Ten years after Takata airbags were first deemed a hazard, ensuing a massive recall that’s still ongoing, motorists are facing a new threat with regard to these critical crash-protection components. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent warning regarding substandard counterfeit inflators being installed following deployment in a collision.
The agency reports three deaths and three “life altering, disfiguring” injuries reported over the last nine months can be directly attributed to inferior replacement airbags. The title-report company Carfax says there are more than two million cars on the road that have been fitted with new airbags following an accident, any of which could have received sub-standard units.
NHTSA says the bad bags are believed to come from companies outside the U.S. with “little to no reputation of quality and manufacturing or experience, sold at prices far below the cost of quality genuine equipment, ordered online and shipped to the United States, and installed by other than reputable repair shops or manufacturer dealerships.”
The bogus airbag malfunctions reportedly sent sizable metal fragments into drivers’ chests, necks, eyes and faces, which resulted in serious injuries or deaths in what would have otherwise been survivable collisions. In addition, NHTSA warns that the inflators in such knockoffs could deploy partially or too slowly, thus failing to protect an driver or front passenger’s head from striking the steering wheel or dashboard.
New vehicles these days can have as many as 10 airbags spread throughout the cabin.
What’s more, Carfax data indicates there are 6.4 million vehicles still on the road that have yet to have them replaced in the aforementioned Takata recall. And that’s despite their owners facing the possibility of injury and possibly death should what were original-equipment airbags explode when deployed.
While it’s difficult for NHTSA and law enforcement to discern how many cars, truck and SUVs have been fitted with sub-standard airbags, the agency cautions consumers to:
- Obtain a vehicle history report before purchasing a used vehicle or if they have already purchased a used vehicle and do not know its history. If the vehicle has been in a reported crash where the air bag deployed, they should visit a reputable independent mechanic or dealership for an air bag inspection to ensure the parts are genuine.
- Do business with reputable independent mechanics and manufacturer dealerships. When considering a purchase from a private seller, obtain a vehicle history report and have the vehicle inspected by a trusted mechanic.
- Ask about the replacement parts when having a vehicle serviced, including the brand and sourcing of the parts.
- Buy with caution when looking at automotive parts online from overseas retailers or sold at prices well below competitors. Remember, if it’s too good to be true, it likely is — and it could be deadly.
Consumers who suspect their vehicle has been fitted with irregular airbags are urged to reach out to the dealer service department or a trusted mechanic to determine if they need to be replaced. If it’s determined the vehicle has received defective airbags, NHTSA encourages the owner to 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.
Owners may also contact NHTSA online or by calling the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.
