Consumers need to take immediate steps to have their airbags replaced if their car is under ‘critical’ recall. Takata airbags in the critical category pose a heightened risk of injury or death.
The Recall Notice allows vehicle manufacturers to designate vehicles as critical if there is evidence or information about safety risks which makes recalls of these vehicles urgent. These critical vehicle recalls include those with alpha airbags.
It is strongly recommended that owners of vehicles with critical airbags stop driving their vehicles immediately. The supplier should offer to arrange for your vehicle to be towed to the place of replacement or for a qualified technician to travel to you (or some similar arrangement) so that you do not have to drive your vehicle if you do not wish to do so.
What is a Takata alpha airbag?
Alpha airbags are a type of airbag listed under critical recall. The high risk alpha category airbags were installed in certain Honda, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, Mazda and Lexus cars, with models sold between 2001 and 2004.
Takata alpha airbags have a manufacturing flaw, as they were not produced according to design standards and do not deploy as intended. These airbags pose a severe risk of misdeployment and have a substantially higher risk of incident rate according to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There is a risk of metal fragments and shrapnel propelling out of the airbag and into vehicle occupants causing serious injuries or deaths.
Critical alpha airbags have been identified as posing a significantly higher safety risk than other defective Takata inflators because they are considered at risk of rupturing.
All other consumers whose vehicles are on the full recall list are urged to arrange for the replacement of Takata airbags in their vehicles as soon as possible due to the safety risks involved in the use of these vehicles.
Takata critical airbags
| Make & model | Year Range | PRA No. |
|---|---|---|
| BMW 3 Series E46 ALPHA CRITICAL | 12/2001 - 03/2003 | 2013/13576 |
| BMW 5 Series E39, 3 Series E46, X5 E53 CRITICAL | 2002-2005 | 2016/15581 |
| Holden Cruze (Nationwide) CRITICAL | 2010 | 2018/16856 |
| Honda Accord, CR-V ALPHA CRITICAL | 2001-2002 | 2009/10969 |
| Honda Accord ALPHA CRITICAL | 2001-2002 | 2011/12633 |
| Honda Accord CRITICAL | 2001-2007 | 2019/17450 |
| Honda Civic ALPHA CRITICAL | 2001 | 2010/11785 |
| Honda Civic, Accord, Accord Euro, CR-V, Jazz, MDX ALPHA CRITICAL | 2001-2003 | 2013/13549 |
| Honda Jazz ALPHA CRITICAL | 2004 | 2014/14438 |
| Honda Jazz, CR-V CRITICAL | 2005-2007 | 2015/14702 |
| Honda MDX, Accord CRITICAL | 2001-2007 | 2015/14737 |
| Honda MDX CRITICAL | 2003-2006 | 2019/17450 |
| Honda City, CR-V, Insight, Jazz, Jazz Hybrid CRITICAL | 2006-2012 | 2015/14819 |
| Honda City, CR-V, Insight, Jazz, Jazz Hybrid CRITICAL | 2011-2014 | 2016/15197 |
| Honda Civic, Legend, Jazz Hybrid CRITICAL | 2006-2012 | 2016/15198 |
| Lexus SC430 ALPHA CRITICAL | 2000-2003 | 2013/13545 |
| Mazda6, RX-8 ALPHA CRITICAL | 2003-2004 | 2015/14761 |
| Nissan N16 Pulsar, Y61 Patrol, D22 Navara, T30 X-Trail ALPHA CRITICAL | 2000-2004 | 2013/13542 |
| Nissan N16 Pulsar, D22 Navara, Y61 Patrol, T30 X-Trail ALPHA CRITICAL | 2001-2003 | 2014/14182 |
| Toyota Corolla, Avensis Verso ALPHA CRITICAL | 2000-2004 | 2013/13544 |
| Toyota Echo, Rav 4 ALPHA CRITICAL | 2002-2003 | 2014/14456 |
| Toyota Echo, Rav 4 CRITICAL | 2003-2005 | 2015/14700 |
| Toyota Corolla ZZE122 CRITICAL | 2004-2007 | 2018/17146 |
Takata airbag recalls - full list
Consumers are strongly urged to check whether their cars are included in the Takata airbag recall by:
- checking the active or future recalls lists
- visiting IsMyAirbagSafe.com.au and entering your state/territory and registration plate number or by texting 0487 AIRBAG (247224) and following the prompts
- contacting your local dealership or the vehicle manufacturer and checking their online recall databases on their websites.
Consumers should also refer to the FAQs on Takata airbag recalls for further information.