The US Department of Transportation has become aware of counterfeit airbags being sold as replacement parts in vehicles that have been involved in a crash, saying that owners who have had their airbag replaced within the last three years by a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership are most at risk of carrying them.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), these airbags look just like certified, original equipment parts, but are a “serious safety concern.” Tests revealed “consistent malfunctioning ranging from non-deployment of the airbag to the expulsion of metal shrapnel during deployment” – the NHTSA test video above shows just how hazardous the latter can be.
The government agency believes less than 0.1% of the US vehicle fleet are affected, and are not aware of any deaths or injuries as a result of this issue thus far.
“Organized criminals are selling dangerous counterfeit and substandard airbags to consumers and suppliers with little to no regard to hazardous health and safety consequences,” said US Immigration and Customs Enforcement director John Morton.
An industry official told the Associated Press that government investigators believe many of the counterfeit airbags come from China, and that they are marketed to auto repair and body shops as the real deal.
Car owners are being urged to visit a government website, www.Safercar.gov, which has information on call centres that they can contact to check if their vehicle make and model is among those for which counterfeit airbags are known to have been made, and have their vehicle inspected at their own expense and the airbag replaced if necessary.
NHTSA is currently gathering information from automakers about their parts authenticity verification systems, as well as working with other government agencies to try and prevent counterfeit airbags from being bought and installed in vehicles.
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My 2001 Proton Waja 1.6X airbag doesn’t work at all, as well as the ABS, power windows, remote button on the key, door handles.. etc
how do u know ur airbag not working? mind to share…huh?!
The airbag failure sign kept on popping as well as the ABS. Proton, epic fail!
words like ‘fake’ and ‘counterfeit’ are always somehow related to china….
Yup, all these shit are from, once again China… the great country where everything and anything CAN BE FAKED….
But of cos, the rest of the world still have to koktow to this communist state for the sake of $$…lots of $$. Pui, where’s your integrity people of the world? :( $$ is not everything….
Anyway did anyone notice debris looking like crushed soft drink cans, aluminum foil and some metal bits flew out of the fake airbag in the 2nd video? :o
WTF! And I didn’t know airbag deployment can be turned into a mini fireworks show as well…
If you think that is bad, there is some news recently that there are also counterfeit aircraft components from China. Imagine if those parts fail/broken when you are 30,000 feet above the ground…
Yup, agreed with the poster. China can do just about anything and I mean Anything
Got counterfeit engine?
Sure they do.
FYI, Geely used to have this pirated car called Geely Vision. It was clearly a G9 Altis rip off with some awful headlights and tailights changes.
Geely also rip off the 1.8L 1ZZ-FE engine. Production died soon after for the pirated engine was famous for blowing up its gaskets and sizure…
Go google the name and you can see for yourself.
In Malaysia, most of the cars dont have airbags. Everyone want to untung, the rakyat are the only one who will be ended up dying.
The govt said the intention to put the AES is to create safety for the motorists. But they never regulate laws for the car manufacturers to increase safety in the cars. Creating safety by summoning the motorists but not improving the car’s safety features. LOL. They always want money, money and money from the people.
And yet, many people still accept everything the govt said..sigh.
Everybody says their airbags are certified true version, especially in which country you know le.
A company concentrating so much on cutting cost, can you trust their safety features?
Just to set the records straight. P1 or P2 do not have airbags? Actually most new Proton have airbags but Viva do not have. Unfortunately most of us say P1 is inferior and P2 is better.
most new proton? yup u are right. but about the perodua,now,even viva 660cc nowadays has airbag. all new perodua cars are equipped with not an airbag, but DUAL airbags without any price increase.
http://paultan.org/2012/07/19/all-perodua-cars-to-come-with-dual-airbags-seat-belt-pretensioners-from-july-2012-no-price-increase/
IN YOUR FACE.. BOOOMM..!! so instead of just getting injured by having minor cuts and bruises.. you died as a result from explosion and flying shrapnel..
holy sh**!! when they start counterfeiting things that matter to safety and lives, it is no longer funny.
i know in china, if you find a way to cheat, you are considered cunning. so it is an encouraged form of behaviour.
sigh :(
wah china also make counterfeit airbags
Don’t worry, come to P1, we accept it…
bahaya giler!!
Are they testing a Honda car airbag? There’s a signage with Honda name on it.
all for what ? greed and selfishness ……for some MONEY is the only thing they care about until realisation comes to their heads …if it does it will be too late
no worries here. our BN govt will the ensure the safets for its ppl. just like lynas, its so safe, malaysian deserve it.
Whats up with your statement? DOes this has anything to do with the government let alone the same country. If you dont have anything to say, save some dignity and STFU.
Which one is worse, no airbag or counterfeit airbag?
Halo, a couple of years ago, a whistle blower in PDRM reported that 85% of the car parts purchased and delivered are non-genuine Proton parts.
The case has gone silent, for whatever reasons
Sometimes non-genuine parts are more reliable and last longer than the original.
China makes counterfeit everything…pls don’t buy china made cars.
That’s why I never buy an iPhone, it’s MIC keke…
You think only iphone made in china ka??
Try look at your gadget???made in where????? CHINA….