The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) is issuing a state by state stop drive warning to owners of vehicles containing high-risk faulty Takata airbags.
FCAI chief executive Tony Weber says vehicle owners and their passengers are being unnecessarily exposed to the risk of death or serious injury because the vehicles have not had faulty airbags replaced.
For example, in Western Australia Weber says there were 608 airbags of the critical Alpha and critical non-Alpha type.
“They have been declared critical for a very important reason – they are high-risk and can kill vehicle drivers and occupants. Any vehicle with critical Alpha or critical non-Alpha type airbags should not be driven at all,” Weber says
The high-risk airbags are among nearly 18,600 faulty airbags in vehicles in Western Australia that still need to be replaced. Manufacturers have already replaced 381,000 faulty airbags in Western Australia. This represents 95% of affected airbags in the state.
In New South Wales there are 2146 airbags of the critical Alpha and critical non-Alpha type outstanding. These are among nearly 70,000 faulty airbags in vehicles in NSW that still need to be replaced. More than 1.08 million faulty airbags have been replaced in NSW, representing more than 94% of its affected airbags.
In Queensland there are 1798 airbags of the critical Alpha and critical non-Alpha type outstanding. These are among 39,200 faulty airbags that still need to be replaced. More than 743,000 faulty airbags have been replaced in Queensland, representing 95% of affected airbags there.
In South Australia there are 315 airbags of the critical Alpha and critical non-Alpha type outstanding. These are among nearly 11,200 faulty airbags that still need to be replaced. More than 238,000 faulty airbags have been replaced in South Australia, representing 95% of affected airbags there.
In the Australian Capital Territory there are 195 airbags of the critical Alpha and critical non-Alpha type outstanding. These are among 4,420 faulty airbags that still need to be replaced. More than 70,000 faulty airbags in the ACT have been replaced, representing 94% of affected airbags in the region.
In the Northern Territory there are 85 airbags of the critical Alpha and critical non-Alpha type outstanding. These are among 1820 faulty airbags in vehicles that still need to be replaced. More than 24,000 faulty airbags have been replaced in the Northern Territory, representing 93% of its affected airbags.
In Tasmania there were 63 airbags in Tasmania of the critical Alpha and critical non-Alpha type. The high-risk airbags are among nearly 4,350 faulty airbags in vehicles in Tasmania that still need to be replaced More than 87,000 faulty airbags have been replaced in Tasmania, representing 95% of affected airbags there.
The FCAI says car manufacturers will arrange to promptly collect any of these vehicles and replace the faulty airbags free of charge.
On a national basis, the industry has rectified 2.64 million vehicles with 3.61 million faulty Takata airbags.
Vehicle owners should promptly check the recall status of their vehicles by using the automotive industry’s Takata airbag recall website www.ismyairbagsafe.com.au and by taking action to arrange for the free rectification of any affected vehicles.
