Action to refuse registration of cars with critical defective Takata airbags expanded

6 January 2021

Additional vehicles registered in South Australia have now been identified as having been fitted with a “critical” Takata airbag, and will be refused registration to ensure the safety of all road users.

Since November 2018, the South Australian Registrar of Motor Vehicles has refused registration of light vehicles fitted with critical defective Takata airbag inflators, in line with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC’s) compulsory safety recall.

A vehicle is classified as critical if:

• it is subject to an active compulsory recall, administered by the ACCC; and
• the affected Takata Airbag Inflator poses a heightened safety risk;

If your vehicle is classified as critical, do not drive the vehicle. Contact your vehicle manufacturer immediately to have the airbag replaced.

Affected owners should have already received notification from the vehicle manufacturer that the vehicle is under active recall for urgent repair, under the compulsory recall notice administered by the ACCC.

The replacement airbag inflator is free. For critical vehicles and in certain special circumstances the vehicle manufacturer must offer to arrange for your vehicle to be towed away or send out a qualified technician (or some similar arrangement) so the owner does not have to drive it to the place of repair to be rectified.

Vehicle owners will be notified if their vehicle is identified as fitted with a critical defective Takata airbag inflator. One calendar month will be given to provide evidence that the defective airbag on the vehicle has been replaced. The responsibility is on the registered vehicle owner to provide this evidence.

If no response is received after the specified timeframe, a Safety Recall Incident will be placed against the vehicle’s record. This incident flag will prevent the vehicle’s registration from being renewed until evidence is produced showing the airbag has been rectified.

Under no circumstances will the Safety Recall Incident be lifted, unless suitable evidence is provided confirming a defective airbag has been replaced.

You can check if your vehicle is affected immediately via the website www.ismyairbagsafe.com.au or text the word ‘Takata’ to 0487 AIRBAG (0487 247 224).

For further information about the recall, visit www.productsafety.gov.au