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NHTSA Alerting Consumers to Dangers of Counterfeit Air Bags

NHTSA 42-12
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Traffic safety agency urges vehicle owners and repair professionals to use only certified, original equipment replacement parts

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a consumer safety advisory to alert vehicle owners and repair professionals to the dangers of counterfeit air bags. NHTSA has become aware of a problem involving the sale of counterfeit air bags for use as replacement parts in vehicles that have been involved in a crash. While these air bags look nearly identical to certified, original equipment parts-including bearing the insignia and branding of major automakers - NHTSA testing showed consistent malfunctioning ranging from non-deployment of the air bag to the expulsion of metal shrapnel during deployment. NHTSA is not aware of any deaths or injuries connected to counterfeit air bags.

While the full scope and scale of the problem of counterfeit air bags is uncertain from currently available data, NHTSA has identified certain vehicle makes and models for which these air bags may be available and believes this issue affects less than 0.1 percent of the U.S. vehicle fleet. Only vehicles which have had an air bag replaced within the past three years by a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership may be at risk.

Consumers whose vehicles have been in a crash and had their air bags replaced by a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership within the past three years or who have purchased a replacement air bag online should contact the call center that has been established by their auto manufacturer to have their vehicle inspected at their own expense and their air bag replaced if necessary. The full list of call centers and additional information are available at www.SaferCar.gov.

"Anytime equipment that is critical to protecting drivers and passengers fails to operate properly, it is a serious safety concern," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We want consumers to be immediately aware of this problem and to review our safety information to see if their vehicle could be in need of inspection."

"We expect all motor vehicle equipment to meet federal safety standards - and air bags in particular play a central role in keeping drivers and passengers safe in the event of a crash," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "That's why it's critical that vehicle owners work with their automotive dealers and repair professionals to ensure they use the appropriate, original equipment parts in the event they need to replace their air bag."

NHTSA has been working with a number of government agencies - including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of Justice-to better understand the issue of counterfeit air bags and how to prevent them from being purchased and installed in vehicles.

"Organized criminals are selling dangerous counterfeit and substandard airbags to consumers and suppliers with little to no regard to hazardous health and safety consequences," said ICE Director John Morton. "We will continue to aggressively investigate criminal supply chains with our law enforcement and private industry partners and bring these criminals to justice."

NHTSA is currently gathering information from automakers about their systems for verifying the authenticity of replacement parts and is working with the industry to make the driving public aware of the potential safety risk posed by counterfeit air bags. Moving forward, the agency will continue to monitor consumer complaints, police accident reports, and other sources for additional information.

CONSUMERS THAT SHOULD NOT BE AT RISK:

Consumers who purchased their vehicle new and have not had their air bags replaced
Consumers who have full knowledge of the entire history of their used vehicle (including knowing whether the vehicle had been in a crash in the last three years and being certain that the air bag was replaced at a new car dealership)
CONSUMERS THAT MAY BE AT RISK AND SHOULD CONTACT THE CALL CENTER ESTABLISHED BY THEIR AUTO MANUFACTURER:

Consumers who have had air bags replaced within the past three years at a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership
Consumers who have purchased a used car that may have sustained an air bag deployment before their purchase
Consumers who own a car with a title branded salvage, rebuilt, or reconstructed
Consumers who have purchased replacement air bags from eBay or other non-certified sources-especially if they were purchased at unusually low prices (i.e. less than $400)
VEHICLES FOR WHICH COUNTERFEIT AIR BAGS MAY BE AVAILABLE:

As of today, NHTSA is aware of counterfeit air bags available for the following vehicle makes and models:

Acura

2009-2011
TSX

Audi

2006-2009
A3, A4, A6, A8, Q5, Q7

BMW

2007-2011
X5, E70, E60, E61

2008-2010
5-series, 528i, 535i

2004-2007
5-Series, 525i, 530, 535, E60, E61

2007-2011
E90, E91

Not listed
E92, E93

2007-2011
X5, E70

2004-2007
525i, 530, 535

2011-2012
X3

Buick

2010-2011
Lacrosse

Chevrolet

2011-2012
Cruze

2006-2010
Aveo

2011-2012
Volt

2012
Camaro

Ford

2012
Focus

2005-2009
Mustang

Honda

2003-2012
Accord

2006-2011
Civic

2002-2011
CRV

2007-2011
Fit

2009-2011
Pilot

2009-2011
Insight

2009-2011
Crosstour

2011
Odyssey

Hyundai

2007-2011
Elantra

Not listed
Genesis

Not listed
Sonata

Infiniti

2007-2011
G35, EX35

Kia

2010-2011
Soul/Forte

2004-2009
Spectra

Land Rover

2012
Range Rover Evoque

Lexus

2006-2011
IS250, IS350, IS-F

2003-2008
GX470

2007-2009
RX350

Not listed
ES350

Mazda

2004
Mazda 3

2010-2012
Mazda 3

Mercedes

2009-2011
C, GLK

2010-2011
E350, E550

2007-2008
S550

2006-2009
ML

2009-2010
GL, ML

Mitsubishi

Not listed
Outlander

Nissan

1992-2002
Quest

2010-2011
Quest

2009-2011
Cube

2007-2011
Versa

2009-2010
Murano

Not listed
Altima

Subaru

2008-2009
Forester

2008-2009
Imprezza

2008-2009
Outback

2010-2011
Legacy

Suzuki

2007-2010
SX4

Toyota

2002-2006
Camry

2012
Camry

2009-2011
Corolla, Matrix

2007-2011
Yaris

2004-2011
Highlander

2004-2011
Sienna

2004-2011
Tacoma

2010-2012
Prius

2003-2006
Tundra

2007-2011
Tundra

2003-2006
Sequoia

2003-2010
Land Cruiser

2004-2007
Highlander

2008-2010
Highlander

2004-2009
4Runner

2007-2009
Solara

2005-2011
RAV4

Volkswagen

2006-2010
Jetta

Volvo

Not listed
XC60, XC70

Not listed
V70, S60, S80