Faulty Airbags Could Cause Fatal Accidents; Visit a Carfax Dealer for a Free Airbag and a Vehicle History Report During November

FAIRFAX, Va.--Oct. 2, 20045, 2004--Approximately one out of every 25 previously damaged vehicles have phony or dummy airbags, but only a handful of states have laws regulating airbag system replacements. Carfax, the most trusted provider of vehicle history reports, is teaming up with Carfax Dealers nationwide to offer consumers free airbag checks and Carfax Vehicle History Reports during the month of November.

"Airbag systems are expensive to replace so to keep costs down and profits up, scam artists may cut corners," said Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax. "Victims of airbag fraud have found their airbags stuffed with everything from rags to old shoes or nothing at all. However, most victims of airbag fraud may never know until it's too late."

Airbag fraud is virtually undetectable unless you check the car's computer system.

"If these airbags have been tampered with by improper repair the consumer is buying a vehicle that is not going to offer them any safety at all," said Bruce Strain, an expert in airbag replacement.

To help protect millions of drivers on the roadways every day, Carfax Dealers have joined forces to offer consumers free airbag checks and Carfax Vehicle History Reports during the month of November. To locate a Carfax Dealer, consumers can log on to www.carfax.com, click on "find a dealer" and enter their zip code.

"An airbag unit is there to save lives whenever they are needed," said Gamache. "We want to ensure that drivers are made aware of this potentially fatal scam and hopefully help those who may be affected."

About Carfax

Founded in 1986, Carfax pioneered the concept of the vehicle history report. Carfax Vehicle History Reports, the most comprehensive collection of used vehicle information ever assembled, can confirm a clean title history or help purchasers identify previous salvage history, odometer fraud, flood damage and more. Used car buyers can access more than three billion vehicle history records assembled from thousands of different sources in the Carfax nationwide database at www.carfax.com or through a participating dealer. Used cars purchased with Carfax Vehicle History Reports that confirm a clean title history as reported by the state departments of motor vehicles may be eligible for the Carfax Buyback Guarantee. Carfax, Inc., based in Fairfax, Virginia, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the R.L. Polk & Co.