"Airbag" scandal repeats in US, Chinese components under scrutiny

The Takata airbag scandal, which triggered the largest vehicle recall in automotive history, has caused at least 35 deaths and 400 injuries in the United States as of 2024.

However, drivers in the US are once again facing airbag safety risks after the death of a driver in the Dallas area last month was linked to a faulty aftermarket airbag inflator from China in a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox.

Following an investigation into the accident, it was determined that the driver’s death was caused by the airbag inflator exploding upon impact, producing dangerous metal fragments that acted like projectiles.

CarBuzz reported on Wednesday (9/9) local time that this death is the 11th case linked to the component, which originates from an aftermarket parts manufacturer in Jilin Province, China.

According to reports, the Dallas accident is the first fatality since the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) banned the import and sale of certain inflators.

The component is manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Company. The NHTSA has accused the manufacturer, also known as DTN, of failing to produce components that meet government-mandated standards.

Previously, ten other deaths had also been linked to DTN-made inflators.

Consequently, the NHTSA is advising potential used-car buyers to inspect vehicles before purchase to ensure that the original airbags from the vehicle manufacturer are still installed.

This advice becomes increasingly critical if vehicle history reports indicate previous accidents or damage, which may have led to original equipment (OE) standard inflators being replaced with lower-quality counterfeit units.

The NHTSA has been aware of the dangers of using low-quality replacement airbag parts for years. The agency has even issued warnings to consumers since 2013 regarding the hazards of using non-OE components.

These counterfeit airbags are often cheaper, which can incentivise vehicle owners and repair shops to cut repair costs.

The issue is similar to the previous Takata case. Inflators made by that company also exploded during accidents, forcing the Japanese parts supplier to recall more than 67 million vehicles from 12 different manufacturers worldwide.