Warning about counterfeit airbags expected

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expected to announce a warning Wednesday about counterfeit airbags in several vehicle models.

According to auto industry officials, who did not want to be named, the government agency briefed the officials about the warning Tuesday.

According to several media sources, including CBS News, NHTSA testing has shown some of the bags don't inflate or fail to inflate properly, said the officials.

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

One industry official says the counterfeit bags have been made to look like airbags made by automakers and usually include a manufacturer's logo.

The bags are marketed to auto body shops as the authentic product.

Chris Pace, service and parts director for Honda in Jacksonville, says there is an easy way to find out if a car has counterfeit airbags.

"All they need to do is bring the vehicle in. We can check it out and let them know if it has an after-market or faulty air bag," Pace said.

The following list was released by the Associated Press as the vehicles at risk for counterfeit airbags, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.