A banned replacement air bag inflator has now been linked to 11 deaths and three severe injuries in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The disturbing part for used-car owners is that the dangerous part may not appear in a normal vehicle recall search.
The inflator carries the identifier DTN60DB, and NHTSA says it likely entered the country illegally as aftermarket replacement equipment. The agency has banned its import and sale, but that does not magically remove units already installed in cars.
