eBay Bans Airbag Sales Due To Deadly Counterfeits
When you browse eBay listings, you probably think of high-priced Pokémon cards, collectibles, and other merchandise. However, the site also runs a “My Garage” feature. It helps buyers find replacement parts for their vehicle. Now eBay is cracking down on one dangerous category: counterfeit airbags.
Buyers can find a wide variety of parts on the platform. Soon, though, the online giant will drop airbags and airbag-related accessories from its listings. The move follows a string of deaths. Counterfeit airbags installed during repairs killed several drivers.
eBay Bans Counterfeit Airbags and Inflators
The newly enacted ban eBay launched comes after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed ten drivers were killed in accidents due to faulty airbag inflators made by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System. NHTSA says the company illegally imported the components into the U.S. Repair shops then installed them in vehicles that later crashed.
These faulty inflators shot metal and shrapnel into drivers during crashes, and several people died as a result. If that sounds grimly familiar, it should. The same deadly flaw drove the infamous Takata airbag recall earlier in the decade. Sellers often use sites like eBay to move these parts nationwide, which fuels their spread. Now eBay is acting. The platform will ban postings for airbags, airbag inflators, and their steering wheel covers starting Sept. 24. The company said it took this step after a “comprehensive review of the risks these products may pose to eBay users.”
Other Airbag-Related Parts Subject To New Restrictions
eBay is not stopping at the ban. It will also restrict how sellers list certain airbag-related components. Only “pre-approved sellers” in the United States can sell and distribute them. These items include key modules and sensors that help the airbag work properly.
The news also follows recent prosecutions of counterfeit parts sellers. In 2025, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and her office busted a man for selling counterfeit airbags on eBay. Nessel said at the time that over 80% of counterfeit airbags fail to inflate properly. That failure raises the risk of injury and death. She also revealed a staggering figure. Counterfeit restraint systems may sit in more than 81,000 vehicles across the state, a terrifying glimpse into how widespread this problem is.
Legal Firms Welcome The New Ban
Regulators are not the only ones applauding the move. Several large legal firms have welcomed eBay’s new ban, including powerhouse firm Morgan & Morgan. Reps with the firm said they filed three wrongful death suits tied to counterfeit airbag inflators. They called the announcement an “important first step toward preventing these illegal, counterfeit devices from entering the stream of commerce and making their way into vehicles.”
Morgan & Morgan also warned that the “issue runs deeper than one platform.” The firm pointed to the complex distribution network across online marketplaces. eBay is one of the biggest players in that market. Still, countless smaller platforms exist too. That patchwork makes stopping the spread of counterfeit auto parts difficult.
How Can You Protect Yourself And Your Family?
These parts pose a real threat, but vehicle owners can take steps to protect themselves. First, have your vehicle repaired at a certified collision shop. Look for one that uses reputable replacement parts. Some dealerships run their own collision shops, which adds an extra layer of protection and helps ensure genuine parts. It also pays to stay on top of vehicle recalls so you know when a safety defect affects your car.
Buying a used vehicle calls for the same caution. Check the vehicle history for any major accidents. Find out whether the airbags deployed. If someone replaced the airbags, have a professional inspect them. Confirm they are genuine parts, not a dangerous counterfeit that can kill or injure you in a crash.