Takata Airbag Recall Recent Development




Industry would be aware of the current Takata Airbag voluntary recall being undertaken by some 12 different manufacturers in Australia, since 2009.

All manufacturers who have supplied vehicles with defective Takata airbags have been invited to register for a conference with the ACCC via www.accc.gov.au/takata.

The ACCC will then make final recommendations to Mr McCormack in relation to the issue of a compulsory recall, as soon as practicable, after any conference is held.

The proposed recall will require suppliers to replace all defective Takata airbags by 31 December 2020, with priority given to airbags which pose the greatest safety risk, particularly vehicles with ‘alpha’ airbags.

The recall will also include replacement of ‘like for like’ airbags which have been installed as part of the earlier recalls, as they will also deteriorate over time.

Members need to note that should a compulsory recall notice be issued by Government, it will involve all manufacturers including those who have not yet initiated recall programs. These include Audi, Ford, Jaguar, Volkswagen, GM Holden, Porsche, Mercedes Benz and Tesla.

BACKGROUND SUMMARY

Injuries and deaths reported to-date since the commencement of the recall program number at least 207 injuries and 19 deaths associated with the misdeployment of Takata PSAN Airbags. Of the 19 deaths, 13 have occurred in the US, 5 in Malaysia and 1 in Australia.

On 21 September, a joint Media Release by The Hon Michael McCormack, MP, Minister for Small Business and The Hon Paul Fletcher, MP, Minister for Urban Infrastructure was made outlining a “Proposed Compulsory Recall: Vehicles with Defective Takata Airbags”

(Please refer to attached link for the full media release and copy of the proposed compulsory recall information).
McCorMack-Fletcher-recall-notice-media-release.pdf
Proposed-recall-notice-and-draft-recall-notice.pdf


Small Business Minister Michael McCormack and Minister for Urban Infrastructure Paul Fletcher wrote to vehicle manufacturers on 25 July 2017 for an update on the voluntary recall process.

On 5 August 2017, Mr McCormack issued a Safety Warning Notice to warn consumers of the risks associated with the Takata Airbags and encouraged them to check their vehicle’s status.

Following varied responses from manufacturers and the reports received from the ACCC’s Takata Taskforce in relation to the efforts made by suppliers to locate consumers with vehicles subject to the recall, all manufacturers who have supplied vehicles with defective Takata airbags have been invited to register for a conference with the ACCC via www.accc.gov.au/takata.

Industry should also be aware, should a compulsory recall notice be issued, it will include eight (8) manufacturers who have not yet initiated voluntary recall programs for vehicles fitted with Takata Airbags, based upon information that the Airbag components were manufactured in Freiberg Germany and that there had been no reported cases from components initiated from the factory in Germany.

This however is not the case, Takata have now indicated there has been six (6) reported cases involving components manufactured in Germany between August 2016 and May 2017.

For further information, contact Brenton Daniel, Senior Divisional Manager MTANSW on 02 9016 9025 or [email protected].
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