Products Liability Law Daily Wrap Up, NHTSA NEWS—MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT—NHTSA bans sale, import of defective Chinese air bag inflators, (Apr 30, 2026)

By WK Editorial Staff

This is the first vehicle equipment ban ordered by the agency in more than 20 years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a ban on the sale and import of certain Chinese-made air bag inflators linked to at least 10 deaths and two serious injuries. In a final decision, the agency concluded that frontal driver air bag inflators marked with the identifier "DTN60DB" contain a defect related to motor vehicle safety. NHTSA said its investigation found the inflators pose a serious safety risk because they can explode during a crash rather than inflate properly. When that occurs, large metal fragments can be propelled into occupants, striking the chest, neck, eyes, and face. The defective inflators have been involved in a dozen crashes (NHTSA Press Release (Apr. 29, 2026)).

“Banning these illegal Chinese airbag parts responsible for 10 deaths is necessary to ensure the safety of Americans on our roads,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said in a statement. He added that anyone found importing or selling the defective inflators will be held accountable.

According to NHTSA, the 12 known crashes involved vehicles in which the air bags had been replaced with the defective inflators, which investigators believe were illegally imported into the United States. The agency said all known ruptures occurred in Chevrolet Malibu and Hyundai Sonata vehicles, though it cannot confirm the risk is limited to those makes and models.

“Thanks to Secretary Duffy’s leadership, this is the first time in 20 years that NHTSA has taken such an action to protect Americans,” NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said. He described the ban as an extraordinary but necessary step due to the deadly risks associated with the inflators.

Because the inflators were brought into the country illegally, the total number of affected inflators currently in U.S. vehicles is unknown. The agency’s investigation remains ongoing, and officials said additional information will be provided as it becomes available. See NHTSA’s information page for more details.

Used vehicle owners. NHTSA is urging used vehicle owners and buyers to verify their vehicle histories and ensure any replacement air bag inflators are genuine. Vehicles involved in crashes with air bag deployment since 2020 that were not repaired by a manufacturer’s dealership should be inspected, the agency said. Drivers who discover one of the suspect inflators in their vehicles are advised not to drive until it is replaced with genuine parts and to report the inflator to federal authorities.

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