Toyota, Mazda and Suzuki commence Takata buybacks
As the need to replace lethal Takata airbags intensifies, more car-makers are offering market value for affected carsMore than 18,000 cars are being recalled by a trio of Japanese car brands in Australia – Suzuki, Mazda and Toyota – due to potentially deadly Takata 5AT NADI airbags.
Such is the urgency of the recall, the three Japanese brands are offering to buy back the cars, joining the likes of BMW and Audi, who have offered similar incentives to get cars off the road.
Like those European brands, the offending vehicles are fitted with Takata airbags that use the NADI 5-AT inflator. The majority of the vehicles (17,650) are Toyotas, including:
Toyota Celica - 1997-1999
Toyota Paseo - 1997-1999
Toyota RAV4 (3 Door) - 1997-1999
Toyota RAV4 (5 Door) - 1997-1999
Toyota Starlet (3 Door) - 1997-1999
Toyota Starlet (5 Door) - 1997-1999
Mazda (466) and Suzuki (346) have much fewer vehicles; just one model each of the same late 1990s vintage:
Mazda Eunos 800 - 1996-1999
Suzuki Grand Vitara - 1998-1999
"These airbags could injure or kill people in the car by misdeploying in an accident and propelling parts or metal fragments into the cabin of the vehicle at high speed," said Stephen Ridgeway, ACCC acting chair.
In its recall notice Toyota Australia urges owners of the affected vehicles to "stop driving their vehicle immediately" and get in touch with a Toyota dealership.
"If a recalled vehicle is identified as containing the affected type of driver airbag inflator [NADI 5-AT], Toyota Australia will offer to buy back vehicles registered for road use from the owner at current market value," reads the recall notice.
"Due to the age of the vehicles, replacement airbag inflators are currently not available," reads the notice.
Suzuki has likewise instructed owners of recalled vehicles to stop driving their vehicle immediately and organise an urgent free inspection by contacting Suzuki Australia.
Consumers can either call Suzuki Customer Care on 1800 777 088 or by visiting this link to find their nearest authorised Suzuki dealership.
Meantime, Mazda owners affected by the recall have been advised to stop driving their vehicle immediately and contact Mazda Australia (www.mazda.com.au) or call Mazda Australia Customer Support on 1800 931 024 to organise their free urgent vehicle inspection.
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