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NHTSA ties 11th US death to banned airbag inflator as maker disputes blame

Regulators say an 11th US death linked to banned Chinese-made DTN60DB airbag inflators occurred in a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox in Dallas on Aug. 27, marking the first Equinox fatality and the latest in a string of crashes tied to replacement inflators primarily affecting Malibu and Hyundai Sonata models. NHTSA urges inspection of used vehicles involved in any airbag deployment since 2020, cautions against driving with DTN60DB inflators, and notes the inflators are illegal imports; owners should report suspected units and have genuine parts installed.