The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said substandard inflators made by Jilin Province Detiannuo Safety Technology Co., Ltd. (DTN) likely ruptured and caused 10 deaths and two serious injuries in 12 U.S. crashes over the past three years.
NHTSA reported the DTN inflators exploded and sent metal fragments into drivers’ chests, necks, eyes and faces, and noted that all known crashes involved Chevrolet Malibus and Hyundai Sonatas. NHTSA also said the inflators were imported into the United States by unknown parties, probably illegally, and it cannot yet estimate how many are in the country.
The investigation remains open while NHTSA solicits public comment and considers whether to ban DTN inflators, and DTN will have an opportunity to respond. NHTSA urged owners of used vehicles to verify air bag replacements and to report suspected DTN inflators to local Homeland Security Investigations or FBI field offices, the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, or NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.
Read the full article at jalopnik.com.
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