The Safety Record explores dangers of aftermarket ‘bling emblems’ on steering wheels
A new article from The Safety Record asks Amazon to stop selling dangerous “bling emblems” for steering wheels.
The article explores multiple cases in which decorative steering wheel pieces have caused serious harm, including one in South Carolina from 2024.
In the case from two years ago, a 2020 Honda Accord was traveling at about 32 miles per hour when it collided with a Kia Optima sedan. The impact triggered deployment of the Honda’s airbag, turning adhesive-backed metal decal car jewelry into projectiles.
One of the pieces was lodged into the driver’s eye, which could not be saved, the article states.
Another 2025 incident, involving a steering wheel crystal emblem, caused the loss of the eye and brain damage to the driver, the article adds.
“Since 2021, at least a dozen such incidents have been documented in civil litigation, medical journals, news stories, and complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) consumer complaints database,” the article states. “In all but one account, relatively minor collisions from which the driver might have walked away with cuts and bruises resulted in rhinestone projectiles causing penetrating trauma to the driver’s arms, eyes, face, neck, and chest. These serious injuries required surgeries and resulted in lingering pain. In some cases, drivers suffered permanent disability and disfigurement. Six victims have lost sight in one eye or lost the eye altogether.”
Parker Law Group Attorney Ronnie Crosby represented the South Carolina victim and told the publication that he already has another case in the state.
“The fact that I have two in South Carolina tells me that there are a lot more cases out there, and a lot more cars with these bling decals on them that are just one wreck away from a serious injury,” Crosby states in the report.
The article points to a 2023 NHTSA consumer alert warning consumers not to buy decorative steering wheel emblem decals. It warns the aftermarket decals could cause serious injury or death.
“Unlike the permanently affixed logo on your vehicle’s steering wheel, these aftermarket decals can easily become dislodged when the airbag is deployed,” the alert states. “Any alterations or changes to your airbag or its cover can also cause it to not function correctly.”
A second NHTSA alert was released in 2024.
The article also points out that owner’s manuals often include warnings about items placed in front of or on any airbag.
This includes the 2020 Honda Accord owner’s manual, which states not to place hard or sharp objects between yourself and the front airbag.
“However, consumers are unlikely to equate these harmless-looking, adhesive-backed, bling decals with the potential for severe injury, due to their size, which ranges from about a half-inch to two inches, and ubiquitous availability,” the article states.
The article notes that Amazon seems to have removed most of its steering wheel emblems. However, a search by the publication still found a Chinese seller offering emblems for Toyota, Mercedes, Mazda, Hyundai and Audi vehicles. It adds that Amazon did not respond to a request for comment.
Amazon previously defended its sale of automotive bling decals in 2024 after a consumer sued the retailer for injuries they received from a bling decal, the article states. The consumer was blinded when a piece of the decal struck her eye in a minor collision, it alleges.
The online retailer argued that the product was not defective as it performed as safely as an ordinary consumer would expect, the article adds.
“The report further claims that Ms. Martinez, the plaintiff who lost her eye in a minor crash that resulted in an airbag deployment, wouldn’t have changed her purchase decision based on any warnings, and that her assertions that she did not know it was hazardous were not believable,” the article states. “Essentially, Amazon’s position was: She bought a product that carried an obvious risk; therefore, it’s her problem. (Don’t buy the bling, if you can’t take the sting).”
An Auto Racing publication, Auto Racing 1, recently published an article exploring how vehicle modifications made with aftermarket parts become a part of a discussion following a collision.
“From turbocharged street builds to lifted trucks and custom suspension setups, aftermarket modifications are a major part of automotive culture in the United States,” the article states. “More horsepower, sharper handling, bigger wheels, or aggressive suspension setups can dramatically change how a vehicle drives. In motorsports, these upgrades are carefully engineered to balance performance and safety.”
Police crash reports, insurance claim investigations, and safety data all reference these types of modifications, the article states.
Modifications can become part of a crash investigation if it appears relevant to the collision. For example, they may if a lifted truck had altered steering geometry or oversized wheels changed braking behavior.
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