Government to warn motorists about counterfeit airbags

Auto industry officials say the government is preparing to warn car owners whose airbags have been replaced in the past three years that dangerous counterfeit bags may have been installed.

Industry officials said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has alerted them that thousands of car owners may be driving vehicles with counterfeit airbags. Some of the counterfeit bags fail to inflate properly.

The officials requested that their names not be used because NHTSA had asked them not to speak publicly about the problem until after an announcement scheduled for Wednesday.

Industry officials said NHTSA will ask car owners to check a government website or call their manufacturer or local dealership to learn if their vehicle model is among those for which counterfeit airbags have been made

The NHTSA released a list of nearly 100 vehicles that could have counterfeit airbags:

Acura
2009-2011 TSX

Audi

2006-2009 A3, A4, A6, A8, Q5, Q7

BMW

2007-2011 X5, E70, E60, E61

2008-2010 5-series, 528i, 535i

2004-2007 5-Series, 525i, 530, 535, E60, E61

2007-2011E90, E91

E92, E93 (unspecified years)

2007-2011 X5, E70

2004-2007 525i, 530, 535

2011-2012 X3

Buick

2010-2011 Lacrosse

Chevrolet

2011-2012 Cruze

2006-2010 Aveo

2011-2012 Volt

2012 Camaro

Ford

2012 Focus

2005-2009 Mustang

Honda

2003-2012 Accord

2006-2011 Civic

2002-2011 CRV

2007-2011 Fit

2009-2011 Pilot

2009-2011 Insight

2009-2011 Crosstour

2011 Odyssey

Hyundai

2007-2011 Elantra

Genesis (unspecified years)

Sonata (unspecified years)

Infiniti

2007-2011 G35, EX35

Kia

2010-2011 Soul/Forte

2004-2009 Spectra

Land Rover

2012 Range Rover Evoque

Lexus

2006-2011IS250, IS350, IS-F

2003-2008 GX470

2007-2009 RX350

ES350 (unspecified years)

Mazda

2004 Mazda 3

2010-2012 Mazda 3

Mercedes

2009-2011 C, GLK

2010-2011 E350, E550

2007-2008 S550

2006-2009 ML

2009-2010 GL, ML

Mitsubishi

Outlander (unspecified years)

Nissan

1992-2002 Quest

2010-2011 Quest

2009-2011 Cube

2007-2011 Versa

2009-2010 Murano

Altima (unspecified years)

Subaru

2008-2009 Forester

2008-2009 Impreza

2008-2009 Outback

2010-2011 Legacy

Suzuki

2007-2010 SX4

Toyota

2002-2006 Camry

2012 Camry

2009-2011 Corolla, Matrix

2007-2011 Yaris

2004-2011 Highlander

2004-2011 Sienna

2004-2011 Tacoma

2010-2012 Prius

2003-2011 Tundra

2003-2006 Sequoia

2003-2010 Land Cruiser

2004-2010 Highlander

2004-2009 4Runner

2007-2009 Solara

2005-2011 RAV4

Volkswagen

2006-2010 Jetta

Volvo

XC60, XC70 (unspecified years)

V70, S60, S80 (unspecified years