Click to enlarge.
“Most consumers have never even heard of counterfeit airbags.* Tragically, it’s not just that these products don’t protect people in the event of a collision, they can inflict their own serious injuries or even death, often acting quite literally like a bomb when deployed American Honda Motor Co. said today.”
These ‘airbags’ come from illicit businesses operating in China and other overseas markets and are primarily sold in the dark underbelly of the secondhand parts market, before being installed in the vehicles of unsuspecting customers here in the U.S. While the full scope of any underground economy is impossible to fully quantify, data indicate the threat is growing. In the first half of 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported there were at least five fatalities or serious injuries caused by counterfeit airbags. NHTSA issued an advisory encouraging consumers to protect themselves and their loved ones.
“When it comes to the world of counterfeit goods, most shoppers imagine tables of inexpensive designer knockoff purses and wallets. But there is another, far more insidious form of fakery that threatens to undermine the critical vehicle safety achievements that are designed to protect you and your loved ones in a collision. I’m talking about the life-threatening danger of counterfeit airbags,” said Craig Orlan Manager, State Government & Industry Relations at American Honda Motor Co.
“While this issue is in the news once again, sadly it is not new. For nearly a decade, Honda has been involved in efforts to stop the sale and trafficking of counterfeit airbags, including helping establish an industry-wide coalition of automakers known as the Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council or “A2C2.” In the effort to keep these life-threatening parts from entering the supply chain, our coalition has provided expert testimony in court, accompanied Department of Homeland Security officers on counterfeit raids, and trained law enforcement officers who play a critical role in identifying and taking down illicit counterfeit operations.
“Undoubtedly, these actions save lives, but the best solution is to stop these fake airbags from reaching the market in the first place. To do that, we need to give law enforcement the tools and authority they need to act. That’s why Honda has been at the forefront of a national effort to expand the narrow authority law enforcement currently has, primarily under federal trademark law. I’m proud to say we’ve made significant progress: 38 states have adopted our model legislation prohibiting the trafficking of fake airbags. However, with consumers in 12 more states still unprotected, and the fact that vehicles frequently cross state lines, we still have work to do.
“It will take all of us working together to eliminate this public threat and keep drivers and passengers safe – the auto industry, law enforcement, legislators, media, and consumers. That’s why A2C2 has launched a public awareness campaign together with the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center. You can read here for practical tips on how to identify and avoid faulty auto parts, including the importance of having your car serviced at a reputable facility. This is especially important after a major collision,” said Orlan.
*AutoInformed on
See this test video by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Counterfeit Airbag Threat Still Growing
Click to enlarge.
“Most consumers have never even heard of counterfeit airbags.* Tragically, it’s not just that these products don’t protect people in the event of a collision, they can inflict their own serious injuries or even death, often acting quite literally like a bomb when deployed American Honda Motor Co. said today.”
These ‘airbags’ come from illicit businesses operating in China and other overseas markets and are primarily sold in the dark underbelly of the secondhand parts market, before being installed in the vehicles of unsuspecting customers here in the U.S. While the full scope of any underground economy is impossible to fully quantify, data indicate the threat is growing. In the first half of 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported there were at least five fatalities or serious injuries caused by counterfeit airbags. NHTSA issued an advisory encouraging consumers to protect themselves and their loved ones.
“When it comes to the world of counterfeit goods, most shoppers imagine tables of inexpensive designer knockoff purses and wallets. But there is another, far more insidious form of fakery that threatens to undermine the critical vehicle safety achievements that are designed to protect you and your loved ones in a collision. I’m talking about the life-threatening danger of counterfeit airbags,” said Craig Orlan Manager, State Government & Industry Relations at American Honda Motor Co.
“While this issue is in the news once again, sadly it is not new. For nearly a decade, Honda has been involved in efforts to stop the sale and trafficking of counterfeit airbags, including helping establish an industry-wide coalition of automakers known as the Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council or “A2C2.” In the effort to keep these life-threatening parts from entering the supply chain, our coalition has provided expert testimony in court, accompanied Department of Homeland Security officers on counterfeit raids, and trained law enforcement officers who play a critical role in identifying and taking down illicit counterfeit operations.
“Undoubtedly, these actions save lives, but the best solution is to stop these fake airbags from reaching the market in the first place. To do that, we need to give law enforcement the tools and authority they need to act. That’s why Honda has been at the forefront of a national effort to expand the narrow authority law enforcement currently has, primarily under federal trademark law. I’m proud to say we’ve made significant progress: 38 states have adopted our model legislation prohibiting the trafficking of fake airbags. However, with consumers in 12 more states still unprotected, and the fact that vehicles frequently cross state lines, we still have work to do.
“It will take all of us working together to eliminate this public threat and keep drivers and passengers safe – the auto industry, law enforcement, legislators, media, and consumers. That’s why A2C2 has launched a public awareness campaign together with the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center. You can read here for practical tips on how to identify and avoid faulty auto parts, including the importance of having your car serviced at a reputable facility. This is especially important after a major collision,” said Orlan.
*AutoInformed on
See this test video by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.