What to Know: Deadly Air Bag Replacements
Substandard, dangerous air bag inflators manufactured in China have caused deaths and injuries in the United States
Overview
There is an urgent warning for anyone driving a vehicle that has previously been involved in a crash where the air bags deployed. NHTSA is investigating replacement air bag inflators from China that were installed in vehicles in the United States and are responsible for numerous deaths and injuries.
The Latest
Nine people have died and two others were severely injured in 11 crashes where the vehicle involved had an air bag replaced with a substandard and dangerous air bag inflator manufactured in China — and likely illegally imported into the United States. These fatalities occurred in crashes that should have been survivable.
The Problem
Air bag inflators manufactured in China by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co. Ltd. (DTN) are strictly prohibited from sale in the United States but have been found installed in American vehicles.
The vehicles involved had their original equipment air bags replaced with air bag modules containing substandard DTN air bag inflators following an earlier crash.
During subsequent crashes, the DTN air bag inflators malfunctioned and ruptured, sending large metal fragments into drivers’ chests, necks, eyes and faces, leading to death or severe injury.
Who Is Potentially at Risk?
- Owners of vehicles with a "Salvage" or "Rebuilt" title.
- Owners of vehicles that were in a previous crash where air bags deployed.
- Owners of used cars with unknown history.
What to Do
Because these parts are installed after a car leaves the factory, a standard vehicle identification number check will not tell you if your vehicle has a DTN inflator. You must review the vehicle’s history report to look for:
- Previous crashes or “total loss” events.
- Air bag deployment history.
- A salvage title.
- Repairs performed at non-certified service centers.
If your vehicle has a history of air bag deployment — especially if it has a salvage title — have it inspected by a certified technician at the vehicle manufacturer’s dealership or a reputable independent mechanic. They can verify if the inflator is genuine replacement equipment.
If a DTN inflator is found, the vehicle should not be driven until you are able to have it replaced with genuine parts. Do not attempt to inspect the vehicle yourself – tampering with the steering wheel or air bag could result in a deployment causing death or serious injury.
How to Report Suspect Parts
If you discover a DTN inflator in your vehicle, you should report it to the following authorities:
- Law Enforcement: Contact your local Homeland Security Investigations office, FBI field office, or the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center.
- NHTSA: Submit a complaint online or call NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at
888-327-4236 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET).
NHTSA has alerted the auto repair industry to be on the lookout for these dangerous inflators and to notify NHTSA immediately with any additional information they may have about these substandard inflators.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have bought or are considering buying a used car, you should obtain a vehicle history report. If the vehicle has been in a previous crash with an air bag deployment, especially if it has a salvage title, you should have the vehicle inspected to determine if the replacement air bag inflator is from DTN. A reputable mechanic or dealership can inspect your vehicle to determine if it has one of these air bags. Only an inspection can determine if your vehicle is affected.
The air bag inflators were made in China by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd., also known as DTN, and likely illegally imported into the United States. These air bag modules were then installed as replacement parts after an air bag deployed in a previous crash.
NHTSA is aware of the following crashes.
| Date | Location | Vehicle | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2023 | Texas | 2018 Chevrolet Malibu | Fatal |
| Jun 2023 | Florida | 2020 Chevrolet Malibu | Fatal |
| Sep 2023 | Pennsylvania | 2021 Chevrolet Malibu | Severe Injuries |
| Oct 2023 | Texas | 2020 Chevrolet Malibu | Severe Injuries |
| Mar 2024 | Oklahoma | 2022 Chevrolet Malibu | Fatal |
| Feb 2025 | Arizona | 2017 Hyundai Sonata | Fatal |
| Jul 2025 | Utah | 2019 Hyundai Sonata | Fatal |
| Sep 2025 | California | 2020 Chevrolet Malibu | Fatal |
| Oct 2025 | Kansas | 2018 Chevrolet Malibu | Fatal |
| Dec 2025 | Texas | 2018 Hyundai Sonata | Fatal |
| Dec 2025 | Ohio | 2019 Chevrolet Malibu | Fatal |
Although so far NHTSA is only aware of ruptures involving DTN inflators installed as aftermarket equipment in Chevrolet Malibu or Hyundai Sonata vehicles, there is no information indicating the problem is specific to those vehicles.
If you know for certain that your used vehicle has never been in a crash, this issue does not affect you. If you haven’t done so already, you should obtain a vehicle history report to help verify the crash history.
There has not been a recall filed for these air bag inflators, so a VIN search cannot tell you if your vehicle has one. Review the “What to Do” section on this page for more information.
While these air bags are not currently under recall, NHTSA is investigating them. NHTSA is working to identify what vehicles may be impacted, who sold the substandard air bag inflators, and what options are available for impacted vehicle owners.
A dealership for the vehicle manufacturer or a reputable, trustworthy independent repair shop can do this inspection for you.
You would need to pay for the inspection.
You would be responsible for paying for the replacement. If your vehicle has one of these DTN inflators, you should not drive it until you are able to have it replaced. These inflators have caused multiple fatalities, and it is imperative that they be identified, removed and replaced.
No, under no circumstances should you attempt to inspect the air bag yourself or dismantle any part of your steering wheel. People have been killed while attempting to work on their own air bags.
No, the replacement Takata air bags were genuine replacement parts and are not affected by this issue.