- Faulty Chinese airbags are turning up in salvage and rebuilt vehicles.
- When involved in a crash, they shoot metal fragments at drivers.
- Eight people have been killed, while two others have been injured.
US officials are sounding the alarm over potentially lethal Chinese air bag inflators that could be hiding in your vehicle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these faulty parts have now been linked to two more deaths, bringing the known total to eight.
At least ten crashes have involved ruptured replacement air bag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System, the government says. These parts were likely imported illegally and used to repair vehicles that were previously involved in a crash.
More: Fake Airbags From China Are Exploding In US Cars And Killing People
All of the incidents have involved Chevrolet Malibus and Hyundai Sonatas, and most of them have had salvage or rebuilt titles. This suggests firms could have been trying to save money on repairs and the vehicles might have been bought by unsuspecting customers.
Whatever the case, the government said these “dangerous, substandard air bag inflators” malfunction during crashes. This sends “large metal fragments into drivers’ chests, necks, eyes and faces.” As a result, they’re more claymore mine than airbag.
This has had tragic results as “eight drivers have been killed in otherwise survivable crashes, while two other drivers suffered severe injuries.”
The NHTSA is warning repair companies to be on the lookout for these faulty inflators and to contact them if they have any information about them. They added, “whoever is bringing them into the country and installing them is putting American families in danger.”
Federal Agencies Are Now Involved
The government is taking this seriously as they advised people who own a vehicle with a suspect inflator to contact their local FBI field office or Homeland Security Investigations team. They can also submit a complaint to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center online.
Of course, it’s hard to know what airbag is lurking in your car. As a result, the government advised people who own a vehicle that was previously involved in a collision get it “inspected immediately.” They added if the model has a salvage or rebuilt title, this is “especially urgent.” If an airbag inflator from Detiannuo is found, the vehicle shouldn’t be driven until the component has been replaced.
An investigation was originally opened in October and the NHTSA is working with law enforcement to “address any illegal activities associated with the importation of these inflators.”
