A deployed airbag in a car in a file photo. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The United States is urgently warning American car owners about faulty Chinese air bags that have now killed several drivers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the substandard replacement air bag inflators were likely illegally imported. The agency is aware of 10 crashes resulting in two drivers suffering severe injuries and eight being killed in otherwise survivable crashes, according to a Tuesday press release.We had a problem loading this article. Please enable javascript or use a different browser. If the issue persists, please visit our help center.