[경제]One out of four’recycled airbags’ did not burst…the driver’s life was threatened

[앵커]

Car airbags are the most important safety device to protect drivers’ lives in accidents, but some manufacturers are re-installing airbags that were once used.

One out of four cars that recycled the airbag in question turned out to fail to function in the event of a crash.

Reporter Cha Yoo-jeong reports.

[기자]

In 2012, a group of maintenance companies who refurbished and sold airbags that were once exploded and could not be used were discovered.

The already used airbag was roughly put into the airbag compartment, glued and plastered, and then leather was covered.

Damages related to such’recycled airbags’ have been continuously reported to the Consumer Agency.

Consumer Affairs and Insurance Agency have conducted a crash test to see how dangerous illegal airbag reuse is.

After commissioning four mechanics advertised online to install recycled airbags, they drove at high speed and crashed into a wall.

When I hit four like that, three worked normally, but one didn’t burst at all.

This is because the control unit that unfolds the car airbag at the moment of a collision did not detect the recycled airbag.

[심성보 / 소비자원 안전감시국 생활안전팀 팀장 : 이는 자동차에 가해진 충돌 강도에 따라 에어백의 작동을 제어하는 장치인 ACU(에어백 제어 장치)가 재설치된 재생 에어백을 인식하지 못한 것이 원인으로 파악됐습니다.]

Even if this is dangerous, some maintenance companies install recycled airbags because they are cheaper than genuine products.

Consumer Agency decided to request the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to strengthen crackdown on illegal distribution and installation of recycled airbags.

In addition, when purchasing a used car, airbags are not involved in the performance and condition check, but we plan to request a plan to add related items.

This is YTN Cha Yoo-jeong.

[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN plus 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]