On Tuesday, January 13, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States issued an “emergency alert” to second-hand car owners and users, warning that Chinese-made faulty airbags could lead to serious traffic accidents.
The notice stated that in December 2025, two individuals died in car accidents where the vehicles involved had undergone replacement of the airbag inflator with “unqualified and dangerous” products imported from China.
NHTSA, a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, revealed that it had been informed of ten incidents where airbag inflators manufactured by DTN Safety Technology Co., Ltd., based in Jilin Province, China, ruptured, resulting in fatalities or severe injuries. These devices are likely to have been illegally imported into the United States. The vehicles involved had installed substandard airbags before the accidents occurred.
The agency reported that eight drivers lost their lives in accidents that could have been survivable, while two drivers sustained severe injuries.
According to NHTSA, these accidents occurred predominantly in Chevrolet Malibu and Hyundai Sonata models, most of which were salvage or refurbished vehicles. NHTSA stated that there is no information confirming that the risk is limited only to these specific brands and models.
NHTSA issued a warning, stating, “These dangerous and substandard airbag inflators experience malfunctions in collision accidents, leading to a large amount of metal fragments ejected towards the driver’s chest, neck, eyes, and face.”
The agency is conducting an investigation into DTN’s inflators. DTN’s official website claims that all of its inflators are banned from sale in the United States.
NHTSA has alerted the automotive repair industry to be vigilant about these airbag devices and to immediately report any relevant information to the agency.
Furthermore, NHTSA reiterated that bringing these airbag devices into the U.S. and installing them puts Americans in danger.
The agency also urged second-hand car buyers and owners to be aware of the vehicle’s history and ensure that genuine airbag inflators are used in their vehicles.
NHTSA reminded, “If the title indicates it’s a salvage or refurbished vehicle, it is essential to check if the car is equipped with these inflators. If it is found that the vehicle has a DTN inflator, the original genuine inflation device must be replaced before continuing to operate the vehicle.”