The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a warning about aftermarket steering wheel decals that could potentially cause significant injury or death.
The agency said at least one driver suffered a serious injury that resulted in the loss of sight in one eye, when an aftermarket emblem adorned with rhinestones became dislodged from the steering wheel in a crash and hit the driver in the face.
The NHTSA is asking consumers to avoid purchasing steering wheel decals for all vehicle makes and models and removing any decals that they have already applied to their steering wheels.
“The product is a metal or plastic plate, usually covered with rhinestones or other shiny decorations, with an adhesive back that covers the vehicle’s logo in the center of the steering wheel,” NHTSA said in a statement.
“In a crash, the force of a deploying air bag can turn the product into a projectile, resulting in serious injury or death.
“Unlike the permanently affixed logo on your vehicle’s steering wheel, these aftermarket decals can easily become dislodged when the air bag is deployed. Any alterations or changes to your air bag or its cover can also cause it to not function correctly.”
