US Highway Agency Issues Advisory Over Faulty Air Bag Replacements in Some Cars

‘These suspect replacement parts are often manufactured by foreign companies with little to no reputation of quality manufacturing,’ it warns.

Cars make their way in traffic on a Los Angeles freeway on Jan. 25, 2024. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

A federal agency overseeing transportation safety warned drivers Wednesday about “cheap, substandard replacement air bag inflators” in used cars after reports of multiple deaths and injuries in connection to the problem over the past several months.

In a statement, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that two people suffered severe injuries and three died in the past year due to “faulty aftermarket replacement” air bag inflators.