Counterfeit airbags from China are exploding in US cars, causing fatalities (3 photos)
Investigation into deadly parts
A new federal investigation is highlighting the potentially deadly dangers of aftermarket airbag parts after a series of crashes revealed catastrophic failures. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation after seven incidents involving faulty inflators, five of which were fatal. The issue prompted a stark warning from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who called the devices “dangerous.”
Origin of the Hazardous Components
The components being tested are believed to come from Jilin Province Detiannuo Safety Technology, better known as DTN Airbag. Investigators say the company’s inflators contain volatile chemicals that can ignite during deployment, causing the airbag to inflate excessively and uncontrollably.
Counterfeit Products on the Market
Many repair shops and assemblers have reportedly imported cheap inflators from overseas, often without realizing it. DTN’s products are counterfeits that look very similar to the original parts, but are sold for a fraction of the price, sometimes even one-tenth of the cost.
These counterfeits are often made of poor quality materials and are more likely to fail because they merely mimic the engineering of the real thing,
said Bob Stewart, president of the Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council and manager of global brand protection at General Motors.
The problem first came to light in the US when the family of 22-year-old Destiny Baiasi filed a lawsuit in Florida. The young mother died in a crash while driving just 30 mph in her 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. Investigators say a counterfeit DTN inflator was installed and exploded “like a grenade,” sending sharp metal and plastic fragments into her neck. 
Federal Warning
My message to the auto repair industry is clear: Anyone who imports and installs this defective Chinese equipment is putting American families at risk and is committing a serious crime,
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said recently. He urged repair shops and distributors to remain vigilant, stressing that DTN inflators pose a direct threat to public safety.
There is no information on how many vehicles in the United States may have been equipped with counterfeit DTN inflators. The company itself, for its part, claims that its products are banned from sale in the US and insists that it does not do business in the country. 
The situation once again raises questions about global auto parts supply chains and the effectiveness of quality control. The lack of clear traceability of parts in the aftermarket creates serious risks that are difficult to eliminate after the fact. Stricter international standards and inspection mechanisms are needed for such safety-critical components to prevent future tragedies. The incident also demonstrates how vulnerable consumers can be when trusting repair services that may unknowingly use unsafe materials to reduce the cost of the work.
