Counterfeit Airbag Crackdowns Expand as Federal Agencies Issue National Safety Warning
A Raleigh man who flooded the local market with thousands of counterfeit car airbags will spend time behind bars after a federal judge sentenced him to one year and a day in prison. Mateen Mohammad Alinaghian, 31, was also ordered to pay $83,405.95 in restitution to victims and impacted car manufacturers, along with forfeiting $154,693.16 in illegal proceeds.
Federal investigators say Alinaghian imported roughly 2,500 counterfeit steering wheel airbags into the Raleigh area between May 2022 and April 2024. The airbags bore fake branding from major automakers including Honda, Chevrolet, General Motors, and Toyota. The products were sourced from a supplier in the United Kingdom and sold locally as well as online through Facebook Marketplace using seller profiles such as “Matt AutoParts” and “Medo Smith.” At the time, Alinaghian was employed as an engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation.
Testing conducted by Honda, General Motors, and Toyota revealed the airbags were not manufactured by the legitimate companies and were made with inferior materials. Even more concerning, many malfunctioned during testing—either failing to deploy fully or inflating too late to properly protect the driver. In a crash scenario, that kind of failure can mean the difference between walking away and suffering serious injury.
The investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General. Authorities executed a search warrant at Alinaghian’s residence, seizing counterfeit airbags, while U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted additional shipments from overseas. After tracing the supply chain to the United Kingdom, American investigators coordinated with London’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit, which seized hundreds more counterfeit airbags and arrested suspects abroad.
The issue has now drawn national attention. In Washington, following investigations by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a consumer safety advisory warning drivers and repair professionals about the dangers of counterfeit airbags. Although the seized airbags appeared nearly identical to certified original equipment parts—complete with automaker logos and branding—NHTSA testing revealed alarming results. Failures ranged from total non-deployment to the expulsion of metal shrapnel during inflation.
Officials stated they are not aware of any deaths or injuries directly linked to the counterfeit airbags identified in these investigations so far. However, ICE and Customs officials have identified specific vehicle makes and models potentially affected based on seizures. NHTSA estimates the issue impacts less than 0.1 percent of vehicles nationwide and primarily involves cars that had airbags replaced within the past three years at independent repair shops rather than new car dealerships.
Federal leaders emphasized the seriousness of the threat. ICE Director John Morton warned that organized criminals are distributing dangerous counterfeit and substandard airbags with little regard for safety consequences. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood underscored that any failure of critical safety equipment poses a major concern and urged consumers to review federal safety information to determine whether inspection is necessary. NHTSA Administrator David Strickland reiterated that airbags play a central role in protecting drivers and passengers during crashes and stressed the importance of using certified original equipment parts.
Consumers who suspect they may have a counterfeit airbag are encouraged to contact their vehicle manufacturer’s designated call center and arrange for an inspection, at their own expense if necessary. Information is available through the federal safety website SaferCar.gov.
The broader enforcement effort involves collaboration across multiple agencies, including ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and the Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, a 21-agency task force focused on combating counterfeiting and commercial fraud. Together, these agencies aim to disrupt criminal supply chains, protect legitimate commerce, and most importantly, keep unsafe products off American roads.
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