The Takata airbag recalls continue with Toyota, Mazda and Suzuki issuing voluntary recalls and offering to buy back more than 18,000 affected vehicles built between 1996 and 1999. 

From this number, the popular Toyota Starlets is included and is fitted with the potentially fatal NADI 5-AT airbags.

Owners affected by the recall have been urged to contact their manufacturers for a free and urgent inspection and stop driving their vehicles immediately with the ACCC fearing that a number of these cars are likely to remain registered and on the road.

ACCC acting chair Stephen Ridgeway said, “These airbags could injure to kill people in the car by mis-deploying in an accident and propelling parts or metal fragments into the cabin of the vehicle at high speed,” ACCC acting chair Stephen Ridgeway says.

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

“Drivers must take these warnings 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.”

This is the latest Takata Airbag movement which follows on from the voluntary recall of nearly 17,000 BMW, Audi and Ford vehicles in November 2019.

The Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development – supported by the ACCC – is also seeking to soon finalise voluntary recalls by Honda and Mitsubishi.

Source: Auto Talk | New Takata airbag recall affects 18,000+ vehicles

15 Jan 2019