Counterfeit Airbags from China Linked to at Least 10 Deaths in U.S.

Counterfeit airbag inflators, allegedly imported from China and marked with "DTN airbag" part numbers, have been linked to at least 10 deaths in the United States, according to foreign media reports citing the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The NHTSA banned the sale and import of these specific inflators in April. Federal safety reports indicate that since 2023, at least 10 fatalities have occurred in the U.S. in incidents involving these inflators. In June, three individuals, including a driver in Louisville, Kentucky, suffered severe injuries.

Among the victims was Kang Yi-seok, a South Korean student studying aviation in the U.S. In October 2023, while driving a used car in Texas, the driver's side airbag deployed, and metal fragments struck his face. The problematic airbag had been installed by a used car dealer who purchased it on eBay.

NHTSA stated that these airbag inflators were likely illegally imported into the U.S. and installed in airbags sold online as aftermarket replacement parts. The agency has ordered all involved companies, including manufacturers and importers, to initiate recalls, though specific company names were not disclosed. Federal prosecutor Elise Boyle warned that consumers might unknowingly be installing "bombs" in their steering wheels.

Supervision of aftermarket airbag parts is reportedly insufficient, and counterfeiters can easily distribute parts online. This makes it challenging to determine the exact number of used cars in the U.S. equipped with DTN-branded parts. Despite significant efforts, NHTSA has not obtained enough information to estimate the total number of these inflators in the country. The company in question has been selling inflators for years, producing approximately 16,000 inflators of various models last year, according to documents submitted to U.S. authorities. Officials believe the DTN-branded inflators responsible for the U.S. deaths were likely manufactured in 2021 and 2022.

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Consumers might unknowingly be installing bombs in their steering wheels.