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Are replacement airbags safe? Inflator failure caused 3 deaths and 2 injuries

Government warns against ordering deadly discounted replacement airbag inflators online.

— Defective replacement air bag inflators are causing fatalities and injuries, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is warning consumers buying used cars to be aware of these impending disasters.

This also applies to consumers who have already purchased a used car.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says at least three people have died this year and two vehicle occupants “suffered life-changing, disfiguring injuries” due to cheap replacement air bag inflators.

All five incidents occurred in vehicles that had been involved in collisions and required replacement of the original air bag inflators.

These inflators are metal and explode like grenades, sending metal shards into the occupants.

Additionally, cheap replacement air bag inflators may partially deploy or deploy too slowly, so the air bags don’t properly protect people from impacts to the steering wheel or dashboard, even if the occupants aren’t shredded by metal shards.

It is much cheaper to order defective air bag inflators online from less than reputable repair shops than genuine devices, often from outside the United States.

If the owner knows the vehicle’s history, they should be safe, but anyone else should obtain a vehicle history report or have the air bags and inflators inspected by a qualified technician.

This is especially important if you are considering buying a used car.

If it is determined that the air bag inflator is fake, consumers should contact the FBI field office.

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