Eleventh US motorist death tied to banned Chinese airbag component
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A motorist died in Dallas on Aug 27 in a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox - in an otherwise survivable crash. The crash was tied to substandard Chinese replacement airbag inflators that have been banned by the US.
PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO
- An 11th US motorist death in August was linked to banned defective Chinese airbag inflators made by Jilin Province Detiannuo, following 10 previous fatal crashes.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration banned these inflators after they sent metal fragments into drivers during otherwise survivable crashes.
- NHTSA urges vehicle owners involved in crashes with airbag deployment since 2020 to get inspections, warning that those importing and installing these inflators are endangering American families.
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WASHINGTON - A person was killed in the US in August in a crash tied to banned substandard Chinese replacement automobile airbag inflators, the first such death since the US banned the components in April after they were linked to deaths in 10 crashes.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Sept 3 that the motorist was killed in Dallas on Aug 27 in a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, in an otherwise survivable crash.
The agency has banned the replacement airbag inflators it blames for the deaths. They are made in China by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System, also known as DTN.
There have been 13 such incidents reported since May 2023. Three people were killed in Hyundai Sonata vehicles, and 10 GM crashes involved eight fatalities and two serious injuries.
All but the last GM incident involved the Chevrolet Malibus.
GM did not immediately comment on Sept 3.
NHTSA has said the DTN airbag inflators malfunctioned in otherwise survivable crashes, “sending large metal fragments into drivers’ chests, necks, eyes and faces”.
DTN responded to the agency it “cannot be proven that the inflators in question” were manufactured by the company “nor can it be proven that the accidents were caused by defective inflators.”
DTN added it has never directly sold the inflators in question to the US market.
The agency issued an urgent warning to owners and repair shops in January. Before the August death, the last fatal crash occurred in February in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu.
“Whoever is bringing them into the country and installing them is putting American families in danger,” NHTSA said.
It urges owners of vehicles that were involved in a crash with an airbag deployment since 2020 to have their vehicle inspected. REUTERS