Ryan Felton of The Wall Street Journal is reporting that federal regulators are accelerating arrests, and car companies are warning dealers to be more vigilant as knockoffs are being installed into vehicles during postcrash repairs. Felton writes:
Destiny Byassee might have survived the crash that killed her last June if it weren’t for the counterfeit air bag that blew apart in her face.
Unbeknownst to the 22-year-old mother of two, the bogus device was installed in her Chevrolet Malibu prior to her purchasing the car from a used-car seller, according to a lawsuit filed by the family in May.
When it went off, it exploded “like a grenade” and sprayed the car with sharp metal and plastic, slicing open her neck, according to the lawsuit. By the time emergency responders arrived, she was found unresponsive and gasping for air, the lawsuit states and medical records show. […]
An eBay spokesperson said it only allows preapproved sellers who follow federal and state laws to sell air bags. Violators can face permanent suspension.
One of the biggest challenges for the auto industry is how to alert customers who might have purchased a car with a counterfeit air bag. “If people go out and buy a high-end luxury purse for $50 on the street, or they’re getting a poorly printed knockoff jersey, they know they’re buying a counterfeit good,” said Duffy, the federal agent.
Read more here.
