AI Generated Image
There Might Be a 'Bomb' in Your Used Car's Steering Wheel
Newser • • business
Key Points:
- At least 10 US drivers have died and several others injured since 2023 due to exploding airbags with cheap, substandard inflaters often bought online and installed in used cars after crashes.
- Federal regulators describe these faulty airbags as "bombs," with incidents including severe injuries like a shredded jaw and a fatal explosion in a teenager's car.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has banned the sale and import of inflaters linked to Chinese manufacturer Jilin Province Detiannuo Safety Technology (DTN), though DTN claims the problematic parts are counterfeit.
- These inflaters circulate through gray-market channels, sometimes hidden in toys, making recalls difficult and detection by drivers nearly impossible without mechanic inspection.
- The Wall Street Journal’s investigation explores the deaths, supply chain issues, and regulatory challenges surrounding these dangerous airbags.
