Some explosives become unstable with age, and electrical contacts/sensors also degrade, it wouldnt be very nice if the airbag went off for no reason while charging down the motorway. I am not saying the explosive charges used will become unstable, just pointing out that there is probably a good reason for Skoda to have stated 15 years as a replacement age.

Many. And most of them have the Queen's picture on!

Some explosives become unstable with age, and electrical contacts/sensors also degrade, it wouldnt be very nice if the airbag went off for no reason while charging down the motorway. I am not saying the explosive charges used will become unstable, just pointing out that there is probably a good reason for Skoda to have stated 15 years as a replacement age.

I think its far more likely that they won't go off at all after 15 years rather than going off for no reason.

Car manufacturers will recommend replacement to avoid being sued by someone who's had a bump in and old car where the airbag didn't deploy.

I would bet the percentage of > 15 year old cars that have had their airbags replaced is tiny, and so I would be expecting to have heard about a few going off if they are likely to do so purely through age.

I'm not sure the airbag thing is the answer to the OP's question. Felicia's can go on for ages but all it takes for most owners on a car worth less than £500 (as most of them are now) is one fairly moderate estimated repair bill and next stop is the scrappy.

Edited 18 January, 201214 yr by juan27

Some high mileages reported here, mines a youngster by comparison.

It's a good little runner to work and back, cabin heats up quickly, goes well and after a 'trouser staining moment' when I met a stopped car around a bend recently, it seems to stop well too.... :S