INDUSTRY BODY, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, is urging vehicle owners to check if their vehicles are fitted with faulty and potentially lethal Takata airbags.
The organisation has launched a new, centralised website as part of a nationwide compulsory recall.
Owners can check their vehicle numberplate against the database of affected vehicles at www.IsMyAirbagSafe.com.au, launched today by FCAI chief executive Tony Weber (above).
Replacement of an affected airbag inflator is free.
More than six million vehicles in Australia will need to have their faulty Takata airbag inflators replaced by December 2020 and according to the FCAI, 19,500 critical Takata “alpha” airbag inflators are still on Australian roads, placing motorists at risk. To date, there have been 24 reported deaths and 266 injuries worldwide attributed to the mis-deploying Takata airbag, including one death and one serious injury in Australia.
The faulty inflators are installed in certain BMW, Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota models sold between 2001 and 2004. Older vehicles in hot and humid climates are most at risk, but all faulty airbag inflators should be replaced.
In certain circumstances, the chance is as high as one-in-two that the units may rupture on deployment in a collision, potentially propelling metal fragments out of the airbag and into the vehicle cabin.
Replacements have already been carried out to almost half of the 3.05 million affected vehicles nationwide, but some owners are ignoring attempts to contact them, sometimes as often as five or six times via mail, SMS and phone calls.
Unfortunately, as a result of the recall, there is a worldwide shortage of replacement airbag inflators, making it necessary for some vehicles to undergo an interim fix with airbag inflators that will need to be replaced again before they are six years old, but these replacement inflators pose no immediate risk.
In addition to checking the IsMyAirbagSafe website, concerned owners can test the word “Takata” to 0487 AIRBAG (0487 247 224) for further advice.
The following links will also be of assistance:
Vehicle manufacturer helplines & contact details: www.productsafety.gov.au/recalls/compulsory-takata-airbag-recall/vehiclemanufacturer-helplines-contact-details
List of all vehicle makes and models under active recall now: www.productsafety.gov.au/recalls/compulsory-takata-airbag-recall/takata-airbagrecalls-list
List of vehicle makes and models scheduled for future recall: www.productsafety.gov.au/recalls/compulsory-takata-airbag-recall/future-takataairbag-recalls
ACCC Frequently Asked Questions: www.productsafety.gov.au/recalls/compulsory-takata-airbag-recall/faq-for-takataairbag-recalls