Overview
- NHTSA, which on Thursday declared DTN driver inflators defective, is weighing a ban and will take comments through April 17.
- The agency has confirmed 12 ruptures since May 2023 that caused 10 deaths and two severe injuries when metal fragments hit drivers.
- All known cases involve DTN60DB-series inflators found in 2018–2022 Chevrolet Malibu and 2017–2019 Hyundai Sonata sedans, many with salvage or rebuilt titles.
- NHTSA says the parts were made in 2021–2022, installed after prior crashes as aftermarket replacements, and likely entered the U.S. illegally.
- Because these are replacement parts that can bypass VIN tracking, the agency urges inspections, reporting to FBI or HSI, and not driving vehicles that contain a DTN inflator.