A Life-Saving Device Turns Deadly... Counterfeit Airbags Invade U.S. Used Car Market

Turned Into a Deadly Weapon, Spraying Metal Fragments Upon Collision
Distributed on Online Platforms at One-Tenth the Price of Genuine Parts
Growing Anxiety Among Used Car Buyers Over Accident Risks

An incident has occurred in which an airbag, a device intended to protect people, turned into a deadly weapon during a collision, releasing metal fragments that killed the driver.

On July 8 (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing an announcement by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reported that front driver-side airbag inflators labeled 'DTN60DB' ruptured in 13 accidents in the United States, resulting in 10 deaths and 3 serious injuries to date. The inflators in question are supposed to inflate the airbag upon impact; however, investigations revealed that in actual accidents, the inflator exploded, sending metal fragments into the driver's face, neck, and chest.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Pixabay

In April 2026, NHTSA made a final determination that these inflators had a safety defect and banned their import and sale in the United States. The affected inflators are mainly those labeled 'DTN60DB' and are believed to have been manufactured in 2021 or 2022. Although the airbag manufacturer is a Chinese company, the company claimed it did not sell these products in the U.S. market and suggested that the problematic inflators might be counterfeit versions of its products. However, NHTSA stated that no evidence supporting this claim had been submitted and concluded that, regardless of who made them, inflators with this label have repeatedly exhibited fatal defects in real-world accidents.

Most of the affected vehicles were used cars in which the original airbags had already deployed due to past accidents and were replaced with cheap aftermarket parts instead of genuine ones. According to WSJ, these faulty airbag modules were distributed on online platforms such as eBay and Facebook Marketplace at a fraction of the price of genuine parts. Some sellers and importers reportedly concealed the components inside toy shipments to smuggle them in.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that used car buyers and owners check the vehicle’s accident history, airbag deployment history, total loss or theft records, and unauthorized repair history. If the vehicle has had airbags deployed, it should undergo a professional inspection at the manufacturer’s dealer or a trusted repair shop. The photo is unrelated to the specific content of the article. Screenshot from social media.

A Korean international student was also among the victims. According to the WSJ report, Lee Seok Kang, who was staying in the United States to attend flight school, was involved in an accident while driving a Chevrolet Malibu in Texas in October 2023. The driver-side airbag deployed, the inflator ruptured, and metal fragments struck Kang's face. WSJ reported that Kang lost part of his lower jaw and a significant number of teeth, requiring infection treatment and facial reconstructive surgery. Investigations revealed that the problematic airbag had been purchased on eBay and installed by a used car dealer.

Similar incidents have been identified in other states as well. The NHTSA’s list includes accidents in Oklahoma City in 2024; Phoenix, Arizona; West Valley City, Utah; Hayward, California; Wichita, Kansas; Toledo, Ohio; Austin, Texas; and Clarksdale, Mississippi, among others. So far, the confirmed affected vehicles have mainly been Chevrolet Malibu and Hyundai Sonata models, but NHTSA stated that there is no information indicating the risk is limited to these specific models.

The main issue is that tracking these inflators is nearly impossible. Genuine parts leave a trail of manufacturing, import, sale, and installation, but these inflators appear to have been imported illegally, making it difficult to even estimate how many are circulating in the U.S. Although NHTSA has ultimately ordered manufacturers and importers to conduct a recall, the lack of a list of affected vehicles makes the usual VIN-based recall process virtually impossible.

NHTSA advises used car buyers and owners to check the vehicle's accident history, airbag deployment history, total loss and theft history, and unauthorized repair history. If the vehicle has had airbags deployed, it should undergo a professional inspection at the manufacturer's dealer or a trusted repair shop. It is extremely dangerous to open the steering wheel cover or disassemble the airbag yourself, and NHTSA strongly warns against conducting self-inspections.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.