I think that side curtain airbags were an option for the 1st generation 2003 model Prius. My local dealer doesn't think so. Does anyone know whether side curtain airbags are/were available for the '03? TIA, Nick D.
I don't know whether they were available as an option, but I highly doubt that any air bags could be fitted on a car that did not have them originally. Even if they were available as an option, a car without the option probably could not be retrofitted with them.
Side air bags were an option beginning in 2002. They were installed in the front seats, so (among other things) you needed to have "blowout" stitching if seat covers were added. It may be possible to retrofit these by installing front seats from a salvage vehicle whose bags didn't blow. I really don't know if there are other complications, for example, where are the triggering sensors?
