Florida Mom Killed by Exploding Counterfeit Airbag, Highlighting Dangers in Used Car Market

In June 2023, Destiny Byassee, a young mother of two, was driving her 2020 Chevy Malibu in Punta Gorda, Florida, when a frontal collision changed everything.
The airbag, meant to protect her, exploded violently, spraying metal and plastic shrapnel.
Tragically, this counterfeit airbag, allegedly installed after a prior crash, ended her life.
Her family’s lawsuit points to a chain of negligence involving multiple companies, raising serious questions about the safety of used cars.
Why Are Counterfeit Airbags Dangerous?
Counterfeit airbags, often sourced from overseas markets like China, are a growing menace.
Unlike genuine airbags, which are rigorously tested, these fakes can fail to deploy or, worse, explode like a bomb, as seen in Destiny’s case.

The NHTSA has linked these substandard parts to at least three deaths and two injuries in 2023 alone.
With over 2 million vehicles with prior airbag deployments back on U.S. roads, the risk is real and widespread.
What Can Consumers Do?
If you’re buying a used car, especially one with a history of accidents, take action.
Check vehicle history reports through services like Carfax, which now offers free searches for prior airbag deployments.
Experts like Patrick Olsen from Carfax recommend having a trusted mechanic inspect the airbag for proper markings and electronic connections.
It’s a small step that could save your life.
A Young Life Cut Short
Destiny Byassee was a vibrant 22-year-old, known for her million-dollar smile and fierce love for her two young children.
“She loved her kids. She would do anything for them. She worked overtime, all the time, trying to support them. She had her own apartment,” said her friend Kiley, who worked with her at a McDonald’s in Punta Gorda.
Last March, Destiny decided to upgrade her aging car, purchasing a 2020 Chevy Malibu from DriveTime, a used car dealership in Fort Myers.
Little did she know, that decision would lead to tragedy.
On June 11, 2023, Destiny was driving in Punta Gorda when her car was involved in a frontal collision.
The airbag deployed, but instead of cushioning her, it “detonated like a grenade,” according to the lawsuit filed by her family.
Metal and plastic shrapnel struck her face, head, and neck, causing fatal injuries.
The lawsuit alleges that the airbag was a counterfeit, sourced from Jilin Province Detiannuo Safety Technology Co. Ltd., a Chinese company, and was not approved for use in the United States.
A Troubled Vehicle History
The Chevy Malibu’s history is a tangled web of sales and repairs.
Records show it was originally an Enterprise rental car, involved in a crash in the Florida Keys in September 2022, where its airbag deployed.
Enterprise sold the car through Manheim Auctions, the nation’s largest auto auction company.
The lawsuit claims that Jumbo Automotive, a repair shop in Hollywood, Florida, cut the wires to the seatbelt pretensioner—a critical safety feature—and installed the counterfeit airbag.
Felix, the attorney representing Destiny’s family, doesn’t mince words.
“The defendants in this particular case see a scenario where ‘hey, we can just keep flipping this car down the line. Get it repaired, sell it to the next consumer,’” he said.
The car eventually ended up with DriveTime, which sold it to Destiny.
Both AutoCheck and Carfax reports noted the prior airbag deployment, but DriveTime claims this wasn’t disclosed at the time of purchase.
Corporate Responses
Enterprise, Manheim, and DriveTime have all distanced themselves from the faulty repair.
Enterprise stated, “The vehicle was sold ‘as is’ through wholesale channels and relevant state titling requirements were followed.
Once a vehicle is sold, we have no line-of-sight into their subsequent repair processes.” Manheim Auctions expressed condolences but emphasized their role is to facilitate sales, with sellers required to disclose safety issues.
DriveTime’s attorney insisted, “Had such a disclosure been made, the vehicle in question would not have been purchased by DriveTime.”
They also noted that DriveTime has no relationship with Jumbo Automotive or its mechanic, Haim Levy.
Echoes of the Takata Crisis
The incident draws chilling parallels to the Takata airbag scandal, which led to 27 deaths and 400 injuries, triggering the largest auto recall in U.S. history, affecting 40 million vehicles across 10 manufacturers.
Felix compares Destiny’s case to Takata’s, warning, “We don’t know just yet if it will be as large as the Takata problem, but that’s what we intend to find out.”
He fears more such incidents, saying, “Unfortunately, I believe we’re going to keep seeing these.”
A Growing Threat
Counterfeit airbags are a rising danger.
The NHTSA reported a 12% increase in incidents involving counterfeit airbags in 2022, followed by a 15% rise in 2023.
A global study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates that counterfeit auto parts, including airbags, account for billions of dollars annually, comprising about 2.5% of global trade.
In the first half of 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported at least five fatalities or serious injuries linked to counterfeit airbags.
These fakes often enter the market through online platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
In May 2024, a federal grand jury indicted a couple, including a Florida woman, for selling 3,600 used airbag modules imported from Europe, falsely advertised as “genuine.”
They collected $851,000, but the airbags’ whereabouts remain unknown.
In March 2025, a North Carolina man pleaded guilty to importing 2,500 counterfeit airbags from the UK, selling them as authentic.
Table: Key Statistics on Counterfeit Airbags
Statistic | Details |
---|---|
Fatalities and Injuries (2023) | At least 3 deaths and 2 injuries linked to substandard airbag inflators (NHTSA) |
Vehicles with Airbag Deployments | Over 2 million vehicles on U.S. roads, including 106,000 in Florida (Carfax) |
Market Share of Counterfeit Parts | Approximately 2.5% of global auto parts trade (OECD) |
Incident Increase | 12% rise in 2022, 15% rise in 2023 (NHTSA) |
Cost of Counterfeit Airbags | $200–$300 vs. $1,000 for genuine airbags (Carfax) |
Consumer Safety Measures
The NHTSA and other agencies are cracking down on illegal airbag sales.
Carfax’s Patrick Olsen advises, “Take that car to a mechanic that you trust and ask them to inspect the airbag, to make sure it has the proper markings on it, to make sure that it is connected to the electronics correctly.”
Carfax now offers free searches for prior airbag deployments, helping buyers make informed choices.
The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are also targeting counterfeit part imports, but the problem persists.
A Call for Change
Destiny’s death has exposed a dark underbelly of the used car market, where cost-cutting repairs can have deadly consequences.
“The airbag was supposed to save your life, but it took her life,” Kiley said, urging others to get inspections.
Destiny’s family hopes her tragedy will spark stricter regulations and greater transparency in the industry.
Her legacy, tied to her love for her children, may drive change to protect future drivers.