CollisionCast: Fake Parts Can Have Real Consequences

Counterfeit parts can include air bags and ADAS sensors, plus a number of engine management sensors and other parts replaced during a collision repair.
Sept. 30, 2025
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Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized over 211,000 counterfeit auto parts, a whopping doubling from the number seized the previous year. This issue goes beyond selling an unlicensed copy of an emblem. NHTSA identified five known cases of death or serious injury in 2023 and 2024 in which the vehicle was equipped with a defective counterfeit air bag.

Courtesy of General Motors
Bob Stewart

Bob Stewart

In this episode, Bob Stewart, president of the Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council and also aftermarket service support and brand protection manager at General Motors, joins CollisionCast to talk about the problem and how collision repairers can help identify these counterfeit parts.

To learn more or report a suspect part, go to:

Courtesy of General Motors
Although counterfeiters have gotten better at faking air bags, inconsistencies remain. In this example, the Chevrolet bowtie emblem lacks the quality fit and finish, including not properly fitting the recess in the vinyl airbag cover.

Although counterfeiters have gotten better at faking air bags, inconsistencies remain. In this example, the Chevrolet bowtie emblem lacks the quality fit and finish, including not properly fitting the recess in the vinyl airbag cover.

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