The Journal. · Friday, July 24, 2026
A significant challenge in addressing the counterfeit airbag issue is the difficulty in tracking these parts once they enter the used car market. Unlike recalls for new cars, where manufacturers have owner information, faulty airbags in used cars are often installed by independent repair shops after a crash, making it hard for regulators like Nitsa to issue effective recalls.
“The issue is when an airbag has to be replaced, like after a crash. That's much more common in the used car market, where the vehicle's history isn't always clear.”
“Those faulty airbag parts are being bought and sold online. From sites like eBay or Facebook Marketplace.”
“The Nitsa investigators have had to like essentially back their way into figuring out who sold it and who bought it, and it's like a very unwieldy process.”