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U.S. Warning Motorists About Counterfeit Airbags
Counterfeit components have been a plague on the auto industry for decades and the list of affected parts is a large one, covering just about everything one might find in an automobile, from sheet metal to lug nuts. But some fake parts can prove particularly dangerous – such as airbags that either won’t deploy or might improperly inflate during a crash. Each of a vehicle’s airbags is designed to operate in a specific way and may inflate to varying degrees depending on the severity of a crash. The fakes that the government is warning about likely will not function properly if they work at all. Recent tests of 11 fakes found that the majority either failed to work or inflated improperly and some actually threw shrapnel as they inflated. NHTSA says that it believes the vast majority of replacement parts are genuine and that "this issue affects less than 0.1 percent of the U.S. vehicle fleet." The challenge will be to find the affected vehicles. The government’s automotive safety agency has released a list of 100 models most at risk, a mix of Detroit, Japanese, and European models including such mainstays as the Ford Focus, Toyota Camry, and Volkswagen Jetta. The counterfeit airbag issue reportedly only involves vehicles that have been repaired within the last three years, and does not involve either original factory equipment nor repairs made by certified new car dealership repair shops. Those who have had their vehicles repaired by independent service shops may be at risk. And the government is warning that consumers who might have tried to purchase replacement airbags through the Internet may be at particular risk. Vendors have been known to offer counterfeit bags for as little as $50 while factory originals may cost as much as $1,000. The initial "At Risk" list includes:
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