Car manufacturers have pleaded with vehicle passengers to check the airbag safety of vehicles with their mobile phones before they take a ride.
Why? Because a quick check could save their lives. Any vehicle fitted with an unrectified faulty Takata airbag could kill or seriously injure drivers and passengers.
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), the peak body for the automotive industry, has advised travellers they can easily use their phones to check the Takata Compulsory Recall status of any vehicle.
If the vehicle has an unrectified faulty Takata airbag – don’t drive it or ride in it!
Vehicle owners and passengers can check the recall status of vehicles by texting TAKATA to 0487 AIRBAG (247 224). They can also readily check vehicles on the automotive industry’s website www.ismyairbagsafe.com.au
“It’s so simple to make a check,” FCAI chief executive Tony Weber said.
“All you need to know is a vehicle’s registration number and the state or territory of registration. A check is quick and repairs to affected vehicles are free.
“Family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues should check before taking a journey in someone else’s vehicle. Do not rely on others. A quick check for yourself or on behalf of your kids and other loved ones could save a life.
“It doesn’t matter if it is a quick run to the shops, a neighbour’s school run with your kids, a drop-off or pick-up at the local railway station or a long holiday or business trip. A faulty Takata airbag can explode at any time with devastating results.”
Car manufacturers believe vehicle passengers can make a major contribution toward the early rectification of thousands of vehicles still to be repaired under the ACCC Compulsory Recall for faulty Takata airbags.
Automotive dealerships can rectify vehicles with faulty Takata airbags despite the interruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are now in the final stages of this major public safety recall,” Mr Weber said.
“The safety of more than 155,000 vehicle owners and their passengers are at significant risk. Don’t delay in getting your vehicle checked and rectified if it has a faulty airbag.”
Car manufacturers have now rectified more than 2.68 million vehicles affected by the Takata Airbag recall. A further 218,393 vehicles have been identified as unreplaceable. These two categories represent 95 per cent of vehicles affected by the compulsory national recall.
The www.ismyairbagsafe.com.au website is an integral part of the automotive industry’s national communications campaign in support of the recall. It has attracted more than 11 million vehicle requests and identified more than 1.83 million affected vehicles.