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Automakers' anti‑counterfeit group warns counterfeit airbags are killing drivers; BAR urged shops to check parts
Summary
The Automotive Anti‑Counterfeiting Council and automaker brand protection managers told BAR's advisory group counterfeit inflators and airbags bought online have caused at least six known deaths and multiple serious injuries; the council urged shops to contact OEM investigators before installing suspect units.
An industry coalition that tracks counterfeit automotive parts told the Bureau of Automotive Repair’s advisory group that counterfeit airbags sold online are a documented safety hazard that has caused fatalities.
John Ruttencutter, manager for the Automotive Anti‑Counterfeiting Council (A2C2), and industry representatives including an automaker brand protection manager presented crash footage, test data and case examples during the Oct. 29 meeting. Ruttencutter said the group has identified six fatalities and at least three serious injuries from incidents in which counterfeit inflators or airbags were installed in repaired vehicles and then failed to deploy or deployed dangerously during subsequent crashes. "When that airbag was told to deploy, it deployed in a manner that injured and killed the drivers," Ruttencutter said.
Ruttencutter and a General Motors brand protection representative described patterns they find in counterfeit airbags: under‑deployment or late deployment; propellant that burns longer than OEM devices; internal construction differences (single‑chamber propellant packs instead of the multi‑chamber design used by OEM suppliers); and loose components that can fragment and cause lethal shrapnel when the counterfeit inflator fires.
"These airbags were purchased online," Ruttencutter said. "They all under‑deployed, didn't deploy, or overdeployed." He told the advisory group his team has worked with law enforcement and federal agencies, and said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had opened an investigation into a particular foreign inflator manufacturer implicated by test evidence.
Why this matters
Airbags and inflators are part of vehicle restraint systems that protect occupants. Industry engineers said improper inflator chemistry or poor assembly can cause failed deployments or propel fragments into the passenger compartment. Shops and insurers commonly buy replacement parts for salvaged vehicles; presenters warned that counterfeit components are sometimes indistinguishable to technicians unless the parts are inspected with OEM expertise.
What BAR staff and industry urged
Presenters urged repair shops, salvage yards and first responders to contact automaker brand‑protection teams or A2C2 if they suspect a counterfeit airbag. Ruttencutter said the coalition maintains channels for shops to share photos and receive quick verification from OEM engineers and investigators. They also encouraged BAR and state enforcement agencies to pursue suppliers and marketplaces that list suspect inflators and to help publicize the risk.
Industry reactions and enforcement
Attendees described recent state investigations in which counterfeit inflators were seized. Several industry trade‑group representatives and BAR staff discussed how to expand training for first responders and collision‑repair technicians so counterfeit parts can be identified earlier. Ruttencutter said counterfeit inflators are often sold for a fraction of the OEM price; presenters said prices historically ranged very low but have increased as counterfeit sellers attempted to mimic genuine components.
Ending note
A2C2 urged BAR‑licensed shops to examine replacement airbags before installation and to contact OEM brand‑protection teams for verification; the group also said it will continue outreach to online marketplaces to seek takedowns of listings for suspect inflators.
