Counterfeit Air Bags being unknowingly used by 3rd party body shops

[Splattj1]

http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Pre...rfeit+Air+Bags

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has alerted the auto repair industry that tens of thousands of car owners may be driving vehicles with counterfeit air bags, which fail to inflate properly or don't inflate at all. Although no deaths or injuries have been tied to the counterfeit bags, it's unclear whether police accident investigators would be able to identify a counterfeit bag from a genuine one. The counterfeit bags typically have been made to look like air bags from automakers, and usually include a manufacturer's logo, but government investigators believe many of the bags come from China. Auto dealerships that operate their own body shops are usually required by their franchise agreements to buy their parts, including air bags, directly from automakers and therefore are unlikely to have installed counterfeit bags. But only 37 percent of auto dealers have their own body shops, so many consumers whose vehicles have been damaged are referred by their insurance companies to auto body shops that aren't affiliated with an automaker.Safety officials will warn millions of Americans that the air bags in over 100 vehicle models could be dangerous counterfeits, telling them to have their cars and trucks inspected as soon as possible. Dai Zhensong, a Chinese citizen, had the counterfeit air bags manufactured by purchasing genuine auto air bags that were torn down and used to produce molds to manufacture the counterfeit bags. Trademark emblems were purchased through dealerships located in China and affixed to the counterfeit air bags, which were then advertised on the Guangzhou Auto Parts website and sold for approximately $50 to $70 each, far below the value of an authentic air bag. The NHTSA has made a list of automobiles available that may be at risk for having counterfeit air bags."

[jrmcm]

Oh, China. That was too predictable.

[200HP4dr]

Sweet! This will significantly drop the cost to repair my salvage title cars!

[BRealistic]

Wouldn't an auto parts dealer/body shop buyer know that 70 bucks is too damn cheap for a real replacement airbag?

[nm+]

Wouldn't an auto parts dealer/body shop buyer know that 70 bucks is too damn cheap for a real replacement airbag?

Yeah. They're just as complicit as the people selling them, unelss some middleman is marking them way up.

[warren_s]

Wouldn't an auto parts dealer/body shop buyer know that 70 bucks is too damn cheap for a real replacement airbag?

This is the Walmart generation. "I need more things at lower prices.... no matter what the cost!"

[BRealistic]

Yeah. They're just as complicit as the people selling them, unelss some middleman is marking them way up.

Somebody in the supply chain made money knowingly selling these dirt cheap parts as though they were legit airbags.
My point is somebody should be to blame and prosecuted for the fraud and related costs (and any injuries from the fake airbags).

[Inspector Detector]

This is the Walmart generation. "I need more things at lower prices.... no matter what the cost!"

I only wish they'd come out with a Great Value Car already

[choochoo]

From the NHTSA press release.

CONSUMERS THAT SHOULD NOT BE AT RISK:

Consumers who purchased their vehicle new and have not had their air bags replaced
Consumers who have full knowledge of the entire history of their used vehicle (including knowing whether the vehicle had been in a crash in the last three years and being certain that the air bag was replaced at a new car dealership)
CONSUMERS THAT MAY BE AT RISK AND SHOULD CONTACT THE CALL CENTER ESTABLISHED BY THEIR AUTO MANUFACTURER:

Consumers who have had air bags replaced within the past three years at a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership
Consumers who have purchased a used car that may have sustained an air bag deployment before their purchase
Consumers who own a car with a title branded salvage, rebuilt, or reconstructed
Consumers who have purchased replacement air bags from eBay or other non-certified sources-especially if they were purchased at unusually low prices (i.e. less than $400)
VEHICLES FOR WHICH COUNTERFEIT AIR BAGS MAY BE AVAILABLE:

As of today, NHTSA is aware of counterfeit air bags available for the following vehicle makes and models:

