🎈 eBay bans airbag sales starting today

eBay stops allowing airbag sales as of September 24. The ban covers standalone airbags, airbag inflators, and steering wheel airbag covers. It applies to new, used, deployed, rebuilt, and recalled units alike. eBay says it made the call after reviewing the risk these parts pose to buyers.

Not every airbag-related part is off the table. In the U.S., sellers who get pre-approved by eBay can still list control units, crash sensors, diagnostic modules, and passenger sensors. Sellers with airbags in their listings need to pull them today. eBay will remove anything left, and it says those removals will not count against a seller's compliance record. Trying to relist a banned part, though, can get a seller restricted.

Why it matters: This closes off a sourcing channel some shops were using, and that is probably a good thing. Counterfeit airbags keep showing up in the aftermarket, and we covered a case earlier this month where a banned Chinese inflator killed an 11th person. An airbag is not an ordinary part. If you install one, you should be able to say exactly where it came from. Follow the OEM procedures on what has to be replaced after a deployment, and keep the paperwork that proves the part is legitimate.

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New figures from AAPEX put the U.S. aftermarket at $599.7 billion for 2026, counting both light and heavy duty. That works out to about 1.9% of U.S. GDP. The light-duty side alone should grow 5.2% this year to $457 billion. The industry supports 4,872,300 jobs, roughly 3.6% of the U.S. labor force.

The number that matters most to you sits further down the list. Independent repair shops handled 72% of available repair capacity in the U.S. last year, with dealers taking the other 28%. In dollars, independents brought in $312.7 billion against $121.4 billion at dealerships. The average light vehicle on U.S. roads is now 12.94 years old, up from 12.8 a year ago, and cars alone average 15 years.

Why it matters: Independents still do the bulk of the work in this country, and the aging fleet keeps feeding that. A 15-year-old car needs more than a new one, and fewer people can afford to replace it. The other number worth noting is 354 aftermarket M&A deals last year, up from 337 the year before, with bankers expecting a faster pace this year. Consolidation is real, but so is the size of the independent share. Those two facts sit side by side.

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Rivian is recalling about 100,700 vehicles because a notification can cover up the rearview camera image when the driver shifts into reverse. That cuts rear visibility and raises crash risk. The recall covers 2022 through 2026 R1T pickups, 2022 through 2027 R1S SUVs, and the 2027 R2.

Drivers notice it right away, since the reverse image simply does not appear when it should. The picture comes back if the driver taps the camera page on the center display or once the vehicle starts moving. Rivian fixed it with a free over-the-air software update, and more than 95% of affected vehicles have already downloaded it. Notification letters go out November 9. No injuries or deaths have been tied to the problem.

Why it matters: This lands in the same week as a GM recall for 306,511 vehicles with distorted or blank camera images. Backup cameras keep generating recalls, and the fixes split two ways. Rivian pushes a software update and the job never reaches a bay. GM has dealers inspect and replace hardware. That split is the real story for shops. As more of this work turns into a remote update, less of it is work anyone can bill for, and more of your role shifts to spotting open recalls when a car comes in for something else.

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📷 GM is recalling 306,511 vehicles, including the Buick Envista and Encore GX, Chevy Trailblazer, and Chevy Trax, because the rearview camera can show a distorted or blank image.

🔍 NHTSA closed its case on backup camera failures in 129,092 Honda Ridgelines without ordering a new fix, which means owners whose camera quit after the 2022 recall now pay for the repair themselves.

🏆 GM launched a 30 Under 30 program to spotlight young service technicians, with nominations open through October 30 and honorees receiving tools, a toolbox, and AI-enhanced diagnostic glasses.

👔 Quality Collision Group named Nino Sgro executive vice president of operations for its western markets, as the OEM-certified network passes 100 locations across 13 states.

🏭 Rep. Salud Carbajal toured Magnuson Superchargers in Ventura with SEMA to talk through what it takes to build performance parts that still meet emissions rules.