dangerous counterfeit airbags are triggering a panic in the us after the government there exposed that tens of countless inexpensive fakes have flooded the market as well as put drivers’ lives at risk.
Tests conducted by the national highway web traffic security administration (NHTSA) show the majority of counterfeit bags don’t inflate or stop working to inflate properly, rendering them useless in a crash. And, in at least one test, a counterfeit bag terminated shards of metal shrapnel on impact.
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US investigators believe the fakes are being made in China. however they look authentic enough, as well as in most situations even include a manufacturer’s logo to add to their authenticity.
Drivers who’ve had an airbag replaced by an independent garage or workshop in recent years are having to get their vehicle inspected at a expense of $100-$200 (£62-£125). however the vehicle operator as well as requirements company (VOSA) was quick to reassure motorists over here, with a spokeswoman telling us: “VOSA is not conscious of any type of counterfeit airbags being offered in the UK.”