Is China exporting counterfeit airbag parts to the US? Warning issued after fatal accidents

US regulators are once again sounding the alarm over counterfeit vehicle parts following two recent accidents linked to faulty airbag inflators allegedly made in China.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that seven incidents, including five fatalities, are now under investigation involving airbag components that ruptured on impact instead of providing protection.

The latest crashes, including one as recent as July, appear to involve counterfeit inflators produced by Jilin Province Detiannuo Safety Technology, also known as DTN Airbag. Officials have said the inflators, which use volatile chemicals to deploy airbags during collisions, are prone to catastrophic failure.

Federal agencies on alert

The NHTSA stated that it is coordinating with other federal agencies to address what it called an urgent safety concern. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a stark warning to the auto repair industry, saying that shops installing such parts are putting families at risk and potentially committing serious crimes. He urged mechanics and suppliers to be vigilant, warning that these inflators present a clear and immediate danger.

A history of airbag failures

The issue of defective airbag inflators has shadowed the automotive industry for over a decade, most notably with the Takata recall that began in 2014. That crisis, which led to more than 28 deaths in the US and tens of millions of vehicles recalled worldwide, heightened awareness of the dangers of substandard inflators. In this new wave of incidents, regulators fear counterfeit components have slipped through supply chains and into vehicles across the country.

Last year, NHTSA had already flagged five incidents, including three fatalities, tied to substandard inflators. The agency has since connected DTN’s products to those earlier cases as well as to the more recent deaths The Wall Street Journal report said.

Industry pushback and denials

A statement on the firm’s website says that DTN does not sell products in the US and that its inflators are prohibited from entering the American market. Despite this claim, investigators say counterfeit inflators have made their way into the US through online sales and auction sites.

Past complaints have flagged platforms such as eBay as sources for such components. With authentic airbag modules costing over $1,000, counterfeit versions—sometimes sold for as little as $100—offer a cheaper but dangerous alternative for cost-conscious buyers and repair shops, The Wall Street Journal said.

Scope of the problem

Determining how many counterfeit airbags are currently installed in US vehicles remains a challenge. Experts say the parts often appear indistinguishable from legitimate inflators. The WSJ report quoted Bob Stewart, president of the Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council and a senior executive at General Motors, as warning that fake airbags are among the most commonly counterfeited auto components. He explained that these parts are typically made with inferior materials and lack the engineering rigour of authentic products, increasing their likelihood of failure.

A deadly example

The human toll of counterfeit airbags is already evident. In Florida, the family of 22-year-old mother Destiny Byassee has filed a lawsuit after she died in a low-speed collision in her used 2020 Chevrolet Malibu.

According to court filings, the counterfeit inflator inside her airbag ruptured violently, ejecting shrapnel that caused fatal injuries to her neck. Her family’s attorney, Andrew Parker Felix, said the case was not isolated, pointing to multiple lawsuits involving deaths tied to Chinese-made counterfeit airbags.

Felix argued that these components had an alarming record of exploding during crashes and killing occupants.

Ongoing efforts to protect drivers

The NHTSA has issued consumer alerts urging drivers and repair shops to avoid uncertified parts and to verify replacements with manufacturers. In July 2024, the agency described some counterfeit inflators as “cheap, substandard” devices that could turn otherwise survivable accidents into deadly encounters. Officials emphasised that only manufacturer-certified parts should be used for replacements to ensure reliability and safety.

While investigations continue, regulators and industry leaders agree on the seriousness of the threat posed by counterfeit airbags. With online marketplaces providing potential entry points for unsafe products and with inflators linked to multiple deaths, the controversy surrounding DTN and its alleged role highlights a broader challenge in safeguarding US roads from counterfeit automotive components.