Feds Issue Warning Regarding Defective Aftermarket Airbags

Defective airbag inflators are at the center of a growing safety crisis

Two recent fatal accidents have reignited federal warnings about counterfeit airbags that can explode during a crash, as regulators point to a manufacturer based in China. According to a new report in The Wall Street Journal, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating seven incidents, including five deaths, tied to aftermarket airbag parts that ruptured during collisions.

At the center of the probe is Jilin Province Detiannuo Safety Technology, also known as DTN Airbag. This company makes airbag inflators, the small but critical devices inside airbags that use chemicals to create gas, which quickly fills the bag in the event of a crash. Regulators say that DTN’s inflators are faulty, substandard, and dangerously unpredictable.

Last year, NHTSA identified five incidents linked to defective inflators, including three fatalities. It has connected those cases, along with two additional deaths, to DTN, with a crash as recent as July. Federal officials say they are working with other agencies to track how these counterfeit parts are entering the country, often through online sales and shady supply chains.

“Whoever is bringing this faulty Chinese equipment into the country and installing it is putting American families in danger and committing a serious crime,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.

Lessons from the Takata recall

Airbag safety has been brought to the forefront ever since the infamous Takata recall that began in 2014. The largest automotive recall in U.S. history was linked to at least 28 deaths in the U.S. and led to tens of millions of vehicles being called back for repair, which still persists today in other countries. Regulators have since remained on high alert for substandard inflators and counterfeit parts.

Unlike Takata, which was a major global supplier of automotive safety equipment prior to the massive recall, DTN claims that it doesn’t sell products in the U.S. In fact, a statement on its website, per the Journal, insisted that it “doesn’t do business in the U.S. and that its products are prohibited from being sold to the U.S.” 

However, lawsuits and federal investigations suggest otherwise, as the tragic case of 22-year-old Florida mother Destiny Byassee is one of these exceptions. Byassee was driving a used 2020 Chevrolet Malibu when she crashed at about 30 mph. According to a lawsuit filed by her family, the counterfeit airbag installed in her car blew apart “like a grenade,” which resulted in metal shrapnel from the ruptured inflator to slice her neck and leave her unresponsive by the time first responders arrived.

Her family’s attorney, Andrew Parker Felix, said his firm has multiple cases where people lost their lives because of counterfeit airbags. He told WSJ that Chinese-made counterfeit air bags like the one installed in Byassee’s Malibu have “a shocking record of exploding during crashes and killing vehicle occupants.”

Many of these counterfeits can be found online

Investigators say that many of these parts that make it into U.S. vehicles are sold online, sometimes through sites like eBay, and delivered to shops or individual buyers. Repair shops that are looking to save money often cut corners and illegally install them in unsuspecting drivers’ vehicles. Like most factory genuine parts sold directly from the manufacturer, genuine airbag modules made for a specific car can cost upwards of $1,000, while counterfeits that often look identical to the real thing can sell for as little as $100.

In a statement to the Journal, Bob Stewart, GM’s global brand protection manager and the president of the Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council, said that “these fakes are often constructed with poor-quality materials and are more likely to fail because they’re only imitations of the engineering that goes into the real product.”

In a consumer alert issued in July 2024, NHTSA described faulty inflators tied to recent incidents as “cheap, substandard replacements that can cause death or serious injury in otherwise survivable car crashes.” The agency strongly advises consumers only to purchase manufacturer-certified airbag replacements and to be wary of any signals of counterfeit parts, including, but not limited to, low prices that may seem too good to be true. The agency also urges auto techs to stay vigilant and avoid sourcing parts from questionable sellers. 

Final thoughts

When it comes to car maintenance and repair, whether for major collision repairs or routine oil changes, many drivers are often unaware of the specific parts that will be installed in their vehicles. If you have concerns about which airbags are being used in your car, you can take proactive steps to ensure your safety.

If you need an airbag replacement, don’t hesitate to ask the mechanic about the parts being used. Additionally, if you are considering purchasing a used car that may have undergone repairs, you can get a pre- or post-purchase inspection from a reputable mechanic you trust. Always ensure that parts are sourced directly from the automaker or a certified supplier, and choose repair shops that you can trust.