Authorities in the United States are preparing to ban airbags supplied by the company DTN, following a series of serious accidents. The toll is heavy, as there have been around ten deaths and several injuries in cases where the pyrotechnic device turned into a deadly projectile.
Instead of deploying correctly, these airbags can explode and propel metallic fragments into the cabin, more precisely towards the driver’s chest and face. This story inevitably recalls the Takata scandal, which led to one of the largest recalls in automotive history.
Unlike the Takata case, the airbags in question were not installed in cars directly on the production lines. These are replacement parts, often installed after an accident and outside official channels. Their exact origin remains unclear, as well as the extent of their distribution, which greatly complicates traceability and recall operations. In other words, vehicles that were originally compliant can become dangerous after a repair carried out with parts chosen mainly for their price.
If this information can be of use, it is at least a call to your vigilance: if you also need to replace an airbag, it is better to avoid supposedly compatible but cheap parts.
