(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Federal safety officials are warning drivers after two more deaths linked to defective replacement air bags, bringing the total to at least eight fatalities nationwide.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the deaths involve substandard air bag inflators made in China and likely imported illegally. Investigators say the inflators can rupture during a crash, sending metal fragments into drivers instead of safely deploying the air bag.
All known cases involved used vehicles where air bags had been replaced after a prior crash, often in cars with salvage or rebuilt titles. While many incidents involved Chevrolet Malibus and Hyundai Sonatas, officials stress the risk is not limited to specific models.
NHTSA urges used-car owners to check their vehicle's history and have air bag systems inspected, especially if the car was previously in a crash. Drivers are warned not to operate vehicles found to have these inflators until they are replaced with approved parts.
The agency has opened an investigation and is asking repair shops and consumers to report any suspect air bags as officials work to track how the banned parts entered the U.S. market.