US considering permanent ban on air bags components produced by Chinese manufacturer DTN

By David Shepardson

April 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday it is considering a permanent ban on substandard Chinese replacement automobile air bag inflators produced by DTN after 10 fatal crashes since May 2023.

The auto safety agency said it was aware of 12 crashes in the U.S. resulting in deaths or serious injury from ruptured replacement air bag inflators made in China by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co Ltd, also known as DTN, and illegally imported into the U.S., since May 2023. All of the deaths have taken place in GM or Hyundai vehicles.

NHTSA said it made an initial determination that the air bag inflators pose an unreasonable risk to safety. NHTSA said the DTN air bag inflators malfunctioned in otherwise survivable crashes, "sending large metal fragments into drivers’ chests, necks, eyes and faces."

The agency issued an urgent warning to owners and repair shops in January.

NHTSA said the most recent death occurred Feb. 16 in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu.

The agency will seek public comment and provide DTN with the opportunity to present information challenging the decision. NHTSA is still investigating how many of these inflators have illegally entered the U.S.

NHTSA in October opened an investigation into DTN replacement inflators. NHTSA is working with law enforcement agencies to address any illegal activities associated with the importation of these inflators and previously estimated the population of inflators under investigation at 10,000.

Nine of the replacement air bag inflators in the fatal crashes were installed in used GM GM.N Chevrolet Malibu vehicles and four in Hyundai 011760.KS, but NHTSA said it could not confirm the risk is limited to these makes and models.

DTN says on its website that the inflators are prohibited from sale in the U.S.

"Whoever is bringing them into the country and installing them is putting American families in danger," NHTSA said.

For consumers buying used vehicles that were in a previous crash where the air bag deployed, the air bag should be inspected immediately to ensure that it is a legitimate replacement equivalent to the original, NHTSA said.