‘Exploded like a grenade’: Family of teen killed in crash files lawsuit against car dealership that allegedly installed faulty airbag

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A lawsuit has been filed against used car dealership AutoSavvy on behalf of a Utah teenager who died in a car accident last year. The lawsuit alleges that her death was caused by a counterfeit airbag. A 17-year-old female from Utah, who is not identified in the lawsuit, was involved in a car accident on July 30, 2025, in West Valley City. She rear-ended a pickup truck that was stopped in traffic and was killed on impact, according to West Valley City Police Department at the time of the incident. Now, Morgan & Morgan Law Firm has filed a lawsuit against AutoSavvy, which sold the 17-year-old her used vehicle, on her family's behalf. AutoSavvy primarily operates out of Utah and repairs and resells salvage vehicles. "AutoSavvy specializes in what they call branded title vehicles and, in short, they're salvage vehicles. They've been in prior crashes, and then they are resold by AutoSavvy to consumers after they've been repaired," said Andrew Parker Felix, with Morgan & Morgan. "In this particular instance, AutoSavvy advertises that it uses what it calls certified rebuilders to repair these cars." Photos of the 17-year-old with her family and with her vehicle, a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. Courtesy: Morgan & Morgan Law Firm. According to the lawsuit, a 2019 Hyundai Sonata was involved in a crash on or about May 8, 2023, which caused the front driver-side airbag to deploy. It was deemed a total loss and issued a salvage title. AutoSavvy reportedly purchased that Hyundai Sonata and repaired it with the intent to resell it at one of their dealerships. The lawsuit alleges that while repairing it, "counterfeit, non-compliant, and defective airbag components were procured and installed into the subject Hyundai Sonata." Later, the same Hyundai Sonata was sold to the 17-year-old and her family. Then, on July 30, 2025, the teenager was involved in an accident. During the collision, the airbag reportedly "detonated like a grenade and shot metal and plastic shrapnel throughout the vehicle cabin." One piece of metal shrapnel struck the teenager in her chest, leading to fatal injuries. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue that the shrapnel was caused by counterfeit airbag components installed in the vehicle by AutoSavvy. They further allege that AutoSavvy would have been aware of this issue when they sold the vehicle to the teenager and her family but had advertised that it was safe and fit for sale. Photos of the Hyundai Sonata and allegedly faulty airbag components. Courtesy: Morgan & Morgan According to the plaintiffs, this accident would likely not have been fatal if AutoSavvy had installed a proper airbag. "She [17-year-old] gets involved in a rather nominal traffic crash, and instead of the airbag deploying like a cushion and providing protection like it's supposed to, it basically exploded like a grenade," Felix said. "Ultimately, the defective deployment of that airbag took her young life in an untimely manner." Felix stated that the airbag components used to repair the Hyundai Sonata are banned in vehicles operated in the United States and that any repair company would be aware of the defects in the counterfeit airbag components. He further noted that Morgan & Morgan is litigating multiple cases involving deaths caused by these counterfeit airbags. "This isn't the first time that they've been in the news for allegations of substandard and improper repair," He said, adding, "While this is the only case that I have against AutoSavvy right now, there have been nine or ten reported deaths, fatalities, involving these Chinese airbag inflators." By filing a lawsuit against AutoSavvy, the plaintiffs are asking the court to rule that AutoSavvy engaged in a deceptive act or practice by selling the Hyundai Sonata with counterfeit parts and breached their responsibility under the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act. They are also asking the court to recognize that AutoSavvy's actions led to the 17-year-old's death and require AutoSavvy to financially compensate all economic, physical, and emotional damages caused by their actions. ABC4 reached out to AutoSavvy for comment on the allegations brought against them and is waiting for a response at this time.