NHTSA issues ‘urgent’ alert asking for repair industry’s help on dangerous airbags
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released an “urgent” industry alert that specifically asks the auto repair industry to look for dangerous airbag inflators that continue to kill consumers.
The alert follows an alert NHTSA issued on January 15.
In the Wednesday industry alert, NHTSA says it has learned of another death resulting from substandard, dangerous airbag inflators manufactured by China’s Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co. (DTN).
NHTSA is currently investigating DTN inflators, which it says have malfunctioned in crashes, sending large metal fragments into drivers’ chests, necks, eyes, and faces, killing or severely injuring people.
In just under a month, the number of deaths NHTSA is investigating related to the airbag inflators has increased from eight to nine from what the alert says were otherwise survivable crashes. It reports that two people have been injured. The number of crashes has also increased from 10 to 11, according to the alert.
“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,” the alert says. “All parties should be extremely cautious about sourcing air bag modules and utilize verifiable vendors.”
The alert says each of the vehicles had its original equipment airbag 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 alert says.
NHTSA notes in its alert that DTN acknowledges on its website that the inflators are prohibited from sale in the U.S.
“Whoever is bringing them into the country and installing them is putting American families in danger,” the alert says.
NHTSA asks the auto repair industry to share any pertinent information with it immediately.
“Your customers trust that you are providing quality components that comply with the highest safety standards,” NHTSA says in the alert. “Use reputable vendors and be on the lookout for any dubious transactions that could involve DTN replacement air bag inflators.”
Many OEM manufacturers have procedures that state airbags should be removed and inspected post-collision, Mike Anderson, owner of Collision Advice, said during the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit Session II at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas in November.
He said that in a recent “Who Pays for What?” survey, about 49% of shops say they are getting reimbursed for airbag inspections most of the time. However, he said there is a 10% decline in insurance companies refusing to pay for the operation.
The NHTSA alert also asks dealers to know the history of vehicles in their inventory.
“If a vehicle has been in a previous crash where the airbag deployed, it should be inspected immediately for one of these inflators, especially if it has a salvage or rebuilt title,” the alert says. “If you find a DTN inflator, the vehicle should not be driven until the inflator is replaced with genuine parts.”
Recently, an Automotive News opinion piece said standardizing and codifying the post-repair safety and roadworthy state-level inspection process should occur as more franchised dealerships retail branded or salvaged titles.
The piece follows an Automotive News article that explores the shift in the market.
About 2.5 million vehicles were declared totaled by insurers last year and returned to U.S. roadways, the article says.
Anyone who knows about the sale or distribution of DTN inflators or encounters a vehicle with one of the suspected inflators should 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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