Counterfeit replacement airbag inflators made by DTN have been linked to deaths in U.S. crashes. NHTSA has issued an initial decision that these inflators contain a safety defect.
Families have filed wrongful death lawsuits in Florida and Utah. A Florida jury returned a $603 million verdict against DTN, according to the plaintiffs’ firm, and NHTSA has issued no recall.
If a car may have one of these inflators, ask a reputable mechanic to inspect it. A car found to have one should not be driven until genuine parts replace it.
- Case or litigation name: Counterfeit airbag (DTN inflator) wrongful death lawsuits
- Defendants: DTN (Florida case); three AutoSavvy companies (Utah case)
- Court and docket number, when available: Broward County, Florida (Byassee estate case); Utah Third Judicial District Court (De La Rosa estate case); docket numbers not stated in the reports
- MDL number, judge, and case count, when an MDL exists: No MDL
- Filing date: Utah suit reported March 3, 2026
- Main allegations: Plaintiffs allege a counterfeit DTN inflator exploded in a crash and sent metal into the driver, causing death; one suit says the dealer knew or should have known
- Products or people involved: DTN60DB frontal driver air bag inflators installed as replacements, mostly in Chevrolet Malibu and Hyundai Sonata vehicles; drivers killed in crashes
Table Of Contents
Latest Counterfeit Airbag Lawsuit Updates
July 8, 2026: Florida Jury Verdict Against DTN Reported
Hoodline reported that a Broward County, Florida jury returned a $603 million verdict against DTN. The case is the wrongful death suit over the death of Destiny Byassee [1].
The plaintiffs’ firm said the punitive damages were meant to punish the manufacturer. The plaintiff alleges that the DTN-made inflator ruptured during a minor crash.
April 17, 2026: NHTSA Comment Period Closes
NHTSA accepted public comments on its initial decision about DTN inflators until April 17, 2026 [2].
The initial decision is not a final determination. NHTSA will decide whether a permanent ban on U.S. sales of the inflator is required.
April 6, 2026: Initial Decision Published in the Federal Register
The Federal Register published NHTSA’s initial decision on DTN inflators on April 6, 2026. It is filed under Docket No. NHTSA-2026-0793 [3]. The notice came four days after NHTSA’s press release.
April 2, 2026: NHTSA Issues Initial Decision on DTN Inflators
NHTSA’s April 2 release states an initial decision that certain DTN frontal driver air bag inflators contain a safety-related defect. It cites 10 deaths and two serious injuries in 12 crashes.
The decision covers frontal driver inflators marked DTN60DB. NHTSA opened its investigation into these inflators in October 2025, before the decision.
March 3, 2026: Utah Wrongful Death Lawsuit Reported
KUTV reported a wrongful death lawsuit filed in Utah’s Third Judicial District Court over the death of 17-year-old Alexia De La Rosa [4].
The suit names three AutoSavvy companies that allegedly repaired and resold the car. It alleges the driver-side airbag detonated in the crash.
What Are Counterfeit Airbags?
According to NHTSA, the DTN inflators are substandard Chinese air bag inflators, likely illegally imported into the United States. NHTSA’s Federal Register notice says an inflator is a part of an air bag module [5].
The notice calls them pyrotechnic gas-generators. An inflator makes the gas that fills the air bag cushion, and the DTN parts are the frontal driver type.
Who May Be Affected?
A vehicle may be affected if an air bag deployed in an earlier crash since 2020 and no manufacturer dealership repaired it, NHTSA says. At least ten of twelve known ruptures involved replacement inflators installed after such a crash.
All known crashes involved Chevrolet Malibu or Hyundai Sonata vehicles. NHTSA has no information that the risk is limited to them.
The Florida case involves a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu in a June 11, 2023 crash. The Utah case involves a 2019 Hyundai Sonata in a July 30, 2025 crash.
The inflators were made in 2021 and 2022 and are etched DTN60DB on the inflator cap. Whether a claim exists depends on each family’s facts, and a lawyer must review them.
Reported Injuries or Damages
The Federal Register notice holds the main regulator finding. NHTSA concluded the DTN inflators pose an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death.
NHTSA says large metal fragments struck drivers’ chests, necks, eyes and faces. Reports like these do not prove the cause of any single crash.
The lawsuits describe individual losses. The Utah complaint alleges metal struck Alexia De La Rosa in the chest and she died minutes later. The Florida plaintiff alleges metal fragments entered Destiny Byassee’s throat.
Recall and Regulatory Background
No recall has been issued for the DTN inflators. NHTSA is weighing a ban on their sale in the United States. It says it cannot estimate how many inflators are in the country.
NHTSA is still investigating how many have illegally entered the country. An agency decision does not by itself establish liability in any lawsuit.
Evidence to Preserve
Records and items that may matter in a counterfeit airbag case include:
- Repair invoices and shop records showing who replaced the airbag
- The vehicle history report and title records, including any salvage title
- Purchase papers and messages with the seller
- Photos of the vehicle, the airbag module and any parts
- The crash report
- Medical and funeral records
- Any removed airbag parts, kept unaltered
- Letters and emails with insurers, NHTSA or police
These records can show who repaired the car and what parts went in. The Florida and Utah allegations depend on repair history and resale.
Filing Deadlines
Filing deadlines for injury and wrongful death claims come from state law. They depend on where the reader lives, when the crash or death happened and, in some states, when the cause was discovered.
Once a deadline passes, an airbag claim can end, however strong the facts. Speak with a lawyer promptly about the dates that apply to you.
Potential Compensation
A court may weigh several kinds of damages in a wrongful death or injury case. They include medical and funeral costs, lost income and support, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and punitive damages where the law allows.
In the Byassee case, a Broward County jury split its verdict in two. The plaintiffs’ firm says $243 million was for compensatory damages and $360 million for punitive damages.
Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. The facts of each crash shape potential compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Do If I Think My Car Has A Counterfeit Airbag?
If you think your car has a counterfeit airbag, get a vehicle history report and have it inspected by a reputable mechanic. Report a suspect inflator to your local Homeland Security Investigations or FBI office, or to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center.
What Does the Research Say About Counterfeit Airbag Inflators?
NHTSA’s initial decision is the main research on counterfeit airbag inflators. If NHTSA makes a final determination, selling the DTN inflators would be illegal. That determination is still pending, so the decision is only an initial finding.
How Many Counterfeit Airbag Lawsuits Has the Utah Plaintiffs’ Firm Filed?
The Utah plaintiffs’ firm said the Utah suit was its third wrongful death lawsuit over alleged counterfeit airbags. It also said it is investigating at least three additional deaths involving alleged counterfeit airbags.
How Can I Reach NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline?
You can reach NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. The TTY line is 888-275-9171. Owners may call it with questions about a suspect DTN inflator.
References
- https://hoodline.com/2026/07/boca-raton-mom-killed-by-fake-airbag-as-florida-jury-hammers-chinese-maker-with-603-million-hit/
- https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/trumps-transportation-department-weighs-permanent-ban-us-sale-chinese-air-bag
- https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-06620.pdf
- https://kutv.com/news/local/lawsuit-claims-utah-teen-killed-by-counterfeit-airbag
- https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-06620