Car manufacturers are urging vehicle owners to protect their vehicle registration by promptly checking the Takata recall status of their vehicles.
Immediate arrangements need to be made with Brand dealerships to have any faulty Takata airbags replaced.
A faulty Takata airbag can kill or seriously injure vehicle occupants regardless of whether they are the driver or passenger. If a faulty airbag deploys, shrapnel can be sprayed throughout the vehicle’s cabin with disastrous results.
Worldwide, 32 people have been killed and more than 350 people have been injured by these faulty Takata airbags.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber said state and territory governments are now implementing registration sanctions in cases where vehicle owners had ignored manufacturer recall communications.
This means owners will be unable to legally use their vehicles on public roads and could well risk their insurance policies if they do.
Private buyers should also check the vehicle’s airbag status before finalising the sale. Ownership transfers may be denied by government registration authorities unless faulty airbags have been replaced.
“Our industry has completed more than 99.9 per cent of the 3.06 million vehicle recall. This is an outstanding result and reflects a determined and cooperative effort by manufacturers, dealers and vehicle owners,” Mr Weber said. “There are some vehicles that are still equipped with faulty airbags. We want to ensure those vehicles are rectified before state and territory governments cancel or refuse to renew the registration of the vehicles involved.”
While the formal recall had concluded on December 31, 2020, Mr Weber said manufacturers still had a small number of outstanding vehicles to rectify.
“Owners of vehicles with faulty airbags should reach out to their local dealer to arrange for immediate repair,” Mr Weber said. “It is critical these vehicle owners do not ignore any manufacturer or government agency communication. The industry is committed to promptly assisting them to ensure their vehicles can safely stay on our roads.”
Owners can easily check the recall status of their vehicles by using the industry’s Takata airbag recall website www.ismyairbagsafe.com.au or by texting TAKATA to 0487 AIRBAG (247 224). Unregistered vehicles can also be checked by contacting the relevant brand directly.