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NHTSA sent out a warning that there may be dangerous counterfeit airbags installed on some vehicles. See what’s happening and what to do about it.
NHTSA Issues Replacement Airbag Warning
The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) is warning the public to be wary of the aftermarket airbags that were installed on used cars or even their own vehicles if they have an accident history. During the repair process when airbags are deployed, the airbag unit needs to be completely replaced as they become damaged when they’re deployed in a collision.
It’s come to the NHTSA’s attention that repair shops may be using cheaply purchased, non-OEM airbag replacements or even counterfeit airbag units made to look like the OEM version. These cheaply made reproductions feature similar faults in their design to the ones found in the Takata airbags that caused one of the largest recalls in automotive history ten years ago. These counterfeit airbags can shoot metal fragments at the passenger when deployed and cause damage to the upper torso and face – which can result in serious injury or even death.
Not only do they pose a risk of shooting out metal shards, but the inflators on these airbag units aren’t also properly functioning in some cases. The NHTSA notes that these inferior airbags may not deploy fully or too slowly. This can lead to the passenger’s momentum not being stopped and leading to them hitting their head on the hard materials of the steering wheel, dashboard, or front pillars.
How Did This Happen?
These counterfeits are produced overseas in factories that the NHTSA considers to have “little to no reputation of quality manufacturing or experience” when it comes to producing safe airbag units. However, they still look the part even though they don’t perform the same. These reproductions are also “sold at prices far below the cost of quality genuine equipment” according to the NHTSA. This reduced price led to stateside repair shops and even some manufacturer shops falling for cheap reproductions when purchasing replacement parts online to either save their customers a few bucks or to increase profit margins.
What to Look for When Used Car Shopping?
Be sure to check the vehicle history report with a reputable tool, like the one Carsforsale.com provides, to see if a used car has a history of accidents. If the vehicle has a clean title, then there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. If the vehicle does have an accident history on file, take the car to a reputable mechanic or even ask the dealer if they have a mechanic on site. Have the professional investigate the airbag unit and verify that it isn’t one of these dangerous counterfeits and is in fact a genuine OEM replacement.
How Do I Know if I’m Affected?
If your vehicle hasn’t been in an accident where the airbags deployed, then you should be fine. But if you recently purchased a used vehicle and don’t know if it’s been in an accident, check your vehicle’s history report by entering its VIN in an online tool like the one Carsforsale.com offers for free. Check if there has been a previous accident and take it to a reputable mechanic if it has. Have them check that the airbag unit is genuine and not a knockoff.
How Do I Prevent This from Happening to Myself?
If you’ve been in an accident and have had the airbags deploy, talk to the repair shop and make sure you know the facts about your replacement parts. Where do they purchase parts from? Is it being purchased from the manufacturer? What company produced the new airbag? Where did the replacement come from? A reputable repair shop shouldn’t have a problem answering these questions.
If you’re looking to purchase a replacement airbag yourself online, be sure that you’re searching on a creditable retailer site. Also be wary of “great deals”. If it’s too good to be true, then it probably is.
