Compulsory Takata airbag recall

Following an ACCC safety investigation, the Assistant Minister to the Treasurer, the Hon Michael Sukkar has decided to issued a compulsory recall for all vehicles with defective Takata airbags. Based on extensive evidence provided by the ACCC, it appeared that:

• a reasonably foreseeable use of vehicles with defective Takata airbags may cause injury to drivers and/or passengers, and

• one or more suppliers of vehicles with defective Takata airbags have not taken satisfactory action to prevent those vehicles causing injury to drivers and/or passengers.

The compulsory recall applies to:

• all vehicles that are subject to existing Takata voluntary recalls, and

• approximately 1.3 million additional vehicles that have not been voluntarily recalled.

The compulsory recall requires suppliers of vehicles with defective Takata airbags to replace all defective Takata airbags in Australian vehicles by 31 December 2020 (or later in some instances if approved by the ACCC). Some vehicles will be recalled immediately, and others on a rolling basis, scheduled based on various factors including relative safety risk. This means that not all vehicles will be recalled straight away.

For a list of current makes and models with defective Takata airbags and more information visit https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recalls/compulsory-takata-airbag-recall/about-the-compulsory-takata-airbag-recall