Fake Air Bag Warnings: How To Check Yours
MADISON COUNTY, Tenn. – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has warned drivers to be aware of counterfeit air bags. According the NHTSA, hundreds of cars could have been replaced with counterfeit air bags. Steve Hardee, owner of Collision Specialist, said his shop replaces 10 air bags a month and makes sure the parts he used come from a factory. “There are shops in West Tennessee that install fakes,” said Hardee. “There’s a possibility that you could have what I call generic or counterfeit air bags that may not deploy properly so make sure air bags are working properly.” According to the NHTSA the counterfeit bags are being sold to repair shops for a discounted price. Hardee recommends that, before you get your car fixed, you should ensure the shop is reputable. “Make sure these shops are certified they have proper training to install those air bags and probably make sure they had the dealer check them when they did replace them,” Hardee stated. If you have had your car‘s air bag replaced in the last three years, you can make a call to the repair shop that installed it and get a receipt to make sure it was repaired with the original equipment. Hardee said every customer has a right to view the invoice that shows where the air bag was purchased. He says the recent warning has started a bigger discussion about car safety.
