Posted on 04/04/2026 9:26:00 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Uh oh, a new crop of deadly airbags just dropped. In all seriousness, airbags are lifesaving devices that are an integral part of the safety systems in all new cars sold in the United States, so when they start killing people it's no laughing matter. Yesterday the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released findings that "suggest substandard Chinese air bag inflators, likely illegally imported into the United States, are to blame for 10 fatalities and two serious injuries in a dozen crashes over the past three years. All 12 crashes involved Chinese frontal driver air bag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Safety Technology Co., Ltd. (DTN) that ruptured during a crash."
Not unlike the largest automotive recall in history, the Takata airbag scandal that's still claiming lives today, these Chinese inflators exploded and sent large metal fragments into drivers' chests, necks, eyes, and faces. So far, all known crashes have occurred in Chevrolet Malibus and Hyundai Sonatas, but NHTSA does not have sufficient information to confirm the risk is limited to these makes and models.
Issues like this are tricky, since air bags are hidden from view and only deploy in the event of a car crash. According to the press release, NHTSA urges owners of used vehicles to learn their vehicle's history, and "If a vehicle has been in a previous crash where the air bag deployed, it should be inspected by a reputable mechanic immediately to ensure the air bag is a legitimate replacement equivalent to the original."
NHTSA initially opened the investigation into these DTN inflators in October last year, and found that the inflators were imported into the United States by unknown importers, probably illegally. This means NHTSA has been unable to obtain sufficient information to estimate the number of subject inflators in the country with any confidence, making the scale of this deadly issue unknown as of now.
The investigation is continuing, and "by law, NHTSA must seek public comment and provide DTN with the opportunity to present information challenging the decision." NHTSA says it's also weighing whether a ban on sales of these air bags will be necessary. If you think your vehicle has a DTN air bag inflator, contact your local Homeland Security Investigations office or FBI field office to report it. Alternatively, you can submit an online complaint to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, or contact the NHTSA online or via the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.
I LIVE MY “OLD IRON”.
NO AIRBAGS OF ANY KIND & REAL STEEL TO PROTECT ME.
“Made in China”
the mark of “quality”
But they are cheaper!
1 by 1 by any means possible!
Audi had a system called Procon 10 which was completely mechanical.
In a front end hit, the engine being pushed back pulled the steering column into the dash via cables, away from the driver.
https://youtu.be/qzaBJkpdoa8?t=90
The crash would have probably killed them, anyway.
“Issues like this are tricky...”
Not if you remove them before they kill you.
“The crash would have probably killed them, anyway.”
Don’t know about these Commie units, but the problem with the Takatas was that they rearranged your face, even after a virtual love tap.
A device meant to save your life actually kills you. My irony meter is pegging.
Not preventing someone being killed isn’t the same as killing them.
Just because you hate somebody doesn’t relive you of the journalistic obligation to be factual (and concise in the use of the English language).
The Chinese just don’t care:
2008 Chinese milk scandal
The 2008 Chinese milk scandal, also known as the melamine contamination crisis, was a major public health and food safety incident in China in which milk and infant formula were adulterated with melamine. The contamination killed at least six infants and sickened about 300,000 children, becoming one of the most severe food scandals in modern Chinese history.
Key facts
Date: 2008
Substance involved: Melamine (industrial chemical)
Deaths: At least 6 infants
Illnesses: Over 300,000 children affected
Main company implicated: Sanlu Group, plus 21 other dairies
Background and causes
Before the scandal, China’s dairy industry was rapidly expanding, driven by urban consumer demand. To mask the dilution of milk with water and meet protein test standards, some suppliers added melamine—a nitrogen-rich compound used in plastics—which falsely inflated protein readings in quality tests. The practice spread among milk collectors and suppliers, ultimately tainting products made by major dairies such as Sanlu, Mengniu, Yili, and Bright Dairy.
Scale and health impact
Melamine exposure caused kidney stones and acute kidney failure, particularly in infants fed formula from contaminated batches. Hospitals across China treated tens of thousands of children, and panic led to mass recalls of milk products and bans in more than 20 countries. The World Health Organization warned global authorities to screen Chinese dairy imports.
Government and legal response
Authorities arrested over 20 individuals, including Sanlu executives and milk suppliers. Two people were executed in 2009 for producing and selling tainted milk. Senior local officials were dismissed, and China established new food safety laws, including the creation of the State Council Food Safety Commission. Despite reforms, melamine-tainted milk reappeared on the market in 2010, prompting renewed crackdowns.
Aftermath and legacy
The scandal devastated public confidence in domestic dairy products. Imports of foreign infant formula surged, and “milk powder shopping trips” to Hong Kong became common. The incident is now cited as a turning point in China’s food regulation, exposing systemic weaknesses in agricultural oversight and corporate accountability.
I don’t expect them to care. For some crazy reason, I expect the U.S. and state governments to care. Maybe I should be committed.
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