ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a consumer safety advisory to alert vehicle owners and repair professionals to the dangers of counterfeit air bags.
NHTSA has become aware of a problem involving the sale of counterfeit air bags for use as replacement parts in vehicles that have been involved in a crash.
Officials said the air bags look nearly identical to certified, original equipment parts.
NHTSA testing showed consistent malfunctioning ranging from nondeployment of the air bag to the expulsion of metal shrapnel during deployment.
Only vehicles that have had an air bag replaced within the past three years by a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership may be at risk.
The full list of call centers and additional information are available at www.SaferCar.gov
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