Counterfeit Airbags Are Deadly

Here's how to know if your vehicle might have a deadly counterfeit airbag. Performing a vehicle check is critical.

Author

Bernardo Montes de Oca
September 08, 2026

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Four Wheel Trends Automotive Newsletter
Issue #214

Today, we’re discussing the extremely dangerous component that can be lurking in used vehicles.

Already, it has caused 11 deaths, and fixing the problem might be more complex than people think.

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Market News

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  • VW will discontinue this 76-year-old brand, while cutting tens of thousands of jobs, in an effort to survive.

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Safety and Recalls

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Video Of The Week

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In The Know

Counterfeit Airbags Cause Another Death. What To Do?

​The crash happened on August 27 in Dallas. The driver died after impact, and if that wasn’t tragic enough, this crash uncovered a life-threatening problem that may be lurking in thousands of used vehicles.

The driver was the 11th person to die in a similar fashion: the airbag sent shrapnel into the driver’s neck, chest, eyes, and face, as this article explains. This time, there was another crucial difference. The vehicle involved was a Chevrolet Equinox.

Counterfeit airbags have caused havoc on American roads since at least 2023. The culprit is allegedly the company Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System, and the faulty airbags can be identified by the number DTN60DB, as explained here.

The first ten crashes were either in Hyundai Sonatas or Chevy Malibus, as you can read here.In total, of the 12 reported incidents, 9 involved the Malibu produced from 2017 to 2025.

Once authorities had learned of the faulty part, they issued a warning, but then this crash happened. It was an Equinox, a vehicle that hadn’t been involved. The problem was worse than anyone thought.

What is known is that the faulty components were produced in 2021 and 2022. That might have your head scratching. How, if they were manufactured in 2021, could they affect a 2017 Malibu and a 2018 Equinox?

That’s because most of the vehicles involved had been repaired or had a salvage title. That’s what makes tracking these airbags so hard. Original replacement airbags can cost around $1,000 or more. So some repair shops opt for cheaper options in the aftermarket or junk sectors.

Out there, it’s an open book. Unless you do some research, you’re likely going in blind as to where the airbag comes from. Not only that, but the ones you buy could be counterfeit, as this article explains.

So, what can you do? Performing an inspection by yourself is extremely risky. Airbags are basically projectiles, and manipulating them is hazardous because of how the airbag is built. Mishandling them could activate them.  

That doesn’t mean you cannot do anything. As this article explains, there’s a checklist you can go through,; if one answer is yes, your car could be at risk.

It’s no guarantee, but it helps you be more aware of possible risks. Some of the questions are:

Did you purchase or own a vehicle purchased after 2020? If so, and the car has a known history, it’s likely safe.

Has it been in a crash since 2020? Answering no to this question is also a sign it's likely safe, because the original airbag hasn't been replaced. The same goes for a car in a crash but with airbags not deployed.  

Finally, who fixed your car is critical. If it wasn’t a licensed dealership, the risk could be higher.

After the tenth death, the NHTSA forced eBay to ban the airbags, but it wasn’t immediate. You can learn more about the ban here.

As for DTN, the company isn’t showing any responsibility. Instead, it says that it has no control over who installed them. That’s where vehicle inspections are critical. Here are some of the better options we’ve used: