More than 50 million vehicles recalled for potentially lethal airbag fault - is your car affected?

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Bit surprised this has not been mentioned on here yet (unless I missed it?)

More than 50 million vehicles recalled for potentially lethal airbag fault - is your car affected?

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/t...21-gh6dkj.html

Summary is:

What is the problem?

Airbags work by firing an inflatable cushion out of the steering wheel or dashboard at high velocity in order to protect the occupants from hitting the hard surfaces of the car.

The problem for Takata is believed to centre around the explosive used to deploy the airbag - ammonium nitrate. It is sensitive to moisture and temperature changes.

According to reports the seals used by Takata are failing, allowing moisture into the airbag inflators. This can results in "over-aggressive combustion" which can cause the occupants of the car to be sprayed with metal fragments from the airbag mechanism.

How serious is the problem?

At least six deaths have been linked to the Takata recall. The first reported victim was an Oklahoma teenager, Ashley Parham, who was killed when she crashed her 2001 Honda Accord. She was hit in the neck with metal fragments and died of her injuries.

Her family sued Honda and Takata - both companies settled out of court.

Which car brands are impacted?

So far Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Chrysler, General Motors, Ford, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru and BMW have all been swept up in Takata's problem.

However, because not all of those models are sold in Australia only Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Chrysler, Mercedes and BMW have recalled cars here. (See below for detailed information on specific models)

List of cars affected by Takata recall in Australia
Toyota
Echo: 2002-2005

Yaris: 2005-2007

Corolla: 2000-2007

RAV4: 2002-2005

Avensis: 2000-2007

Customer Service: 1800 869 682

Lexus
SC430: 2001-2003

Customer service: 1800 023 009

Nissan
Micra: 2010-2011

Pulsar: 2001-2007

Navara: 2001-2007

Patrol: 2001-2007

X-Trail: 2001-2007

Maxima: 2001-2007

Customer service: 1800 035 035

Honda
Jazz: 2004-2009

Civic: 2004-2005

CR-V: 2002-2008

Accord Euro: 2004-2007

Accord: 2003

MDX: 2003

Customer service: 1800 804 954

Mazda
Mazda6: 2002-2004

RX-8: 2002-2004

Customer service: 1800 034 411

Chrysler
300C: 2006-2007

Customer Service: 1300 133 079

BMW
3-Series: 2002-2003

Customer service: 133 269

Mercedes-Benz
SL: 2014

SLK: 2014

Customer service: 1300 300 896

More details available on www.recalls.gov.au but I haven't been able to get through to the site; I suspect it has been inundated!

Craig H

[new2ford]

When I googled this, it's been going on overseas since 2013. Like the VW DSG issue, the action seems to reach Australians last. Is this how we're regarded in the international market?

Ford and Holden Australian-made models don't seem to be affected as far as I know.

[Grunter]

Does/did Ford use Takata airbags on any Aussie Ford's?

Edit: New2ford thanks as you answered my other question.

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by Grunter

Does/did Ford use Takata airbags on any Aussie Ford's?

Edit: New2ford thanks as you answered my other question.

I'd wait for confirmation from Ford though.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by Grunter

Does/did Ford use Takata airbags on any Aussie Ford's?

Edit: New2ford thanks as you answered my other question.

To clarify, neither Ford nor Holden are impacted by this particular recall. However, whether they have unaffected Takata airbags is another issue, and one I cannot answer.

Hope that helps.

Craig H

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

To clarify, neither Ford nor Holden are impacted by this particular recall. However, whether they have unaffected Takata airbags is another issue, and one I cannot answer.

Hope that helps.

Craig H

So in the future, we will inherit all the 'world car' problems because we can't make anything and things will be made in China... Great.

[T4ppers]

I wondered wtf the news was talking about. Thank god my chrysler' s a ******* but at least its not a death trap

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

So in the future, we will inherit all the 'world car' problems because we can't make anything and things will be made in China... Great.

Pity these were made in Japan eh?

[Phildo]

We should have more of this...intentionally.

Out of every 100 cars, instead of an airbag, put explosives in the steering wheel.

Maybe then people will actually look around outside their cars and avoid crashing?

[marty351]

^^^^ jack in the box. lol

[T4ppers]

The Wylie Coyote ACME giant fist on a spring

[Dash_XR]

I'm not too worried, I was talking to a guy out front of the Royal Melbourne that went through the window along with the driver after both front seatbelts broke in his FG. That's a bit more of a concern.

[buggo]

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

To clarify, neither Ford nor Holden are impacted by this particular recall. However, whether they have unaffected Takata airbags is another issue, and one I cannot answer.

Hope that helps.

Craig H

Just to go off what you were saying, Falcons (at least BA's) use Autoliv airbags. I assume this continued on to later models as well.

[FGX335]

Originally Posted by Dash_XR

I'm not too worried, I was talking to a guy out front of the Royal Melbourne that went through the window along with the driver after both front seatbelts broke in his FG. That's a bit more of a concern.

Really? I'd be dubious about that. It would be easy to show that the belts had torn, and very easy to lodge a suit on Ford for a dodgy belt. They are built to take a lot of punishment, so unless I saw it with my own eyes, I wouldn't be treating that as gospel.