Hi, new to forum. Have a 1996 cherokee sport 4.0 IL6 4x4 with driver side airbag only, need to either add passenger side airbag or sell. can i swap out a 1996 grand cherokee panel that has both driver and passenger air bags? Can i add an airbag where the glove box is on current panel? Thanks! Joe

 

It'd be cheaper to buy another Jeep and sell the one you have.

 

Not feasible. Even if it were, I believe it would have to be done by certified technicians and have their stamp of approval for your insurer to even consider it.

 

The 95-96 uses a mechanical driver side airbag. There are no electronics. The airbag on the steering wheel is all there is. It was never designed to use or even work with a passenger side airbag. To add one you would have to figure out how to make it fit, how to mount it, add a controller, and run the wiring which would need wired into the driver side as well. But because the driver side is mechanical, you cant wire it, so youre already up against a wall. Also, with the driver side being mechanical and the passenger being electrical, they will most likely react differently. Theres a whole mess of liability with this for a shop to even consider doing it. Even if the driver side was electrical you are still faced with figuring out to make it fit, how to mount it, add a controller, and run the wiring. But there are no controllers for a 95-96 so once again, youre up against a wall. The 95-96 simply wasnt designed or engineered to use a passenger side airbag.

Youre better off leaving it as is or buying a 97 and up XJ.

 

I'm curious, why do you need a passenger side air bag?

 

What he said. I'm HAPPY 3 out of 4 of my vehicles don't have airbags. Have you seen the news about the airbags that are KILLING people? Explosives and my face don't need to interact.

 

Airbags still save far more lives than they hurt. Those airbags that have had issues were recalled (Takata Airbags).

I've got several EMT & Nursing friends that the subject has come up from.

People tend to suffer far more (to the point of traumatic or fatal) neck injuries without airbags.

They'll beat you up, but I'll take being able to walk at the end of the day vs. being paralyzed.

That being said, I daily drive an '89 Corolla with no Airbags