US motorists warned about fake airbags 'made in China'
The counterfeits, believed to come from China, may fail to inflate or explode in an accident
US car owners are being warned about counterfeit airbags, believed to come from China, which may fail to inflate, or even explode during an accident.
The counterfeit airbags typically look like airbags made by automakers and usually include a fabricated manufacturer's logo. They are believed to have been fitted by unwitting repair shops, some of which were sold the counterfeit airbags by a Chinese businessman.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration agency said on Wednesday that testing revealed that counterfeit airbags were being used to replace bags in vehicles involved in crashes over the past three years.
The agency was not aware of any deaths or injuries linked to the counterfeit airbags, but said these airbags could malfunction and explode, sending metal shrapnel into the vehicle's passenger cabin. The problem affects most major brands.
The full scope of the problem was not certain, but the agency believed the issue affects less than 0.1 per cent of the US vehicle fleet.
Consumers who bought their cars new, have not had their airbags replaced, or had the bags replaced at a new-car dealer, were not affected. "Any time equipment that is critical to protecting drivers and passengers fails to operate properly, it is a serious safety concern," US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said.