The US Federal regulatory agency announced on Thursday (October 23) that it is investigating China’s Jilin Province Detiannuo Safety Technology Company (DTN Airbag) for producing airbag inflators that exploded in car crashes, resulting in at least six deaths.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated in public documents that the latest accident reports occurred earlier this month. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a stern warning, calling these inflators “extremely dangerous.”
Investigators suspect that these inflators contain unstable chemicals that ignite during the activation process, rapidly inflating the airbag with excessive force, causing the airbag to violently and uncontrollably explode.
So far, at least six people have died from the ruptured inflators of the company, with fragments shooting into the cabin, and two others were injured.
The eight accidents known to the US Highway Safety Administration all occurred in Chevrolet Malibu and Hyundai Sonata sedans, using non-OEM replacement airbags. There is no evidence to suggest that the inflator rupture issue is limited to these two models.
The investigation found that some repair shops, in search of cheaper replacement parts, imported these inflators without knowing they were defective or counterfeit, mistakenly believing them to be genuine OEM parts.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Detiannuo’s inflators are strikingly similar to genuine parts but are priced at approximately one-tenth of the original cost.
This case highlights the dangers associated with these types of inflators.
In Florida, a 22-year-old woman named Destiny Marie Byassee was driving a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu at just 30 miles per hour (about 48 kilometers per hour) when the counterfeit inflator on the vehicle exploded, causing metal and plastic shards to pierce her neck, resulting in her immediate death.
The US Department of Transportation and NHTSA warned that any Detiannuo inflators used on vehicles in the US are likely illegally imported non-OEM replacement parts.
Secretary Duffy stated, “Importing and installing these defective Chinese parts in the US is a serious criminal offense that jeopardizes public safety. Auto repair shops and parts distributors must remain highly vigilant.”
It is currently unclear how many Detiannuo inflators have entered the US market and how many vehicles in the US have had these counterfeit airbags installed.
Detiannuo Safety Technology Company is headquartered in Jilin Province, China.
The company claims that its business is limited to inflator production, is not operating in the US, and prohibits the sale of its products to the US; it does not believe any US auto manufacturer uses its inflators as genuine or authorized replacement parts.
The company stated that it is cooperating with relevant departments to address or prevent any potential illegal activities involving the importation of Detiannuo inflators.
A lawyer for Detiannuo stated, “The company will fully cooperate with NHTSA’s investigation and will not evade responsibility. However, if the investigation results show that the company is not responsible for the fatalities resulting from the accidents, the company also hopes to have the opportunity to clarify.”
In a lawsuit, Detiannuo stated, “Buyers must purchase our inflators and install them in airbags to make our products function properly in the airbags. However, different vehicles and models of airbags require different types of inflators, and buyers are responsible for conducting professional tests to ensure the inflators can be safely used in their airbags.”