These faulty units are NOT captured under the current recall …
Consumers warned of new airbag safety risk
17 December 2019
The ACCC is warning Australian consumers about a new safety risk in using certain vehicles fitted with a different type of faulty Takata airbag. These airbags, which are fitted with a NADI 5-AT propellant, are not captured under the existing compulsory recall of Takata airbags.
There is a serious safety risk that these NADI airbags may misdeploy in an accident, which may cause metal fragments to propel out of the airbag at high speed, causing serious injuries or death to vehicle occupants. There is also a risk that these airbags may under-inflate.
Audi and BMW have already started voluntary recalls of affected vehicles, and the ACCC calls on other suppliers to take urgent action to address the safety risk to consumers.
About 78,000 vehicles manufactured by Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota between 1996 and 2000 and fitted with the faulty airbags with NADI 5-AT inflators were supplied in Australia. While it is expected that many of these vehicles will no longer be in use, a substantial number of affected vehicles are likely to be still registered and still in use.
Safety authorities in Australia have received reports of three incidents involving suspected misdeployments of these airbags in Australia. There has been a serious injury and a fatality in separate accidents involving BMW vehicles, and another serious injury resulting from an accident involving another vehicle.
Recognising the serious safety risk, BMW already commenced a voluntary recall of its affected vehicles, including offering hire cars and buying back vehicles, and recommending that consumers do not drive their vehicle. Audi also initiated a new voluntary recall of its affected vehicles yesterday.
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development, supported by the ACCC, has been in discussions with representatives of Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota since November to finalise satisfactory terms of voluntary recalls by these suppliers.
The Department and the ACCC are continuing to negotiate with these suppliers to finalise all voluntary recalls as soon as possible.
Drivers of affected vehicles should be aware of the serious safety risk they face if they have an affected car and consider other transport options.
Check if your vehicle is affected by looking at the table below or via the Product Safety Australia website.
Drivers who have previously checked www.ismyairbagsafe.com.au to see if their airbag is affected by the compulsory recall of the different type of Takata airbag, should also check this new link.
If you have an affected vehicle:
- check if your vehicle is under recall: BMW and Audi vehicles are now subject to recall, and you should respond to the recall urgently
- if your vehicle is not yet under recall, contact your vehicle manufacturer to arrange to check if your car is affected
- consider borrowing a car from family or friends if possible, or using alternative transport options
In addition, Audi, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota have all agreed to consider providing urgent short term assistance for consumers who are experiencing significant hardship over the Christmas period as a result of this safety warning. Consumers who wish to seek this hardship assistance should contact the vehicle manufacturer’s head office (contact details below).
BMW owners can contact BMW to arrange for their vehicle to be towed for inspection.
Quotes attributable to ACCC Chair Rod Sims:
“Even though full details and appropriate remedies are still being worked out by the manufacturers we are issuing this warning now to urge people not to use their car if it is affected by this potentially deadly airbag.”
“We want everyone to have a happy and safe holiday period, and encourage people to consider alternative transport options if possible, rather than using vehicles fitted with these airbags.”
“We are continuing to support the department in its work to urgently negotiate recalls with vehicle suppliers to remove these vehicles from our roads and obtain an appropriate remedy for consumers.”
“The fastest way to deal with these issues is via a voluntary recall. A compulsory recall is a lengthy process but it will be considered if manufacturers do not take appropriate steps.”
“If you have concerns, please contact your vehicle manufacturer.”
Background:
- Ongoing cooperation between Australian and US authorities resulted in the identification of misdeployment incidents in Australia. The successor company to Takata, Joyson Safety Systems (JSS), confirmed the safety risk in certain inflators supplied globally.
- An equipment defect report was submitted to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on 3 December 2019 and recalls of affected vehicles are expected in the US early in 2020.
- Immediately following the BMW recall in November 2019, the Department contacted all car manufacturers to determine which other vehicles in Australia may be affected.
- The Department is currently negotiating voluntary recall notices with six suppliers, with assistance from the ACCC.
Vehicles that may be affected:
Make Model Years Contact details for consumers Audi A6 4B/C5 MY1998-2000 Audi Takata Information Line – A8 4D/D2 MY1998-2000 Ph. 1800 856 770 A4 8D/B5 MY1997-2000 TT 8N/1 MY1999-2000 Cabriolet 8G/B4 MY1998-1999 BMW E46 3 Series MY1997-2000 BMW Takata Hotline – Ph. 1800 243 675 Ford Courier MY1998-2000 Takata Recall Hotline – Ph. 1800 503 673 Honda Legend MY1996-2000 Honda Australia Recall Call Centre – CR-V MY1997-2000 Ph. 1800 952 272 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 6pm AEDT) Accord MY1997-1999 Mazda Eunos 800 MY1996-1999 Mazda Customer Support – Ph. 1800 034 411 customersupport@mazda.com.au Mitsubishi NL Pajero MY1997-2000 Takata Hotline – Ph.1800 931 811 CE Lancer MY1997-2000 www.mitsubishi-motors.com.au/customer-assistance/contact-us WA Express MY1997-2000 CE Mirage MY1997-2000 WA Starwagon MY1997-2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara MY1998-2000 Customer Hotline – Ph.1800 777 088 www.suzuki.com.au/airbag_investigation Toyota Starlet 3 door MY1997-1999 Toyota Australia Campaign Helpline – Starlet 5 door MY1997-1999 Ph.1800 800 424 (Monday to Friday, 8am-7pm AEDT) Paseo MY1997-1999 Celica MY1997-1999 RAV4 3 door MY1997-1999 RAV4 5 door MY1997-1999 Echo/Vitz MY1999 Release number:
244/19
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