RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Drivers beware! A federal agency warns that counterfeit airbags are being found at an alarming rate.

He US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said it has seized more than 211,000 counterfeit auto parts so far this year; that’s almost double what it was last year.

CBP said it seized more than 490 counterfeit airbags in 2024, more than ten times the number of counterfeit airbags seized in 2023.

“The danger for consumers is that those airbags can do one of two things. One, they do nothing and therefore you are in an accident, and instead of being hit with an airbag to cushion the blow , you don’t have that and so people get seriously injured or worse,” said Patrick Olsen of CARFAX. The second problem that can occur with counterfeit airbags is that they are so poorly constructed that they explode with much greater force.

CARFAX data shows that in the past two years, nearly two million cars have returned to the roads after an accident that caused their airbags to deploy.

Olsen said each of those cases is an opportunity for scammers to install counterfeit airbags.

“The value to them is that they can put something in that doesn’t work at all, or is poorly put together. It will cost them $200 or $300 each. They will charge consumers $1,000 or more for that replacement, and they will pocket the difference,” Olsen explained .

SEE ALSO | North Carolina man charged hundreds of dollars in tolls in three states after his license plate was tampered with

A big question is how to protect yourself from counterfeit airbags and auto parts? Experts recommend going to a mechanic and trusted retailers.

Researchers said fakes often end up for sale on online marketplaces. If the price is too good to be true, that’s usually a red flag. Officials said counterfeit parts often arrive through U.S. ports, so CBP closely monitors shipments.