Takata airbag recall: half-way there, but still 50k to go

Monday, 2 July 2018

Airbags have become a vital part of the safety systems in modern cars.

The first numbers from the progress in the Takata airbag recall have been provided to Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hon Kris Faafoi, this week by the Motor Industry Association (MIA).

The MIA says that it has provided the minister with the numbers of both an update on the total number vehicles affected by the Takata airbag recall and completion rates.

MIA CEO David Crawford and Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Kris Faafoi at the announcement of the compulsory recall in April this year.

David Crawford, Chief Executive Officer of the Motor Industry Association says: 'Between March and May, distributors have worked tirelessly to identify the number of vehicles fitted with the more at risk Takata alpha type airbag, subject to a mandatory recall, or with the other types of Takata airbags, whether these vehicles were NZ new or used imported vehicles. For used imported vehicles, it has been a significant logistical exercise with many challenges to overcome identifying at an individual vehicle level which are caught in the mandatory and voluntary recalls'.

The numbers show that by the end of May 593,823 vehicles have been identified as being affected by either the mandatory Alpha airbag recall or the voluntary secondary recall of non-alpha type airbags.

Takata alpha airbag inflators can rupture when deploying and pose a 'significant risk'

The replacement part that is being put into cars for the faulty airbags issue recall vehicle safety.

* Why such slow progress on Takata airbag recall?

* How New Zealand's unprecedented airbag recall came about

* Motor industry: Replacing airbags in 18 months a challenge**

Alpha airbags are an older design of airbag fitted to some NZ new cars between 1999 and 2006 (used imports may cover a wider age range) and have been identified as posing a 'significantly higher safety risk' than other Takata inflators because they have been shown to rupture more frequently.

Non-alpha Takata airbags are a later design and, while they pose no significant risk currently, will need to be replaced as there high potential for them to develop faults.

Of those cars affected in New Zealand, 103,819 were part of the mandatory recall for the alpha-type airbag, with 30,825 of those being New Zealand new cars, while the remaining 72,994 were used imports.

Around 25,000 of each have had their airbags replaced (50,806), while 14 used imports have had an interim fix, leaving 53,013 outstanding.

Of cars with the non-alpha type airbags that are currently still only under a voluntary recall, 204,357 are NZ new, while 285,647 are used imports, with 111,779 of the Kiwi cars and 72,196 of the imports having been fixed.

For used imported vehicles, before a replacement part can be ordered, a distributor needs to know if the vehicle is in New Zealand and then verify the status of each individual vehicle with their manufacturer's head office database and Crawford says this has been a significant focus of attention since March and much of this work has now been completed and parts are on order.

'Industry continues to allocate significant resources to achieve a coordinated and timely response to the Takata airbag recall' he said.

For more information on the airbag recall and how to find out if your car is affected, head to www.recalls.govt.