Toyota, Mazda and Suzuki recall another 18,000 vehicles over ‘potentially deadly’ Takata airbags

Aussie owners of 18,000 Toyota, Mazda and Suzuki vehicles have been told to stop driving immediately with a warning issued over a “potentially deadly” feature.

Toyota, Mazda and Suzuki have today issued voluntary recalls of more than 18,000 vehicles manufactured between 1996 and 1999, including the popular Toyota Starlets.

As these vehicles are fitted with “potentially deadly” Takata NADI 5-AT airbags, the companies are offering to buy back affected vehicles.

“These airbags could injure or kill people in the car by misdeploying in an accident and propelling parts or metal fragments into the cabin of the vehicle at high speed,” ACCC Acting Chair Stephen Ridgeway said.

“The airbags have also, in some instances, not fully inflated in a crash, thereby failing to protect drivers as expected.”

The latest recall comes after a mass recall of 78,000 cars was issued last month over the same faulty Takata airbags.

RELATED: Mazda recalls more than 35,000 cars

RELATED: NSW Government to force Takata cars off the road

Mazda vehicles are among those affected by the airbag recalls, as well as being subject to two other manufacturing faults. Picture: Supplied.

Owners of affected Toyota, Mazda and Suzuki vehicles are advised to stop driving their vehicles immediately and contact their manufacturer to arrange an urgent, free inspection.

The ACCC are urging drivers to take the warnings very seriously.

“These airbags pose a serious safety risk that could lead to deaths or serious injuries. Please do not put lives at risk, and consider other transport options if your vehicle is affected,” Mr Ridgeway said.

Consumers can check if their car is included in this recall by visiting the Product Safety Australia website. People who need help to check if their vehicle is affected, should ring the manufacturer’s hotline for help.

Toyota is offering to buy back vehicles or provide long-term alternative vehicle hire until replacement airbags are available.

Mazda and Suzuki are also offering to buy back affected vehicles from their owners.

Takata NADI (non-azide driver inflator) type 5-AT airbags are thought to have been installed in about 78,000 Australian vehicles across eight manufacturers. A substantial number of these cars are likely to be still registered and on the road.

Further information on makes and models affected can be found here.

Some airbags have not fully deployed during a collision, while some have reportedly propelled metal fragments directly at drivers. Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP

A piece of metal shrapnel from a defective Takata airbag. Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP.

FURTHER MAZDA RECALLS

The ACCC’s airbag warning comes after Mazda issued two separate recalls overnight (surprisingly, neither recall was related to malfunctioning airbags).

The first recall was in relation to the 2019 Mazda 3’s Smart Brake Support (SBS) system, which may falsely detect an object in front of the vehicle and as a result, may initiate the automatic brake function.

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), this may cause the vehicle to “unexpectedly slow down and stop, increasing the risk of an accident and injury to vehicle occupants and other road users”.

Affected vehicles were sold in 2019, between March 26 and December 24.

A full list of VIN numbers affected by this recall can be found on the ACCC website.

The 2019 Mazda 3 hatchback. Picture: Supplied.

The same make and model – sold nationally within the same timeframe – are thought to be affected by the second recall over a software programming fault.

Due to this fault, the engine may not restart after entering idle stop mode until the vehicle is restarted using the Start/Stop button.

If the vehicle does not restart in idle stop mode, the ACCC predicts “an increased risk of an accident and injury to vehicle occupants and other road users”.

A full list of VIN numbers affected by this recall can be found on the ACCC website.

Mazda Australia will contact affected owners of both recalls to arrange a time to book in their vehicle for repair.

Drivers can also run a search using their VIN number via the Mazda website to determine whether their vehicle will be impacted.

Consumers who require further information should contact Mazda Customer Support on 1800 034 411.

Originally published as Toyota, Mazda and Suzuki recall another 18,000 vehicles over ‘potentially deadly’ Takata airbags