NHTSA bans defective Chinese airbag inflators
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced Wednesday that it has banned defective Chinese airbag inflators.
An NHTSA investigation has concluded that the inflators killed at least 10 people and caused serious injuries to two individuals in a dozen crashes.
“Banning these illegal Chinese airbag parts responsible for 10 deaths is necessary to ensure the safety of Americans on our roads,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy in a press release. “Anyone caught importing or selling these defective, deadly inflators will be held accountable as we work with our law enforcement partners to restore safety on our roads.”
All 12 crashes involved frontal driver airbag inflators marked with the identifier “DTN60DB” that were likely illegally imported into the United States.
Each of the known ruptures occurred in Chevrolet Malibu and Hyundai Sonata vehicles. Yet, NHTSA says it cannot confirm that the risk is limited to these makes and models.
NHTSA says that because the inflators were imported illegally, the number of inflators in the U.S. is unknown.
“Thanks to Secretary Duffy’s leadership, this is the first time in 20 years that NHTSA has taken such an action to protect Americans,” said NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison in the release. “These extraordinary actions are appropriate and necessary given the deadly risks posed by these substandard inflators.”
In February, NHTSA issued an “urgent” industry alert specifically asking the auto repair industry to look for dangerous airbag inflators.
“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 states. “All parties should be extremely cautious about sourcing air bag modules and utilize verifiable vendors.”
It also asked that the auto repair industry share any pertinent information with NHTSA 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.”
The Wednesday release urges vehicle owners and buyers to learn their vehicle’s history and ensure they are equipped with genuine airbag inflators.
“Owners or buyers not familiar with their vehicle’s history should obtain a history report,” the release says. “A vehicle should be inspected if it was in a previous crash with an air bag deployment since 2020 and was not repaired by the manufacturer’s dealership. If a vehicle has been in a previous crash where the air bag deployed, it should be inspected by a reputable mechanic immediately to ensure the air bag is a legitimate replacement equivalent to the original.”
Many OEM manufacturers have procedures that state airbags should be removed and inspected post-collision, according to Mike Anderson, owner of Collision Advice. He made the statement during the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit Session II, held during 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 had been a 10% decline in the number of insurance companies that are refusing to pay for the operation.
NHTSA asks that if a vehicle is found to have one of the defective airbags, it should not be driven.
If an owner has a vehicle with one of these suspect inflators, they should contact their 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.
Owners may also contact 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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