FAQ: Takata airbag recall

Updated: February 28, 2018

The tragic death in Western Sydney of a Honda CRV driver due to a faulty airbag recently has prompted a surge in reader/consumer questions.

The death is believed to be the first in Australia to be directly attributed to faulty airbags. Earlier this year, however, a Darwin woman suffered serious head injuries (attributed to airbag issues) when her Toyota RAV4 was involved in a crash.

Thus far, 23 deaths have occurred globally due to the malfunctioning safety devices, and 230 serious injuries have resulted. Manufactured by Takata, the airbags are the subject of arguably the most well-publicised recall in automotive history.

List of cars affected by the deadly Takata airbag recall in Australia

In all, something like 100 million cars have been recalled globally. In Australia, the total is reportedly more than four million. To date, 1.7 million have been recalled, leaving 2.3 million yet to be rectified.

Bottom line is this: IF YOUR CAR IS AFFECTED YOU NEED TO GET THE AIRBAGS REPLACED!

There are a number of manufacturer and authority FAQs you can read for more information.

These include Honda Australia, Product Safety Australia and the US road safety authority, NHTSA. We have used content from all of the above sites to compile this FAQ list.

What is the nature of the fault?
Product Safety Australia categorises the problem as follows: “The inflator components in Takata airbags may deteriorate and subsequently misdeploy in an incident, with the result of metal fragments from the inflator housing propelling out of the airbag, causing injury or death to the drivers/riders and/or passengers.”

In plain English, as the explosive cartridges used to inflate the airbags age, they weaken – to the point that when deployed, the surrounding of the charge can break up creating what is effectively shrapnel.

Manufacturers have also advised motoring.com.au that climate has an effect on the likelihood of the airbag malfunctioning. Damp humid conditions can accelerate the deterioration.

Although in the end only a very, very small percentage of airbags may malfunction, it’s clearly an issue that must be addressed. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

What is an 'alpha' airbag?
Alpha airbags are defined as airbags containing 'phase-stabilised ammonium nitrate propellant' manufactured between August 1, 2000 and December 31, 2002. These particular airbags are potentially lethal, with a strong prospect of serious injury or death for the driver or passenger.

Car companies are now committed to replacing these airbags as a matter of urgency. The car company must offer the vehicle owner the option of towing the affected vehicle to the place of replacement. In other words, the ACCC (Australian Consumer and Competition Commission) is warning owners of alpha airbags not to drive their cars at any point.

How do I know if my car is affected?
Australian consumers can check whether their vehicles are subject to recall via the product Safety Australia website. Consumers can also check out our info page, Is Your Car Affected by the Deadly Takata Airbag Recall.

In some vehicles, the recall relates to the driver’s airbag, in others it is the passenger side. In some it is both. The Product Safety Australia recall notice will detail the faulty parts.

What should I do if my car is on the list?
Product Safety Australia advises that owners should contact their vehicles’ manufacturer or dealer “as soon as possible” to make an appointment to get the airbag(s) replaced. Many manufacturers have links to specific contact points on their websites. Some now have call centres devoted to the issue, such as Toyota.

My car has been recalled overseas but not here. Why not?
The same model cars are built in multiple plants around the world. Thus suppliers change. To this end, Product Safety Australia states: “Vehicle models in Australia and overseas are usually not exactly the same, even if they have the same name and description. Manufacturers have listed those Australian vehicles currently affected in the Australian recall information. If you are concerned, you can contact your dealer or the manufacturer for further information.”

How long will it take to have my airbag(s) replaced?
There are two parts to this question: how long before an appointment can be made to replace the airbags; and how long the actual operation takes.

In answer to part one, most manufacturers will endeavour to have a service appointment made to replace the airbags as soon as possible. Product Safety Australia advises that if you feel the wait is too long, you should report the delay.

Once at the dealership the operation differs from car to car. For many this can be done in minutes while you wait.

How much will the replacement airbags cost me?
There is no cost to vehicle owners. The replacement airbags and labour is provided free of charge by the manufacturers.

Are some manufacturers replacing faulty airbags ‘like for like’?
The short answer to this is yes. In some cases, new airbags of the same design and manufacture are being used. This has been allowed because a key factor in the failure of the airbags is age.

US authority NHTSA states: “A small number of manufacturers are replacing older Takata inflators with newly manufactured versions of these same Takata inflators. Even though these replacements will eventually need to be replaced as well, you should still have an interim repair performed if it is offered to you.

“The data NHTSA has collected unequivocally points to the age of the inflator as being a critical factor in the likelihood of rupture. An older inflator is more likely to rupture than a newer version of the same inflator. Therefore, replacing the older inflator with a newer version reduces the safety risk associated with your vehicle until a final remedy inflator can be produced and installed. All owners that have an interim remedy applied will still be offered a free final remedy inflator and should be sure to have that repair done as well.”

motoring.com.au believes the same situation is occurring locally and is operative for the local recall.

Locally Product Safety Australia advises: “Consumers should not postpone having their vehicle repaired with a new replacement airbag due to concerns that the replacement airbag may be the same or similar type as the old airbag. The older the vehicle, the higher the risk of misdeployment and the more urgent the need for replacement.

“The ACCC has commenced a safety investigation to assess the recall campaign currently underway by manufacturers and will provide more information as it becomes available.

“Some manufacturers have already moved to replacement airbags that employ different technology to Takata airbags. Consumers should not panic in the short term and should pay close attention to any correspondence they have from vehicle manufacturers.”

Should I disconnect the airbags in my car instead or while I wait?
No, no, no… This could be more dangerous and your car will effectively be unroadworthy and could therefore be uninsured.

Product Safety Australia sates: “Disconnecting the airbag is not recommended by safety authorities either – if you are involved in a crash, it is far more likely that your Takata airbag will perform properly and protect you than that it will misdeploy and cause harm. It is also extremely dangerous to attempt to open up or alter any airbag unless you are a licensed auto technician.”

Should I stop driving my vehicle until the airbags are replaced?
US authority NHTSA states: “Vehicles equipped with air bags, including air bags that are under recall, save lives and reduce injuries. The vast majority of Takata air bags will perform as expected. However, as made clear by the agency’s unprecedented action, we do not accept even the small number of failures; lives have been lost due to this defect. If you feel uncomfortable continuing to drive your vehicle before the recall repair has been performed on your vehicle, you should contact your dealer and ask for a loaner until an interim or a final repair is completed.”

We note, however, NHTSA also states: “Dealers and manufacturers are not required to provide you a loaner car, but it can never hurt to ask”.

In Australia, and consequent to the mandatory recall program implemented by the ACCC, if an airbag replacement cannot be completed within a 24-hour period, the servicing dealer is required to provide the vehicle owner a loan vehicle free of charge, or some other means of transport, for the duration of the repair process.