NHTSA warns of deaths from counterfeit airbag parts

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent warning after eight drivers were killed and two others seriously injured by counterfeit Chinese airbag inflators believed to have been illegally imported into the United States. The agency said the inflators, made by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co. Ltd. (DTN), ruptured in crashes and sent metal fragments into drivers.

All ten incidents involved vehicles that had their original airbags replaced following a previous crash. While known cases have occurred in Chevrolet Malibu and Hyundai Sonata vehicles, most with salvage or rebuilt titles, NHTSA said it cannot confirm the risk is limited to these models.

The agency has an open investigation into the DTN inflators and has alerted the US auto repair industry. DTN has acknowledged on its website that its inflators are prohibited from sale in the United States.

NHTSA is urging used vehicle owners and buyers to verify their vehicle’s history and have any previously crashed vehicle inspected to ensure genuine replacement airbags were fitted. Vehicles found to contain DTN inflators should not be driven until the parts are replaced.

Source: NHTSA