Millions of cars recalled to fix exploding Takata airbags

Nearly four million cars have been included in a compulsory recall to fix potentially deadly exploding airbags.

The federal government is taking the unusual step of ordering a national recall of nearly four million cars fitted with deadly Takata airbags because it’s unhappy with the industry response.

It is one of the largest and most significant product recalls in Australia’s history and follows voluntary recalls by car makers last year.

“The previous voluntary recall has not been satisfactory overall and it’s the safety of all Australians which is the first priority of this government,” Assistant Minister to the Treasurer Michael Sukkar told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

“The compulsory recall will force manufacturers, dealers, importers and other suppliers to ensure that all dangerous Takata airbags are located and replaced as quickly as possible.”

The airbags have been linked to more than 23 deaths and 230 injuries around the world. In Australia last year, a man was tragically killed and a woman was seriously injured.

The problem is caused by high levels of moisture getting into the airbags. This can cause the propelling mechanism to catch fire and explode, scattering pieces of metal.

Manufacturers Ford, Holden and Volkswagen are among the 25 carmakers expected to urgently replace the airbags.

The government action comes after federal Labor called for a compulsory recall in August last year. “The sad thing about this is that this has been waiting in the wings for months and months,” opposition consumer affairs spokesman Tim Hammond told reporters in Canberra.

“It is an indictment of this government that they have taken so long to pull the trigger on a compulsory recall.”

Consumer watchdog boss Rod Sims said last year’s voluntary recall applied to 2.3 million vehicles but only about 1.3 million had airbags replaced. The compulsory recall expands the scope to cover the millions of cars not dealt with last year and another 1.3 million not previously recalled. The scale of the recall is so big it will be done on a rolling basis, with priority given to replacing airbags posing the most risk.

All affected airbags must be replaced by December 31, 2020.

The order affects vehicles made by Ford, GM Holden, Mercedes Benz, Tesla, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ferrari, GMC, Honda, Jeep, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo and Hino Trucks.

The cost of the recall will be borne by the manufacturers.

Car owners of these makaes are advised to contact their car manufacturer.

According to a US Department of Justice ruling in January last year, Japanese firm Takata “repeatedly and systematically falsified critical test data related to the safety of its products”. The airbags were fitted in cars that were sold for more than a decade despite them not meeting standards set by manufacturers. In tests by the US safety body, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in September 2016, of 245,000 airbags tested, 660 deployed defectively. The Alpha model, however, was found to rupture in up to 50 per cent of deployments.

Injuries documented around the world include the loss of eyesight, facial injuries, lacerations to the face, neck and body, severed vocal cords, spinal damage and head injuries that include brain damage.

The voluntary recall list

A full list of the vehicles affected by today’s compulsory recall is still being finalised. Motorists are advised to contact their manufacturer and check online at www.productsafety.gov.au.

Make & model Year Range PRA No.

BMW

BMW 3 Series E46 ALPHA12/2001 - 03/20032013/13576

BMW 3 Series E469/1999 - 8/20062013/13576

BMW 5 Series E39, 3 Series E46, X5 E532002-20052016/15581

BMW 5 series E39, 3 Series E46, X5 E532000-20042017/15881

BMW E70 X5, E71 X62007-20122017/16230

BMW E70 X5, E71 X6

2007-20122017/16298

BMW E70 X5 & E71 X620132018/16566

Chrysler

Chrysler 300(LE/LX)2005-20122016/15516

Chrysler 300, 300C2005-20102015/14742

Chrysler 300, 300C20132018/16617

Dodge

Dodge RAM2004-20102016/15516

Ferrari

Ferrari 458, California, FF2008-20112016/15430

Ford

Ford Mustang2006-20142015/14924

Honda

Honda Accord, CR-V ALPHA2001-20022009/10969

Honda Civic ALPHA20012010/11785

Honda Accord ALPHA2001-20022011/12633

Honda Civic, Accord, Accord Euro, CR-V, Jazz, MDX ALPHA2001-20032013/13549

Honda Jazz ALPHA20042014/14438

Honda Accord Euro, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Civic, Jazz2003-20042014/14498

