News
Airbag Safety · Automotive Regulation · Product Liability · Supply Chain Risk
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a safety warning regarding "substandard and dangerous" Chinese-made replacement airbag inflators from Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co.
Ltd., which have caused 8 deaths and 2 serious injuries across 10 crashes in the United States. NHTSA has opened an investigation into these illegally imported inflators, which malfunction by rupturing and sending metal fragments into vehicle occupants.
The agency states the 8 fatalities occurred in "survivable" crashes, highlighting the severe danger posed by these components. The known incidents involved Chevrolet Malibu and Hyundai Sonata vehicles, primarily those with salvage or rebuilt titles where original airbags were replaced.
Hyundai confirmed its concern over these unauthorized components, emphasizing that its vehicles are engineered to rigorous safety standards and the use of non-genuine parts undermines these protections. Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co.
Ltd. has acknowledged on its website that these inflators are prohibited from sale in the U.S. NHTSA urges the auto repair industry to identify and report these dangerous inflators and advises vehicle owners, especially those with salvage or rebuilt titles, to ensure genuine airbag inflators are installed.
