NHTSA Warns Of Counterfeit Airbags Installed At Independent Repair Shops

If you’ve had a your car’s airbags replaced in the past three years by an independent repair shop, it’s possible they’re potentially dangerous counterfeits, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The airbags, the NHTSA says, look identical to certified equipment but have consistently failed government testing. In the tests, the failures have included malfunction to ejection of metal shrapnel if the airbags deploy.
The Connecticut Better Business Bureau released these tips Thursday from the NHTSA, urging consumers to contact their auto manufacturer’s call center if they:

>> Had air bags replaced within the past three years at a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership
>> Purchased a used car that may have sustained an air bag deployment before their purchase
>> Own a car with a title branded salvage, rebuilt, or reconstructed, or
>> 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)
More information, including vehicle models which may have been fitted with counterfeit airbags, is available at www.safercar.gov.