The USA has their Takata affair

Authorities in the United States are preparing to ban airbags supplied by the company DTN, following a series of serious accidents. The toll is heavy, with about ten deaths and several injuries reported, in cases where the pyrotechnic device turned into a fatal projectile.

Instead of deploying properly, these airbags can explode and propel metallic fragments into the interior, more precisely towards the chest and face of the driver. The story inevitably recalls the Takata scandal, which led to one of the largest automotive recalls in history.

Unlike the Takata affair, the airbags in question were not mounted on cars directly on production lines. These are replacement parts, often installed after an accident and outside official channels. Their exact origin remains unclear, as does the extent of their distribution, which greatly complicates tracing and recall operations. In other words, vehicles that are perfectly compliant originally can become dangerous after a repair done with parts chosen primarily for their price.

If this information can be useful for something, it is at least a reminder to be vigilant: if you also need to replace an airbag, it is better to avoid supposedly compatible but inexpensive parts.