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Automotive Industry
AUTOS: Fake Airbags Raising Alarms
Criminal operations are cheating consumers in vehicle repairs by installing phony safety devices that are dangerously malfunctional.
A counterfeit safety airbag explodes with a spray of dangerous schrapnel in this NHSTA demonstration. (Photo: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a safety warning about counterfeit airbags after becoming aware of a proliferation of fake, non-functioning versions of the important safety devices being used for replacement parts.
NHTSA says the bags can look identical to the real thing but with malfunctions that range from non-deployment to the expulsion of metal shrapnel if they do deploy, putting occupants in danger of serious injury or death. The full scope of the problem is unknown, but estimates say the issue affects less than 0.1 percent of the U.S. vehicle fleet. Cars with airbags that have been replaced in the past three years are most at risk.
Consumers who have had their airbags replaced at any place other than a dealership in the past three years should call the customer-care line of the automaker and have their vehicle inspected. NHTSA also says consumers who have purchased used vehicles should get airbags checked, as well as consumers that bought an airbag for an unusually low price (i.e., under $400).
NHTSA is working with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Dept. of Justice to devise a plan for protecting consumers from the faulty items.
“Organized criminals are selling dangerous counterfeit and substandard airbags to consumers and suppliers with little to no regard to hazardous health and safety consequences,” said ICE director John Morton. “We will continue to aggressively investigate criminal supply chains with our law enforcement and private industry partners, and bring these criminals to justice.”
A full list of vehicles for which counterfeit bags might be a problem can be found here.
This story originally appeared at Autoweek.com.
NHTSA says the bags can look identical to the real thing but with malfunctions that range from non-deployment to the expulsion of metal shrapnel if they do deploy, putting occupants in danger of serious injury or death. The full scope of the problem is unknown, but estimates say the issue affects less than 0.1 percent of the U.S. vehicle fleet. Cars with airbags that have been replaced in the past three years are most at risk.
Consumers who have had their airbags replaced at any place other than a dealership in the past three years should call the customer-care line of the automaker and have their vehicle inspected. NHTSA also says consumers who have purchased used vehicles should get airbags checked, as well as consumers that bought an airbag for an unusually low price (i.e., under $400).
NHTSA is working with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Dept. of Justice to devise a plan for protecting consumers from the faulty items.
“Organized criminals are selling dangerous counterfeit and substandard airbags to consumers and suppliers with little to no regard to hazardous health and safety consequences,” said ICE director John Morton. “We will continue to aggressively investigate criminal supply chains with our law enforcement and private industry partners, and bring these criminals to justice.”
A full list of vehicles for which counterfeit bags might be a problem can be found here.
This story originally appeared at Autoweek.com.
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