Acura

2009-2011
TSX

Audi

2006-2009
A3, A4, A6, A8, Q5, Q7

BMW

2007-2011
X5, E70, E60, E61

2008-2010
5-series, 528i, 535i

2004-2007
5-Series, 525i, 530, 535, E60, E61

2007-2011
E90, E91

Not listed
E92, E93

2007-2011
X5, E70

2004-2007
525i, 530, 535

2011-2012
X3

Buick

2010-2011
Lacrosse

Chevrolet

2011-2012
Cruze

2006-2010
Aveo

2011-2012
Volt

2012
Camaro

Ford

2012
Focus

2005-2009
Mustang

Honda

2003-2012
Accord

2006-2011
Civic

2002-2011
CRV

2007-2011
Fit

2009-2011
Pilot

2009-2011
Insight

2009-2011
Crosstour

2011
Odyssey

Hyundai

2007-2011
Elantra

Not listed
Genesis

Not listed
Sonata

Infiniti

2007-2011
G35, EX35

Kia

2010-2011
Soul/Forte

2004-2009
Spectra

Land Rover

2012
Range Rover Evoque

Lexus

2006-2011
IS250, IS350, IS-F

2003-2008
GX470

2007-2009
RX350

Not listed
ES350

Mazda

2004
Mazda 3

2010-2012
Mazda 3

Mercedes

2009-2011
C, GLK

2010-2011
E350, E550

2007-2008
S550

2006-2009
ML

2009-2010
GL, ML

Mitsubishi

Not listed
Outlander

Nissan

1992-2002
Quest

2010-2011
Quest

2009-2011
Cube

2007-2011
Versa

2009-2010
Murano

Not listed
Altima

Subaru

2008-2009
Forester

2008-2009
Imprezza

2008-2009
Outback

2010-2011
Legacy

Suzuki

2007-2010
SX4

Toyota

2002-2006
Camry

2012
Camry

2009-2011
Corolla, Matrix

2007-2011
Yaris

2004-2011
Highlander

2004-2011
Sienna

2004-2011
Tacoma

2010-2012
Prius

2003-2006
Tundra

2007-2011
Tundra

2003-2006
Sequoia

2003-2010
Land Cruiser

2004-2007
Highlander

2008-2010
Highlander

2004-2009
4Runner

2007-2009
Solara

2005-2011
RAV4

Volkswagen

2006-2010
Jetta

Volvo

Not listed
XC60, XC70

Not listed
V70, S60, S80

[BRealistic]

^

Yeah- they are basically telling everybody with a vehicle on the list that had an airbags replaced - NOT at a dealer- to take their vehicle to the dealer and get it verified.

I am sure dealers will hate this.... (sarcasm...)
What would stop them from claiming all of them are counterfeit?

[IridiumB6]

^

Yeah- they are basically telling everybody with a vehicle on the list that had an airbags replaced - NOT at a dealer- to take their vehicle to the dealer and get it verified.

I am sure dealers will hate this.... (sarcasm...)
What would stop them from claiming all of them are counterfeit?

Morals...oh wait

[myeyesareopen]

pretty crazy video in that link, sucks that it can go from not working to shrapnel too

[Deserion]

That video... damn.

[Air and water do mix]

This is the Walmart generation. "I need more things at lower prices.... no matter what the cost!"

"Cheap at any cost" is what I always say. It's mine, but feel free to use it if you wish.

[adrew]

YouTube of the video:

[Air and water do mix]

It's only a matter of time before we start hearing of deaths because of this. I'm sure it's happened by now since its been three years.

[freedomgli]

Airbags are just the tip of the iceberg. Brakes pads, rotors and many other service parts are being counterfeited and passed off as name brand products that may enter the supply chain at various points. It's just one more industry for the largest organized crime syndicate in the world, China, to exploit. Supply chain integrity is a huge issue that all the OEMs and reputable parts suppliers have been grappling with now for the past decade or so.

[Air and water do mix]

Airbags are just the tip of the iceberg...

That's just infuriating.

[RzinDubs]

That video is disturbing.

[BRealistic]

Airbags are just the tip of the iceberg. Brakes pads, rotors and many other service parts are being counterfeited and passed off as name brand products that may enter the supply chain at various points. It's just one more industry for the largest organized crime syndicate in the world, China, to exploit. Supply chain integrity is a huge issue that all the OEMs and reputable parts suppliers have been grappling with now for the past decade or so.

Ok.. I need you to support that overgeneralized claim.
You make it sound like the government of China is intentionally making parts like this just to screw with everybody.
But cheap Chinese labor is not free- so somebody is paying a Chinese company to make these parts.. and I seriously doubt it is a Chinese business.

More than likely some outside business went to a Chinese factory and paid them to make parts that look good as cheap as possibly but without any concern for functionality. They are getting exactly what they paid for, and are the Chinese to blame?

[mx5er]

Recently, Volvo told their suppliers to cut their prices or else Volvo will look to Chinese suppliers. I hoping I'm just being paranoid here but I'm wondering if that kinda cost cutting will show itself in inferior safety devices.

[classicjetta]

That's worse than having no airbag at all...

I'm glad my car was bought new and never had a deploy; I know it's pretty popular in China and is on that list.

[Air and water do mix]

Ok.. I need you to support that overgeneralized claim.
You make it sound like the government of China is intentionally making parts like this just to screw with everybody.
But cheap Chinese labor is not free- so somebody is paying a Chinese company to make these parts.. and I seriously doubt it is a Chinese business.

More than likely some outside business went to a Chinese factory and paid them to make parts that look good as cheap as possibly but without any concern for functionality. They are getting exactly what they paid for, and are the Chinese to blame?

While I agree to a point, I'm sure there is plenty of blame to go around.

[turbo_nine]

This is the Walmart generation. "I need more things at lower prices.... no matter what the cost!"

China bashing and old man whining in the same thread! Now we just need a hipster or two.