Published
October 15, 2025
Six fatalities are now linked to counterfeit airbag inflators manufactured in China. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is raising the alarm, and it’s a call to action for consumers, policymakers, and all stakeholders in the automotive ecosystem.
The culprit? A company called DTN Airbag, based in Jilin Province, China. Their inflators — packed with volatile chemicals — are being installed in vehicles across America, often without the driver’s knowledge or the installer’s understanding of the potential for catastrophic deployment in a future collision. These parts don’t just fail — they explode. In one tragic case, a 22-year-old mother of two died when a fake airbag detonated “like a grenade” during a low-speed crash. As recently as May 2025, a DTN airbag was linked to a fatal car accident in California. This isn’t just a regulatory issue. It’s a public safety crisis.
The big picture: Airbags are among the most counterfeited auto parts in the U.S., according to the Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council. These fakes are often indistinguishable from the real thing, until they fail catastrophically. And with no clear solution, the risk to consumers is growing. Bad actors continue to prey on consumers looking for a bargain. A legitimate airbag module can cost over $1,000. A fake? As little as $100. That price difference is tempting, but the cost in human lives is incalculable.
What’s next: Sellers peddling counterfeit automotive safety equipment must be held accountable. Federal agencies must continue coordinating to intercept these parts before they reach American roads through dedicated data-sharing with brands and industry stakeholders. And consumers must be educated on the dangers of counterfeit automotive parts to demand manufacturer-certified replacements — especially for critical components like airbags.
Counterfeit goods undermine safety, trust, and innovation. When fake car parts start killing people, the stakes are no longer simply economic — they’re existential. It’s time for a zero-tolerance approach to counterfeit automotive components. Lives depend on it.
About the author
Sydney Redden
Sydney Redden is Director of IP Enforcement for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC).
