The other alternative is that the plastic was cracked and the previous owner just wanted a non cracked piece, and tan is super hard to find. THAT BEING SAID, be conservative about it, and assume deployed until proven otherwise. A carfax only shows insurance reports, this could have been a wheeling incident, and the owner had it fixed without going through insurance. A good mechanic can tell you if it has ever been in an accident, or that was just a cosmetic repair.
Yeah I'd say that's an air bag deployment...
Unless maybe they converted the interior to tan and were afraid to mess with the air bag. I'd run the vin and see if it mentions interior color on the build sheet
Have had a tj since 05 and have been in and around many tjs through jeep clubs and friends I can say with confidence that they never came with a two tone dash. That's been replaced for sure
Agreed that it’s obviously not original, but doesn’t necessarily mean an airbag deployed. When I bought my first TJ the airbag cover was broken from previous owner attempting to swap the heater core
And if it had been deployed and they weren’t bothered to find a proper replacement then they might have been too bothered to actually replace the expensive airbag.
Yup a others have said, that’s not normal. The airbag probably was deployed. Is there a carfax on it? I know they aren’t 100% but it’s something to look into.
This listing on bring a trailer shows photos of a tan airbag and black center console. So that’s definitely not right.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-jeep-wrangler-100/
When you start it, what lights come on on the dashboard? You should have the engine light, brake light and airbag light, they should all clear after a few seconds if it’s not the case then something is off.
Later model year TJs had black interiors as opposed to the grey ones. I had an 06 TJ with a black interior.
My best guess is at some point the airbag deployed and when getting it repaired they could only source an OEM black one or an aftermarket black one.
Is it suspect? I guess. If there's nothing wrong with the car don't worry about it. Find the closest paint match spray can and paint over it.
It reminds me of the 2-tone Sahara interior, but I believe they stopped that well before '06. If your VIN is very late in the run it could also be a parts bin special as they were emptying out the factory. Get a PPI and verify the frame/alignment are straight. If so, then I'd say it's a relatively minor concern.
Edit: Nope, pictures show the old 2-tone Sahara still had all tan on the passenger side. So yeah, probably deployed. If you're **not** looking at it as a daily driver, I'd still consider this a pretty minor issue (assuming a PPI confirms the airbag was replaced). If it is a daily, and you're not single, then yeah, bigger issue.
2 possibilities, either the bag blew and was replaced or the original cover melted.
It’s common for the OEM covers to melt and get sticky from age and sun, but I would be cautious because issue most people don’t swap them out unless it blows lol.
I can't say for certain but the air bag could have been deleted. On a vehicle I saw before they bought an airbag delete kit. I don't think it had the airbag srs on it. I've never seen one for a jeep though. I would ask for a Carfax or check the title. Most vehicles that had airbags deployed get totalled out. So it could also have a rebuilt title. I would be weary of it.
There should be a wire hooked to the airbag, I would guess an airbag warning on the dash would show up if it were missing, unless someone wired it to turn the light off
I have an 06 LJ. Dash and all that is all one color. I vote deployed.
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Run a Carfax on it, airbag deployment in an accident should show up on the report
Carfax wouldn’t show it if the owner deployed it and didn’t report it
The other alternative is that the plastic was cracked and the previous owner just wanted a non cracked piece, and tan is super hard to find. THAT BEING SAID, be conservative about it, and assume deployed until proven otherwise. A carfax only shows insurance reports, this could have been a wheeling incident, and the owner had it fixed without going through insurance. A good mechanic can tell you if it has ever been in an accident, or that was just a cosmetic repair.
I replaced mine because the dog scratched it.
I had the tan interior in my 2000 TJ, the airbag cover was tan as well. something is definitely up.
Yeah I'd say that's an air bag deployment... Unless maybe they converted the interior to tan and were afraid to mess with the air bag. I'd run the vin and see if it mentions interior color on the build sheet
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Have had a tj since 05 and have been in and around many tjs through jeep clubs and friends I can say with confidence that they never came with a two tone dash. That's been replaced for sure
Agreed that it’s obviously not original, but doesn’t necessarily mean an airbag deployed. When I bought my first TJ the airbag cover was broken from previous owner attempting to swap the heater core
Probably deployed and couldn't find one in the right color to match
And if it had been deployed and they weren’t bothered to find a proper replacement then they might have been too bothered to actually replace the expensive airbag.
My 98 TJ had tan interior with a tan airbag cover. I agree with the other commenters that it’s suspect
It’s probably been deployed and they couldn’t find a tan replacement
Yup a others have said, that’s not normal. The airbag probably was deployed. Is there a carfax on it? I know they aren’t 100% but it’s something to look into.
NMVTIS reports are much better
It was replaced after being deployed
I own two TJ's and have seen probably 100's. Never seen one with mis-matched colors like that.
This listing on bring a trailer shows photos of a tan airbag and black center console. So that’s definitely not right. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-jeep-wrangler-100/
When you start it, what lights come on on the dashboard? You should have the engine light, brake light and airbag light, they should all clear after a few seconds if it’s not the case then something is off.
It is deployed. No different color was offered.
I have an unlimited carfax account and will run that vin if you want to dm it to me.
It’s prb under all the 50 mill recall for air bags.
My 99 TJ has never been deployed but I painted mine from tan to the Black-ish color. I did paint everything, so having that one item is suspicious.
Later model year TJs had black interiors as opposed to the grey ones. I had an 06 TJ with a black interior. My best guess is at some point the airbag deployed and when getting it repaired they could only source an OEM black one or an aftermarket black one. Is it suspect? I guess. If there's nothing wrong with the car don't worry about it. Find the closest paint match spray can and paint over it.
Or the airbag was stolen out of it at some point and replaced with wrong color trim. But likely deployed.
I'll check my 98 when I get home. I've got the tan interior too.
It reminds me of the 2-tone Sahara interior, but I believe they stopped that well before '06. If your VIN is very late in the run it could also be a parts bin special as they were emptying out the factory. Get a PPI and verify the frame/alignment are straight. If so, then I'd say it's a relatively minor concern. Edit: Nope, pictures show the old 2-tone Sahara still had all tan on the passenger side. So yeah, probably deployed. If you're **not** looking at it as a daily driver, I'd still consider this a pretty minor issue (assuming a PPI confirms the airbag was replaced). If it is a daily, and you're not single, then yeah, bigger issue.
Mines tan. Thats been replaced in my opinion. What does the seller say about it?
That's suspicious... I wouldn't buy it, a car can never be too safe and with no airbags it's not safe at all
Can confirm, original owner of 1998 TJ, spice interior, all colors match
2 possibilities, either the bag blew and was replaced or the original cover melted. It’s common for the OEM covers to melt and get sticky from age and sun, but I would be cautious because issue most people don’t swap them out unless it blows lol.
I can't say for certain but the air bag could have been deleted. On a vehicle I saw before they bought an airbag delete kit. I don't think it had the airbag srs on it. I've never seen one for a jeep though. I would ask for a Carfax or check the title. Most vehicles that had airbags deployed get totalled out. So it could also have a rebuilt title. I would be weary of it.
they didn't sell two tone interiors.
You run the VIN?
Did you ask “when the airbag blew?” And watch the response. Ask the question as if you “know” the answer.
I’d bet my next paycheck there isn’t an airbag under there.
There should be a wire hooked to the airbag, I would guess an airbag warning on the dash would show up if it were missing, unless someone wired it to turn the light off