This Banned Chinese Air Bag Inflator Just Killed An 11th Person In The US

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says a banned Chinese air bag inflator marked DTN60DB has been linked to a 11th death and 14 crashes total, including three severe injuries. The agency confirmed the latest fatality on September 3, involving an Aug. 27, 2026 crash in a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox in Dallas. NHTSA says the crash looked survivable until the inflator failed, rupturing instead of deploying and sending metal fragments into the driver’s chest, neck, eyes and face. NHTSA linked DTN60DB units to 14 incidents tied to the inflator, and notes it issued an import and sale ban earlier in 2026, its first prohibition of this type in more than two decades. It urges owners with any air bag deployment since 2020 to get replacements inspected by a reputable mechanic and check that the replacement is legitimate.