All vehicle suppliers, dealerships, mechanics, distributors should be on high alert regarding substandard DTN replacement air bag inflators
Washington, D.C.—The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns all vehicle suppliers, dealerships, mechanics, distributors, and law enforcement agencies that ruptured replacement air bag inflators made by China’s Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co. (DTN) have killed or injured vehicle occupants in at least 11 crashes.
NHTSA urgently advises to not install substandard inflators from this company and to ensure any used vehicles that have been in a previous crash where the air bag deployed now have air bags that are legitimate replacements. All parties should be extremely cautious about sourcing air bag modules and utilize verifiable vendors.
NHTSA is now aware of nine drivers who were killed in otherwise survivable crashes, while two other drivers suffered severe injuries. Each vehicle had its original equipment air bag replaced after a previous crash. Although all known crashes have occurred in Chevrolet Malibu and Hyundai Sonata vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles, NHTSA does not have information to suggest the risk is limited just to these makes and models.
The agency is issuing a Consumer Alert to used car buyers and owners after the two most recent crashes in December claimed the lives of two more drivers of vehicles with DTN replacement air bag inflators likely illegally imported from China.
These dangerous, substandard air bag inflators have malfunctioned in crashes, sending large metal fragments into drivers’ chests, necks, eyes, and faces, killing or severely injuring people in otherwise survivable crashes. NHTSA has an open investigation into these DTN inflators.
As DTN has acknowledged on its website, the inflators are prohibited from sale in the United States. Whoever is bringing them into the country and installing them is putting American families in danger. The auto repair industry should be on the lookout for these dangerous inflators and should alert NHTSA immediately with any additional information.
NHTSA states: “Your customers trust that you are providing quality components that comply with the highest safety standards. Use reputable vendors and be on the lookout for any dubious transactions that could involve DTN replacement air bag inflators. For dealers, it is important to know the history of vehicles in your inventory.”
If a vehicle has been in a previous crash where the air bag deployed, it should be inspected immediately for one of these inflators, especially if it has a salvage or rebuilt title. If you find a DTN inflator, the vehicle should not be driven until the inflator is replaced with genuine parts.
If you know of the sale or distribution of DTN inflators or encounter a vehicle with one of these suspect parts, contact the local Homeland Security Investigations office or FBI field office to report it, or submit an online complaint to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center. Also, report it to NHTSA online or by calling the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.”
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