‘Critical’ safety alert for airbags

THE ACCC has issued an urgent safety alert for “critical” Takata airbags following warnings from major car manufacturers including BMW and Honda Motor.

“The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) is urging consumers not to drive these cars at all until the airbag has been replaced,” the regulator said in a statement.

Car makers including Mitsubishi Motors and Toyota Motor warned that 20,000 vehicles currently under recall for defective Takata airbags are now classified as “critical”.

The ACCC added that 425,971 vehicles are still to be rectified under the compulsory recall.

Drivers should check if their vehicle has a critical airbag, which includes an ‘alpha’ airbag, which pose a heightened risk of rupture.

Motorists with a vehicle containing a critical airbag should urgently contact the vehicle manufacturer to have the airbag replaced immediately.

All vehicles with critical airbags are currently under ‘active recall’.