park and Grand Boulevard. Officers who responded to Degenaars’ report noted that several other residents in the same North Side area had already filed similar complaints.

Parts Shortages Fuel a Lucit Black Market

New airbags from dealerships can exceed $1,000, yet used units appear on online marketplaces for far less. The ongoing shortage traces back to the massive Takata airbag recall that began a decade ago and affected tens of millions of vehicles. Honda and Acura models, already hit hard by that recall and a follow-up in 2024, remain frequent targets. Shop owner Sair Arapovic of Royce Auto in Bensenville has handled more than 60 stolen-airbag cases in the past three months. He described dealerships struggling to keep pace, with some vehicles sitting idle for a month or longer while parts remain on back order. Chicago resident Kiki Dusina learned the same reality when her Honda CR-V required a replacement: the dealership placed her car on a waiting list that could stretch one to two months.

Hidden Dangers of Using Unverified Airbags

Even when a stolen airbag fits the compartment, it may not function correctly in a crash. Rosemary Shahan, president of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, warned that drivers often cannot verify whether the part is the correct model or has been compromised until an accident occurs. Frontal airbags have saved more than 50,000 lives over three decades, according to federal data, making any uncertainty especially concerning. Mechanics at repair shops sometimes discover that stolen units lack proper serial-number traceability. Arapovic noted that while an airbag can be linked to a general vehicle type, nothing ties it to the specific car from which it was taken, complicating efforts to confirm legitimacy.

Practical Steps Owners Are Taking Now

Complete prevention remains difficult, yet several measures have gained traction among Chicago drivers. Shahan advises parking under streetlights or in monitored garages whenever possible. The steering-wheel lock known as “The Club” has also seen renewed interest, with some police districts distributing them at community events. Degenaars installed one after his Civic was repaired and described it as the most effective short-term deterrent he has found. Still, experts caution that determined thieves may simply cut through the device, underscoring that no single solution eliminates the risk entirely. The surge has left many owners weighing the trade-offs between convenience, cost, and safety while waiting for parts that remain in short supply.