NAPSI: Drivers and passengers generally assume the airbags in a car will work properly. However, when it comes to used vehicles, that may not be the case.

The federal government recently announced that up to 250,000 counterfeit airbags may have been used to replace deployed units. These faulty airbags may explode or not deploy at all in the event of a collision.

To protect yourself when buying a used car, here are a few tips:

• Turn on the ignition. The airbag indicator light should appear momentarily and then go out. If the indicator light remains on or flashes, this may indicate a problem with the airbag system.

• Get the Carfax Vehicle History Report. The report may include salvage or junk titles, accident indicators such as frame damage or airbag deployments, and repair details.

• Another way to help check for faulty airbags is to get a professional inspection by a mechanic or airbag specialist.

To learn more, visit www.carfax.com. North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.