Banned Chinese air bag part blamed for death in survivable crash
FILE: Airbags deployed after a crash (Getty Images)
A motorist died last week in a crash that regulators say would have been survivable had it not involved a banned Chinese airbag inflator.
According to Reuters, it’s the 11th death tied to the substandard airbag part, but the first death since the U.S. banned it.
Chinese airbag inflator death
What we know:
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the fatal crash happened Aug. 27 in Dallas. The person killed was in a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. Regulators said had it not been for the faulty airbag part, the crash would have been survivable.
MORE: Ford recalls nearly 150,000 Mustangs over wiring issue
The airbag inflators are made by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co Ltd, also known as DTN, in China.
What they're saying:
NHTSA has said the substandard part sends "large metal fragments into drivers' chests, necks, eyes and faces."
MORE: Tesla recalls nearly 3M vehicles over doors that may be difficult to open after crashes
According to the NHTSA, there have been 13 incidents since May 2023, with three people killed in Hyundai Sonatas, seven people killed in Chevrolet Malibus, one person killed in a Chevrolet Equinox, and two serious injuries in Chevrolet Malibus.
What we don't know:
General Motors, which owns Chevrolet, was not immediately available for comment to Reuters.
The Source: This report includes information from Reuters.