WASHINTON – Federal safety officials are warning used car buyers and owners to act immediately after two more drivers were killed in December in crashes linked to dangerous replacement air bag inflators believed to have been illegally imported from China.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it is aware of 10 crashes involving ruptured replacement air bag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co. Ltd., also known as DTN. Eight drivers were killed in crashes officials say were otherwise survivable. Two others suffered severe injuries.
According to NHTSA, all of the vehicles involved had their original factory air bags replaced with substandard inflators after a prior crash.
While all known incidents have occurred in Chevrolet Malibu and Hyundai Sonata vehicles — most carrying salvage or rebuilt titles — federal officials said they do not have enough information to determine whether the risk is limited to those makes and models.
Investigators say the defective inflators can rupture during a crash, sending large metal fragments into drivers’ chests, necks, eyes and faces.
NHTSA has an open investigation into the DTN inflators and has alerted the auto repair industry to watch for the parts and report any additional findings. The agency noted that DTN has acknowledged on its website that the inflators are prohibited from sale in the United States.
Federal officials said whoever is importing and installing the devices is putting American families at risk.
NHTSA is urging used vehicle buyers and owners to check their vehicle’s history and confirm that any air bag replacements are legitimate and equivalent to the original equipment. Vehicles that have previously been in crashes where air bags deployed should be inspected immediately.
Officials said drivers of vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles face a heightened risk and should have those vehicles inspected as soon as possible.
If a vehicle is found to contain one of the DTN inflators, it should not be driven until the inflator is replaced with a genuine part, NHTSA said.
Vehicle owners who discover one of the suspect inflators are encouraged to contact their local Homeland Security Investigations office or FBI field office, or file a complaint with the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center.
Drivers may also report concerns directly to NHTSA online or by calling the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.