Consumers need to take immediate steps to have their airbags replaced if their car has a critical Takata airbag, inlcuding ‘alpha’ category airbag installed. Critical airbags pose a heightened safety risk and are a subset of the Takata bags being recalled.
The high risk alpha category airbags were installed in certain Honda, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, Mazda and Lexus cars, with models sold between 2001 and 2004.
It is critical that owners of cars with alpha airbags installed take immediate steps to have the airbags replaced because of the significant risk of injury or death involved in using cars with these airbags. All other consumers whose vehicles are on the full recall list are urged to arrange for the replacement of Takata airbags in their vehicles as soon as possible due to the safety risks involved in the use of these vehicles.
The ACCC believes that the Takata alpha airbags have a manufacturing flaw, as they were not produced according to design standards and do not deploy as intended. These airbags pose the most severe risk of misdeployment and have a substantially higher risk of incident rate according to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There is a risk of metal fragments and shrapnel propelling out of the airbag and into vehicle occupants causing serious injuries or deaths.
The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development advises that approximately 50,000 cars are currently on Australian roads that contain alpha airbags. The ACCC believes these pose immediate danger and require urgent replacement. Consumers should call their local dealer to arrange a replacement airbag.
Takata alpha airbags
| Make & model | Year Range | PRA No. |
|---|---|---|
| BMW 3 Series E46 ALPHA | 12/2001 - 03/2003 | 2013/13576 |
| Honda Accord, CR-V ALPHA | 2001-2002 | 2009/10969 |
| Honda Civic ALPHA | 2001 | 2010/11785 |
| Honda Accord ALPHA | 2001-2002 | 2011/12633 |
| Honda Civic, Accord, Accord Euro, CR-V, Jazz, MDX ALPHA | 2001-2003 | 2013/13549 |
| Honda Jazz ALPHA | 2004 | 2014/14438 |
| Lexus SC430 ALPHA | 2000-2003 | 2013/13545 |
| Mazda6, RX-8, Mazda 6 ALPHA | 2003-2004 | 2015/14761 |
| Nissan N16 Pulsar, Y61 Patrol, D22 Navara, T30 X-Trail ALPHA | 2000-2004 | 2013/13542 |
| Nissan N16 Pulsar, D22 Navara, Y61 Patrol, T30 X-Trail ALPHA | 2001-2003 | 2014/14182 |
| Toyota Corolla, Avensis Verso ALPHA | 2000-2004 | 2013/13544 |
| Toyota Echo, Rav 4 ALPHA | 2002-2003 | 2014/14456 |
Takata airbag recalls - full list
Consumers are strongly urged to check whether their cars are included in the Takata airbag recall by:
- checking the full list of all vehicles affected by the Takata recalls
- contacting a dealership or the vehicle manufacturer.
Consumers should also refer to the FAQs on Takata airbag recalls for further information.