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Safety recall of ‘potentially deadly’ airbags

Staff WriterWestern Suburbs Weekly

A RECALL has been issued for more than 18,000 vehicles over potentially deadly airbags.

Toyota, Mazda and Suzuki have today issued voluntary recalls of more than 18,000 vehicles manufactured between 1996 and 1999, including the popular Toyota Starlets.

They are offering to buy back affected vehicles, which are fitted with potentially deadly Takata NADI 5-AT airbags.

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Australian Competition and Consumer Commission acting Chair Stephen Ridgeway said these airbags pose a serious safety risk which could lead to deaths or serious injuries.

“The airbags have also, in some instances, not fully inflated in a crash, thereby failing to protect drivers as expected,” he said.

“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.

“Please do not put lives at risk, and consider other transport options if your vehicle is affected.”

According to a statement by ACCC, these vehicles were fitted with Takata NADI (non-azide driver inflator) type 5-AT airbags, which were installed in about 78,000 Australian vehicles across eight manufacturers.

The NADI 5-AT airbags are different to the airbags recalled in a large number of newer cars from a broad range of manufacturers under the existing Takata airbag compulsory recall.

Owners of affected Toyota, Mazda and Suzuki vehicles are advised to stop driving their vehicles immediately and contact their manufacturer to arrange an urgent, free inspection.

Australian safety authorities have received reports of four incidents involving suspected misdeployments of these airbags in Australia.

The incidents resulted in a death and a serious injury in BMW vehicles, and a death and a serious injury in Toyota vehicles.

Consumers should check if their car is included in the recall by checking their vehicle’s VIN number in the table below or visiting the Product Safety Australia website.

Vehicles that may be affected:

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Contact details:

Audi Takata Information Line – Ph. 1800 856 770

BMW Takata Hotline – Ph. 1800 243 675

Takata Recall Hotline – Ph. 1800 503 673

Honda Australia Recall Call Centre – Ph. 1800 952 272 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 6pm AEDT)

Mazda Customer Support – Ph. 1800 931 024, customersupport@mazda.com.au

Takata Hotline – Ph. 1800 931 811, www.mitsubishi-motors.com.au/customer-assistance/contact-us

Customer Hotline – Ph. 1800 777 088, www.suzuki.com.au/airbag_investigation

Toyota Australia Campaign Helpline – Ph. 1800 987 366 (Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm AEDT)

Further information for consumers is available at Recall of Takata NADI 5-AT airbags.

Drivers who have previously checked www.ismyairbagsafe.com.au to see if their airbag is affected by the compulsory recall those airbags, should also check the Product Safety Australia website.

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