Major car manufacturers, including BMW, GM Holden, Honda, Mitsubishi and Toyota, are warning that 20,000 vehicles already under recall for defective Takata airbags are now classified as “critical”.

The ACCC is urging consumers not to drive these cars at all until the airbag has been replaced.

“Cars with airbags listed as ‘critical’ should not be driven. Classification as ‘critical’ means manufacturers have assessed these airbags as being particularly unsafe. A Takata airbag misdeployment can result in death or serious injury, even in a minor collision,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“Under this urgent recall, drivers are entitled to have their vehicles towed to the dealership by the manufacturer and have the airbag replaced for free. Drivers may be entitled to a loan vehicle while the airbag is replaced.”

“We encourage all drivers to check if their vehicle is affected, even if they have checked before, and to act immediately to have their airbag replaced.”

Consumers can check whether their car is affected by visiting:

  • IsMyAirbagSafe.com.au and entering their state/territory and registration plate number or by texting 0487 AIRBAG (247224) and following the prompts
  • the vehicle manufacturer’s website and entering their VIN number in their Recall Database or by contacting them direct for information
  • ProductSafety.gov.au and checking either the active or future recalls lists with further information available about the recall.

Under the compulsory recall 425,971 vehicles are still to be rectified.

Critical airbags are a sub-category of faulty Takata airbags that require immediate replacement because of their increased safety risk for drivers and passengers.

This number may increase as manufacturers continue to review the safety risks, so drivers should re-check to ensure their airbag is in need of critical replacement.

“This recall is a rolling recall, which means that more vehicles can be added to the critical category at any time, and we’re urging consumers not to ignore recall messages from manufacturers to get their airbag replaced,” Ms Rickard said.

Notes to editors

Critical vehicles

  • Holden – 1,843 vehicles – 2010 Holden Cruze
  • Honda – 6,043 vehicles – Honda City MY2012, CR-V MY 2011, Insight MY2012-2013, Jazz MY2012-2014 & Jazz Hybrid MY2012-2013, Honda Civic MY2006-2011, Jazz Hybrid MY2012 and Legend MY2007-2012, Honda Accord MY2001-2007 and Honda MDX MY2003-2006
  • Toyota – 582 vehicles – 2003 – 2005 Toyota Echo and Rav4
  • BMW – 7,909 vehicles – BMW 5 Series (E39) MY2002-2003, BMW 3 Series (E46) MY2001-2006 & BMW X5 (E53) MY2003
  • Mitsubishi – 3,254 vehicles – 2007 – 2014 ML & MN Triton.

Background

As at 31 August 2019 around 3.36 million airbags (82.4% of total airbags supplied) have now been replaced in 2.41 million vehicles (some vehicles have a driver and passenger airbag).

There remains around 483,071 airbags in 425,971 vehicles still subject to the recall.