EBay is banning the sale of air bags and air bag parts on its platform, starting next month, following reports of deaths linked to counterfeit components. At least 10 people have died in incidents involving faulty inflaters, which can explode or fail to deploy in crashes. The company said the decision came after a review of risks, though it did not mention counterfeit parts specifically.

The move follows a Wall Street Journal investigation that found replacement air bags sold online, including on eBay, were often substandard. Regulators had already banned certain inflaters from a Chinese company, DTN Airbag, which denied wrongdoing. EBay joins other platforms like Amazon and Facebook Marketplace in restricting these products.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration praised eBay's action, noting that online marketplaces have become a common source for cheap, unsafe parts. One case involved Destiny Byassee, a 22-year-old Florida mother who died when her air bag exploded in a crash; her family won a $603 million lawsuit.