Nearly 2 Million Vehicles Back on Road After
Airbag Deployments Just in Last 2 Years
CENTREVILLE, Va., July 10,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 2 million vehicles
are back on U.S. roads after they were involved in an accident
where an airbag deployed over the last 2 years, CARFAX data shows.
Each of those vehicles represents an opportunity for a scammer to
install a counterfeit airbag as a replacement. Those counterfeit
airbags put owners at risk, according to the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Although instances of that happening are believed to be rare,
law enforcement officials agree that no one knows for sure how many
substandard airbags are in cars today. But the results can be
tragic: There have been 3 deaths and 2 severe injuries just in the
last nine months because of these airbags, NHTSA reports.
Ten states have more than 40,000 vehicles back on the road after
an airbag deployment:
State
|
No. of Vehicles
|
Texas
|
206,000
|
Florida
|
106,000
|
N.C.
|
100,000
|
Michigan
|
81,000
|
Georgia
|
74,000
|
Ohio
|
59,000
|
California
|
56,000
|
Tennessee
|
47,000
|
Illinois
|
43,000
|
Virginia
|
41,000
|
"If consumers own or are considering the purchase of a used
vehicle, NHTSA urges them to learn their vehicle's history and
ensure their vehicle has genuine air bag inflators," the agency
said in a release this week. "If their vehicle has one of these
inadequate replacement parts, it could kill or critically injure
them in a crash."
Consumers can check – for free – Vehicle History Reports for
airbag deployments in every used car listed on CARFAX.com.
Additionally, prospective buyers should have a trusted mechanic
check out any replacement airbags before they buy a used
vehicle.
NHTSA and federal law enforcement officials say there's no way
to know for sure just how many counterfeit airbags are being
installed in U.S. cars today. A new car today can have up to 10-15
airbags installed.
Consumers who wind up in an accident where an airbag deploys
should take their vehicle to a reputable repair shop, preferably
one with vehicle manufacturer certification and high ratings from
consumers.
Editor's note: Interviews with Patrick Olsen, CARFAX Editor-in-Chief, are
available at any time. Please contact us at
PublicRelations@carfax.com.
About CARFAX
CARFAX, part of S&P Global Mobility, helps millions of
people every day confidently shop, buy, service and sell used cars
with innovative solutions powered by CARFAX® vehicle
history information. The expert in vehicle history since 1984,
CARFAX provides CARFAX Used Car Listings, CARFAX Car
Care, CARFAX History-Based Value and the flagship CARFAX
Vehicle History Report to consumers and the automotive
industry. CARFAX owns the world's largest vehicle history database
and is nationally recognized as a top workplace by The
Washington Post. Shop, Buy, Service, Sell – Show me the
CARFAX®.
S&P Global Mobility is a division of S&P Global (NYSE:
SPGI). S&P Global is the world's foremost provider of credit
ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global
capital, commodity and automotive markets.
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SOURCE CARFAX