When you unknowingly buy a counterfeit handbag, you have been scammed out of your money. But if your car has been outfitted with a counterfeit airbag, you have been robbed of your safety, and possibly your life.
NTSA, The National highway Traffic Safety Administration, has recently issued an alert to the public about the existence and dangers of counterfeit airbags.
The counterfeit airbags that have been discovered look almost exactly like name-brand airbags from the major car manufacturers. They look the same, but under testing by the NTSA, they consistently failed to inflate, inflated improperly, or even exploded and cast metal shrapnel throughout the test vehicle.
While no injuries have yet been connected to the counterfeit airbags, this may be because they are difficult to identify as counterfeit because of their likeness to the real thing. There is a significant safety risk for the public — the NTSA estimates that tens of thousands of drivers throughout the U.S. may be driving with these counterfeit airbags.
Which vehicles are at risk?
Those that have been in a car crash in the last three years and have had their airbags replaced by a repair shop which is not part of a new car dealership. New cars have original airbags from the manufacturer, and repair shops that are part of new car dealerships receive their parts from the manufacturer as well, and are therefore not at risk.
If you have any questions about whether your car is affected, you can check the NTSA website at safercar.gov.
If you have been in an accident yourself, contact us for support and legal assistance.
Posted in Personal Injury
Tagged counterfeit airbags, National highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTSA), personal injury attorney
