The NHTSA has been busy investigating the sales of counterfeit airbags used as replacement parts for vehicles that have been involved in a crash. Several automobiles from just about every automaker are included.
NHSTA’s tests have found that many of these replacement bags have been malfunctioning, with issues reported including non-deployment and even shrapnel being projected during deployment. Thankfully, NHTSA reports of no known deaths or injuries stemming from the issue. Even worse is that NHTSA isn’t sure where these airbags are even coming from. Therefore the agency is partnering with the likes of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of Justice in order to widen their net and get a better grip on the situation.
As for us consumers who feel the possibility of being affected, the most at-risk types include those who have had their airbags replaced within the past three years at a shop not affiliated with a licensed dealership, along with those who bought a used car with prior airbag deployment and consumers who bought low-cost replacement airbags from non-certified websites. The silver lining in all this is that NHTSA has identified the vehicles where the replacement airbags are often used, and it believes that less than 0.1 percent of all cars in the United States are affected.
The following GM vehicles are believed to be at risk:
Buick: 2010-2011 LaCrosse.
Cadillac: none.
Chevrolet: 2011-2012 Cruze, 2006-2010 Aveo, 2011-2012 Volt, 2012 Camaro.
GMC: none.
Comment
Your article gives the impression if you have one of the listed vehicles you have a problem. Although you do mention “only 0.1%” that is not how it comes across