Time is running out for manufacturers to safely locate, remove and destroy potentially lethal Takata airbags that remain on Australian roads, with the 31 December deadline to have all airbags accounted for fast approaching.

With approximately 155,000 airbags still on the road, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has told manufacturers they have until the end of the year to achieve a 100 per cent replacement rate or face substantial penalties.

But with many manufacturers on the lookout for the last of the vehicles equipped with the dangerous airbags, a warning has been issued for a loophole that has seen airbagsthat have previously been taken off the road given a second life in a different vehicle.

Since the Takata airbag recall was announced back in 2009, a large number of vehicles equipped with the airbags have been retired and sent to an automotive recycling facility for the parts to be recycled and re-sold.

And while most auto recyclers operate under strict processes when it comes to tracing recycled parts, Justin Walker, General Manager of Grant Walker Parts said all recyclers have a responsibility to properly manager and trace parts to avoid the issue of faulty second-hand parts being installed dangerously in another vehicle.

“All recyclers have the opportunity to manage the traceability of second-hand parts to ensure that whenever a part is sold or accepted, it can be traced and know if it’s subject to a safety recall at any time today or in the future. It’s imperative that we are able to contact the new owner of the part and equally, destroy parts we hold, when subject to recalls such as the Takata airbags,” said Walker.

Failing to properly trace and manage parts can result in recalled products, such as Takata airbags, purchased and take from the recycling yard, never to be seen or traced again.

Chris Daglis, Managing Director of All Auto Recalls has spent the last two years working with manufacturers to identify airbags that have entered the recycled market and have them destroyed. He said it was crucial that the gap that allows parts to potentially disappear through the crack be rectified.

“Our traceability systems map vehicle manufacturer recalls to vehicles held by the auto recyclers we work with. We have helped 11 vehicle manufacturers account for in excess of 60,000 affected Takata Airbag Inflators in the past 24 months. By tracing for manufacturers, we reduce risk, increase confidence, and ensure consumer safety,” said Daglis.

“It’s critical that we join the dots between vehicle manufacturer and auto recyclers to improve traceability to avoid this in the future and ensure faulty parts do not ‘disappear’ into the system.

If you believe that your vehicle may still be equipped with Takata airbags, please visit: https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recalls/compulsory-takata-airbag-recall/takata-airbag-recalls-list

Source: Mirage News | A loophole has allowed for deadly Takata airbags to be installed in some Australian cars

9 September 2020