The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) banned Chinese airbag inflators earlier this year after they were linked to fatalities. Despite the ban, another death has been reported, bringing the number of people killed by the defective inflators to 11.The NHTSA released a statement back in April, stating that it was investigating airbags illegally imported from China after they were linked to the deaths of at least 10 people over the last three years. Instead of inflating with air and protecting the occupant during a collision, these inflators exploded and directed metal fragments into drivers' faces, necks, and chests. The department was seeking public comments on the decision to ban the "substandard" airbag inflators.Now, in a separate report, the NHTSA has stated that a person died after the banned airbag inflator exploded in their Chevrolet Equinox. Notably, the other fatalities and severe injuries took place in Chevrolet Malibu and Hyundai Sonata vehicles because their original frontal driver airbag inflators were replaced with defective and likely illegally imported inflators marked with the identifier DTN60DB. The department also stated that the collision was otherwise a "survivable crash."AdvertisementAdvertisementIn response, the NHTSA urged used vehicle owners, especially those whose vehicles have been involved in crashes since 2020, to have their vehicles inspected. Although the agency banned these imported components, some of them could have made their way into a crashed vehicle in the past that was repaired and sold to another customer. The report stated:"NHTSA urges used vehicle owners and buyers to learn their vehicle's history and ensure the vehicle has genuine air bag inflators. Owners or buyers not familiar with their vehicle's history should obtain a history report."a car with a paper bag in the passenger seatHaving a vehicle professionally inspected after any collision involving airbag deployment is essential. A qualified mechanic should verify that any replacement airbag meets the same standard as the original unit; counterfeit or substandard replacements can be just as dangerous as faulty ones. This is not a check owners should attempt themselves.Owners who find an airbag inflator with the identifier DTN60DB should not drive their vehicle until it is replaced with an original airbag inflator. In addition, owners should contact their local Homeland Security Investigations office or FBI field office to report it or submit an online complaint to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center.
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