Takata recall: Number of Victorian drivers busted over dodgy airbags
Drivers who refuse to have their faulty Takata airbags replaced are having their registration cancelled while more cars are added to the compulsory recall list.
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Toyota has added more than 6000 cars to the list of vehicles affected by the massive Takata recall.
The manufacturer is recalling Corollas manufactured between 2003 and 2005 to replace the Takata PSAN passenger side airbag.
The cars were originally the subject of a voluntary recall to fix only the driver’s airbag but the action was widened and made compulsory after two Sydney motorists suffered cuts and burns from flying metal shrapnel after their car rear-ended another one and triggered the airbags to deploy.
The issue is the same with both airbags. As the inflator gets older, high temperatures and humidity can cause the propellant to degrade and become unstable. If the affected vehicle is involved in an accident the airbag housing can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin “causing serious injury or fatality”.
News Corporation has contacted Toyota for an explanation as to why the airbags were not repaired at the same time.
The Takata recall involved more than 100 million faulty airbags worldwide and more than 4 million in Australia. Globally at least 29 deaths and 320 injuries have been attributed to the exploding airbags. One Sydney man was killed in an accident involving a Honda.
“These Takata airbags are dangerous and can explode with too much force which can send sharp metal fragments into the vehicle cabin at high speed, potentially killing or seriously injuring its occupants,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.
In a statement, Toyota says the affected takata airbags will be replaced by parts produced by a different supplier, who already has ample stock for the recall.
Affected owners will be contacted by SMS, email and mail and asked to take their car to the nearest dealer “as a matter of urgency”. The airbag will be inspected and replaced “where required”.
The fix is free and takes two hours, but Toyota says the dealership could require the car for longer depending on workload.
“Toyota Australia apologises for any inconvenience caused by the Takata airbag recall campaigns,” the brand says.
As a December deadline looms for makers to complete the recall, sanctions have been applied to motorists who have ignored several recall notices, as well as follow up emails and phone calls.
VicRoads has cancelled the registrations of 110 owners of Alpha airbags and sent letters to another 2853 owners advising that registration suspensions will start soon.
The state still has 1059 vehicles with “critical” airbags.
Transport for NSW has issued registration suspension letters to 136 owners who have not replaced their defective Alpha airbags.
A further 677 suspension letters were issued in April this year for defective non-Alpha critical airbags.
A spokeswoman said registration sanctions were lifted as soon as Transport for NSW received confirmation that the defective airbag had been replaced.
In Queensland, 26 motorists whose cars had the most deadly “alpha” airbags fitted to their cars have had their registrations cancelled, while a further 720 have been sent letters advising their registration will be cancelled if their critical “beta” airbags are not fixed.
Defect notices were issued to people who didn’t respond and next month a further 250 will receive letters advising them their registrations will be cancelled.
A spokesman said the next step was to focus on owners whose cars have non-critical Beta airbags.
South Australian authorities began refusing registration of vehicles with Alpha airbags in November 2018. In August this year the registration refusal was extended to cover all remaining airbags classified as critical.
Car owners will be notified if their vehicle is identified, giving them one calendar month to provide the required evidence the airbag has been replaced.
The responsibility is on the registered vehicle owner to provide this evidence. If no response is received after the specified time frame, a flag will be placed against the vehicle preventing registration until evidence of replacement is produced.
The measure only affects about 300 vehicles.
News Corp Australia last week revealed the Takata recall is about to become the country’s biggest class action, as more than two million car owners sue seven leading car makers over the airbag scandal.
Australia’s most popular car brand Toyota this week began emailing more than 500,000 customers affected by the recall to gather information ahead of a planned mediation process over the next few months.
Subaru has also emailed customers seeking information. Mazda, Honda, Volkswagen, Nissan and BMW also face class actions, although other brands affected by the recall have avoided litigation.
Check if your car is affected on ismyairbagsafe.com.au.
Originally published as Takata recall: Number of Victorian drivers busted over dodgy airbags