Warning about counterfeit airbags expected

rockin'robin

rockin'robin

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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to make official announcement

WASHINGTON -
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expected to announce a warning Wednesday about counterfeit airbags in several vehicle models.

According to auto industry officials, who did not want to be named, the government agency briefed the officials about the warning Tuesday.

According to several media sources, including CBS News, NHTSA testing has shown some of the bags don't inflate or fail to inflate properly, said the officials.

NHTSA is expected to ask car owners to check a government website, safercar.gov, or call their manufacturer or local dealership to learn if their vehicle model is among those for which counterfeit airbags have been made, officials said.

NHTSA is expected to ask car owners to check a government website, safercar.gov, or call their manufacturer or local dealership to learn if their vehicle model is among those for which counterfeit airbags have been made, officials said.

One industry official says the counterfeit bags have been made to look like airbags made by automakers and usually include a manufacturer's logo.

The bags are marketed to auto body shops as the authentic product.

Chris Pace, service and parts director for Honda in Jacksonville, says there is an easy way to find out if a car has counterfeit airbags.

"All they need to do is bring the vehicle in. We can check it out and let them know if it has an after-market or faulty air bag," Pace said.

The following list was released by the Associated Press as the vehicles at risk for counterfeit airbags, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.


Make

Model Year(s)

Model(s)

Acura2009-2011

TSX Audi 2006-2009

A3, A4, A6, A8, Q5, Q7

BMW 2007-2011

X5, E70, E60, E61

2008-2010 5-Series, 528i, 535i

2004-2007 5-Series. 525i, 530, 535, E60, E61

2007-2011 E90, E91

Not listed

E92, E93
2007-2011

X5, E70

2004-2007
525i, 530, 535

2011-2012 X3

Buick 2010-2011

Lacrosse

Chevrolet 2011-2012

Cruze 2006-2010

Aveo 2011-2012

Volt 2012

Camaro

Ford 2012

Focus 2005-2009

Mustang

Honda 2003-2012

Accord 2006-2011

Civic
2002-2011

CRV 2007-2011

Fit 2009-2011

Pilot 2009-2011

Insight 2009-2011

Crosstour 2011

Odyssey

Hyundai 2007-2011

Elantra

Not listed

Genesis

Not listed

Sonata

Infiniti 2007-2011

G35. EX35

Kia 2010-2011

Soul/Forte 2004-2009

Spectra

Land Rover 2012

Range Rover Evoque

Lexus 2006-2011

IS250, IS350, IS-F 2003-2008

GX470 2007-2009

RX350

Not Listed

ES350

Mazda 2004

Mazda 3 2010-2012

Mazda 3

Mercedes 2009-2011

C, GLK 2010-2011

E350, E550 2007-2008

S550 2006-2009

ML 2009-2010

GL, ML

Mitsubishi

Not listed

Outlander

Nissan 1992-2002

Quest
2010-2011

Quest 2009-2011

Cube 2007-2011

Versa 2009-2010

Murano

Not listed

Altima

Subaru 2008-2009

Forester 2008-2009

Imprezza 2008-2009

Outback 2010-2011

Legacy

Suzuki 2007-2010

SX4

Toyota 2002-2006

Camry 2012

Camry 2009-2011

Corolla, Matrix 2007-2011

Yaris 2004-2011

Highlander 2004-2011

Sienna 2004-2011

Tacoma 2010-2012

Prius 2003-2006

Tundra 2007-2011

Tundra 2003-2006

Sequoia 2003-2010

Land Cruiser 2004-2007

Highlander 2008-2010

Highlander 2008-2010

Highlander 2004-2009

4Runner 2007-2009

Solara 2005-2011

RAV4

Volkswagen 2006-2010

Jetta

Volvo

Not listed

XC60, XC70

Not listed

V70, S60, S80

Warning about counterfeit airbags expected | News - Home
 
deafsmogtech said:
Bad cloned chinese air bags is auto body shop's high profit.
Click to expand...

Yup, very commonplace. It's same thing when I went to Dodge Bodyshop for my truck body repair. I read the pamphlets about it. Comparing to two look alike fenders, one non-OEM and other real OEM. It shows that non-OEM do not have exact match or holes and metal tend to be a bit thinner.

That's why some bodyshop are getting greedy, thus insurance companies are getting picky on bodyshop they recommend.

Same goes for Airbag. They think 15% of accidents deploys airbags and they think rationally that it's small percentage to them which made them think that they can profit big on cheap non-functioning airbags assuming customer will be very careful after it's been repaired.

Catty
 
Agree. In SoCal, the insurance company will ask you about airbag deploy in an automobile accident because they make sure if the air bag is not deploy before send the damaged vehicle to the body shop. If the body man tell insurance co that this car need a new air bag then the insurance co will send an adjuster to come to verify the deployed or broken air bag(s). Big trouble for the body shop.
People who buy the damaged vehicles from impound/junk yards for fix up and resale, they often mask the Air Bag lights before resale for profits.. Clear they don't put new air bags. Called "Salvaged" title....
 
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