Honda Accord Euro, CR-V, Civic, Jazz, City2002-20092015/14703

Honda Jazz, CR-V2005-20072015/14702

Honda MDX, Accord 2001-20072015/14737

Honda City, CR-V, Insight, Jazz, Jazz Hybrid2006-20122015/14819

Honda City, CR-V, Insight, Jazz, Jazz Hybrid2011-20142016/15197

Honda Civic, Legend, Jazz Hybrid2006-20122016/15198

Honda Accord Euro, City, CR-V, Jazz, Insight2007-20112016/15496

Honda Legend, Odyssey, Accord, MDX2003-20112016/15495

Honda Civic, Accord2006-20112016/15494

Honda Accord Euro, City, Jazz & Insight20122017/15856

Honda Legend20122017/15857

Honda Accord20122017/15859

Honda Civic20012017/15860

Honda Jazz, Jazz Hybrid, Insight and Accord Euro20132018/16523

Jeep

Jeep Wrangler JK2007-20122016/15516

Jeep Wrangler20132018/16617

Lexus

Lexus SC4302000-20032013/13545

Lexus IS 250, IS 250C, 350, IS F2005-20112016/15425

Lexus IS 250, IS 350, IS 250C, IS-F, LFA2011-20122017/15846

Lexus IS250, IS250C, IS350 & IS-F20132018/16536

Mazda

Mazda2 (DE)20102016/15522

Mazda22007-20152016/15521

Mazda RX-82008-20122016/15521

Mazda6, BT-502005-20112015/14761

Mazda6, RX-8 ALPHA2002-20072015/14761

Mazda B2500 & B26002002-20112015/14760

Mazda6, CX-7 & CX-92006-20122017/16232

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi GA & GB i-MiEV2010-20112017/15990

Mitsubishi Lancer2003-20082015/14936

Mitsubishi ML & MN Triton2007-2014

2016/15523

Mitsubishi Pajero NS, NT, NW, NX2007-20162016/15617

Mitsubishi Pajero NS & NT2006-20092017/15991

Mitsubishi Pajero NT & NW2010-20122017/16025

Mitsubishi Pajero NW & NX2013-20172017/16465

Nissan

Nissan N16 Pulsar, Y61 Patrol20012010/11761

Nissan N16 Pulsar, Y61 Patrol20012017/15940

Nissan N16 Pulsar, Y61 Patrol, D22 Navara, T30 X-Trail ALPHA2000-20042013/13542

Nissan N16 Pulsar, D22 Navara, Y61 Patrol, T30 X-Trail, A33 maxima ALPHA2001-20032014/14182

Nissan N16 Pulsar, D22 Navara, Y61 Patrol, T30 X-Trail, J31 maxima20032015/14751

Nissan N16 Pulsar, D22 Navara, Y61 Patrol, T30 X-Trail, J31 maxima2004-20072015/14752

Nissan D22 Navara, T30 X-Trail, J31 Maxima, Y61 Patrol2007-20082015/14821

Nissan D22 Navara, Y61 Patrol2009-20122016/15769

Nissan D40 Navara2008-20142016/15228

Nissan D40 Navara2006-20152017/16363

Nissan Tiida2006-20122016/15383

Nissan C11 Tiida2006-20122017/16363

Peformax

Peformax Silverado, Sierra, Mustang2007-20082015/14789

Subaru

Subaru Impreza2004-20072015/14715

Subaru Tribeca, Liberty, Outback2004-20132016/15507

Subaru Impreza, Forester2008-20132016/15766

Subaru Exiga2010-20142017/16012

Subaru Liberty & Outback2010-20142017/16013

Toyota

Toyota Corolla, Avensis Verso, Lexus SC430 ALPHA2000-20042013/13544

Toyota Echo, Rav 4 ALPHA2002-20032014/14456

Toyota Echo, Rav 42003-20052015/14700

Toyota Corolla, Avensis Verso, Yaris2003-20072015/14701

Toyota Avensis Verso, Yaris2007-20082015/14794

Toyota Corolla, Yaris, Avensis Verso2006-20112016/15709

Toyota Corolla2003-20052017/15950

Toyota Corolla, Yaris & Rukus2010-20122017/16010

Toyota Echo, Rav 42002-20032017/16014

MOTORCYCLES

Make & model Year Range PRA No.

American Honda Motor GL1800 2016/15440

Honda GL1800 Goldwing2012-20152017/15906

Honda GL1800 Goldwing2012-20152017/16006

Source: Product Safety Australia, ACCC