51,326 Aussie cars still fitted with deadliest Takata airbag

CONSUMER advocacy group, CHOICE, has called for a separate, critical warning for cars fitted with some older Takata airbags, which is already subject to the broader worldwide recall.

The Takata 'Alpha' airbags rupture is found in up to 50 percent of cases and are still fitted to more than 50,000 Australian cars, but CHOICE says car manufacturers are not specifically warning drivers of the affected vehicles about the increased dangers these older-model inflators pose.

A CHOICE investigation has found the Alpha-model airbags in question were fitted to Toyota, Lexus, BMW, Honda, and Nissan models between 2001 and 2004.

While testing has shown that most Takata inflators have a 1-in-400 chance of cracking, testing of the Alpha versions showed the possibility of an airbag rupture can be as high as 1-in-2 in a laboratory setting, with potentially fatal results.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the US, which has led the worldwide recall of Takata inflators, issued a "critical warning" on Alpha inflators in June 2016, citing they were responsible for eight of the 10 fatalities linked to Takata airbags.

American owners of the affected cars were warned not to drive them until they were fixed, and some carmakers offered free towing to the nearest authorised dealer to get the cars repaired.

However, no such critical warning has been issued in Australia where 51,136 of the 150,400 fitted with Alpha inflators have yet to be returned to address the recall, which was first initiated by Honda back in 2009, and the other affected manufacturers four years later.

The Australian arms of Honda, Toyota, Lexus, BMW, and Nissan provide general information about the Takata airbag recall on their company websites, as does the Federal Government’s Product Safety Australia website.

But CHOICE says this isn’t enough as the sheer scale of the Takata recall has caused confusion, and more needs to be done to alert owners of cars with Alpha inflators of the acute risk and encourage them to take their cars in.

Honda Australia Director, Stephen Collins said information about particular defects pertaining to certain models is always passed on to customers.

“Honda Australia has always acted on the most accurate and up-to-date Takata information available, and shared this immediately with our customers.” Collins told Wheels.

“The ‘Alpha’ inflator recall is defined by a particular manufacturing defect, and this information has been passed on to our customers. This included warnings about the risk of potential death and injury from the faulty airbags”.

When asked if it supported CHOICE's call for a separate recall, Nissan Australia said it "aims to bring the swiftest possible resolution to this issue for our customers and is focused on the removal of all recalled airbags".

"If a Nissan vehicle owner has received a recall notice, or if they are unsure if their vehicle is affected by a Takata airbag inflator recall, they should contact their nearest Authorised Nissan Dealer for the full list of impacted vehicles."

"Parts are available for every Nissan customer in Australia who has received a recall letter for this matter."

Toyota says it also has sufficient parts to rectify those vehicles fitted with Alpha inflators, and have endeavoured to notify owners of the urgent need to have their inflator replaced.

A Toyota spokesperson told Wheels the company is “replacing ‘Alpha’ airbags as a priority as these were the first airbags recalled in the Takata airbag safety recall campaigns".

"In total, out of approximately 27,010 Toyota and Lexus vehicles fitted with Alpha inflators, approximately 19,098 (70 percent) Toyota and Lexus vehicles have had Takata alpha airbags replaced as part of the Takata airbag safety recalls."

Toyota encourages all affected vehicle owners to check the status of their vehicle on Toyota’s VIN checker or contact their closest Toyota or Lexus dealer immediately.

Wheels has contacted BMW Australia and the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development for comment.

Cars with 'Alpha' Takata airbags installed between 2001-04

• BMW 316i, 318i, 320i/320ci, 325i/325ci, 330i/330ci, M3, M3 CSL
• Honda Accord, Accord Euro, Civic, CR-V, Jazz, MDX
• Lexus SC430
• Nissan Maxima, Navara, Patrol, Pulsar sedan and hatch, X-Trail
• Toyota Avensis, Corolla, Echo, RAV4