More than 500,000 Takata airbags still on Aussie roads

The worldwide recall of Takata airbags is still very much a concern in Australia, where more than 500,000 vehicles containing the potentially deadly airbags are still on our roads.

It comes as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) revealed figures this week showing a total of 537,000 vehicles are still yet to be repaired.

The initial Takata airbag recall was announced in 2017, affecting more than 100 million cars around the globe with concerns airbag inflators used by Takata were susceptible to moisture damage that could cause them to explode sending lethal shrapnel at passengers.

Since then, car companies and motoring bodies in Australia have rectified more than 3 million vehicles says the ACCC, but there is still more to be done.

Takata airbags are known to be responsible for 26 fatalities around the world, including a Sydney man in 2017, as well as over 300 injuries.

A number of state road authorities including South Australia and NSW have also banned the registration of vehicles known to have Takata airbags, forcing owners to get their car repaired.

Even though the recall is now two-thirds of the way complete in Australia, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) says it remains completely committed to the recall process, and is following priority risk factors to ensure the smooth completion of the replacement program.

"Time, money and resources are not a consideration for the Australian automotive industry in the mandatory Takata recall. All that matters is the faulty airbags are rectified as soon as possible, and with minimum inconvenience for the customer," said FCAI chief Tony Weber.

You can check if your vehicle is affected by the recall at www.ismyairbagsafe.com.au.