U.S. government warns of counterfeit airbags

The United States government is warning drivers about counterfeit airbags that are a serious safety risk.

The Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA)  issued a warning about counterfeit airbags used as replacement parts in vehicles that have been involved in a crash, it said in a statement.

The replacement airbags look almost identical to certified original equipment parts and included branding of major automakers, but NHTSA’s testing showed various malfunctioning, including not inflating and expelling metal shrapnel during deployment, the agency said.

The NHTSA hasn’t reported any deaths or injuries related to these airbags.

Less than 0.1% of the U.S. vehicle fleet is likely affected by the airbag issue, the department estimates, and only cars that have had airbags replaced in the last three years by a repair shop other than a new car dealership or consumers who bought airbags online could be at risk.

The NHTSA has published a list of vehicle makes and models for which counterfeit airbags might be available, as well as information for consumers about contacting their automaker at www.SaferCar.gov.

In Canada, the provincial and territorial governments regulate aftermarket vehicle parts and services, including airbags, while Transport Canada investigates manufacturing defects. Transport Canada has not had any complaints or reports of injuries or deaths related to this counterfeit airbag issue, a department spokesperson said in an e-mail.