U.S. Warns Repaired Cars Could Be Hiding Deadly Chinese Airbags

US officials are sounding the alarm over potentially lethal Chinese air bag inflators that could be hiding in your vehicle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these faulty parts have now been linked to two more deaths, bringing the known total to eight.

At least ten crashes have involved ruptured replacement air bag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System, the government says. These parts were likely imported illegally and used to repair vehicles that were previously involved in a crash.

All of the incidents have involved Chevrolet Malibus and Hyundai Sonatas, and most of them have had salvage or rebuilt titles. This suggests firms could have been trying to save money on repairs and the vehicles might have been bought by unsuspecting customers.

Whatever the case, the government said these “dangerous, substandard air bag inflators” malfunction during crashes. This sends “large metal fragments into drivers’ chests, necks, eyes and faces.” As a result, they’re more claymore mine than airbag.

This has had tragic results as “eight drivers have been killed in otherwise survivable crashes, while two other drivers suffered severe injuries.”