Reprieve for BMW and Honda cars with deadly Takata airbags

A late reprieve could save thousands of cars with potentially deadly Takata NADI airbags from the crusher.

More than 12,000 cars have already been sent for execution in Australia but now Honda and BMW report a surprising new development on replacement parts.

A replacement for the faulty 5AT NADI inflator in 78,000 older vehicles from eight brands recalled in December has been developed and is being shipped to Australia, where Toyota, Mazda and Suzuki began buying back affected cars in January.

“When the NADI voluntary recall commenced, Honda Australia was informed that replacement parts were not then available, however, this information has changed,” Honda Australia director Stephen Collins told carsales.

“Replacement parts will be available throughout 2020. A small number of parts have recently arrived in Australia and will continue to be delivered throughout the rest of the year.

“Now that we have parts, we have changed this voluntary recall to offer repairs for registered outstanding affected vehicles.”

As Honda begins to notify owners, BMW has started replacing the problem part in some of the affected E46 3 Series cars it has taken back from owners.

“BMW Group Australia can confirm it has commenced repair of BMW E46 3 Series vehicles fitted with faulty Takata NADI type 5AT inflators,” BMW spokesman Nick Raman told carsales.

“This repair applies to vehicles whose owners opted to have stored by BMW while the replacement part was sought.”

Apart from BMW and Honda, the recall affects cars built by Audi, Ford, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota.

BMW is not providing details on the number of cars it has in storage, or the number bought back and destroyed, but says it was the first to announce a voluntary recall on 3 Series cars built between November 21, 1997 and June 30, 2000.

Honda is being more open and says the NADI recall affects 38,474 vehicles built between 1996 and 2000, with the CR-V, Accord and Odyssey the most commonly affected.

“However, almost 50 per cent of these cars are no longer registered,” says Collins.

Honda has led recall efforts throughout the airbag safety recalls, even before the secondary NADI problem, and continues to work with owners.

“We acknowledge that this has been a difficult process for our customers. We are truly sympathetic and apologise to customers that have been inconvenienced by this situation.

“Before we updated the recall process to offer replacement parts, we bought back a little more than 12,000 vehicles. We originally recalled these vehicles and offered a buy-back because we were concerned about our customers’ safety, and this was the best option based on the information we had at the time.”

It is not ruling out further twists in the airbag saga, but says it is continuously tracking developments.

“This is the latest information available to Honda on the affected vehicles. However, the vehicles affected by this recall are more than 20 years old and it has been difficult to source detailed and accurate records from the supplier of the airbags.

“Our previous experience with this recall and other Takata recalls tells us that new VINs could be added to the recall list in the future. If we receive information about further changes, we are committed to promptly sharing that information with customers and acting upon the latest information available to us.”

Owners of remaining Honda vehicles with NADI airbags will soon be updated on their individual situation.

“Honda Australia now expects to receive parts for remaining recalled vehicles in 2020 and some parts are already available to offer repair,” says Collins.

“While customers wait for repair, owners of affected vehicles should stop driving their vehicle immediately and use alternative transport. Honda will provide interim transport options for customers that require it.”

The latest news in the ongoing Takata airbag saga – which has been linked to more than 320 injuries and 29 deaths, including at least one in Australia – comes as the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) launches a new advertising campaign to warn vehicle owners that their lives and registration are at risk if they don’t have faulty Takata airbags replaced.

Based on the advertising theme that first aired in May on social media, the campaign will be expanded from mid-June to include television and radio advertising throughout Australia.

More than 10.34 million vehicles have been checked on the industry’s www.ismyairbagsafe.com.au website and 2.64 million vehicles with faulty Takata airbags rectified, but over 195,000 vehicles remain fitted with potentially airbags that may spray metal shards at occupants in the event of a collision.

“The owners of these vehicles need to understand the risks they are taking by ignoring repeated manufacturer requests to have faulty airbags replaced,” said FCAI chief Tony Weber.

“Firstly, owners and their passengers risk death or serious injury every time they travel in a vehicle with a faulty Takata airbag. Secondly, state and territory governments are now refusing to register many unrectified vehicles.”