Ambulances across Australia have been confirmed as needing their passenger airbags replaced.
The mandatory Takata recall campaign has engulfed the country’s ambulance fleet, with 2559 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans annnounced as affected.
Specifically, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 906 Series ES Editions have been confirmed by the recall notice published on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Product Safety website.
Mercedes-Benz Van Australia Pacific has confirmed ambulance fleets are included in the affected VIN list, but states implicitly that none of the airbags needed replacing are the high-priority “alpha” type.
“Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Australia are not fitted with “alpha” Takata airbags, which are the high-risk inflators,” corporate communications manager Blake Vincent tells AutoTalk.
Vincent confirms that Sprinter ambulances are included in this recall, and that contingency plans are in place for the vehicles which cannot afford undue downtime.
“Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia Pacific has worked very closely with the ACCC and the state-based ambulance operators to develop a suitable recall plan for ambulance vehicles that contain affected Takata airbag inflators,” he explains.
Vincent says replacing the Takata inflators will not put patients or paramedics at risk.
“We fully understand the critical service provided by ambulance fleets across Australia, and the recall plan was developed with the aim to minimise disruption,” he assures.
“Authorised Mercedes-Benz dealerships will carry out the replacement of the airbag inflators, and will work directly with ambulance services around the country to ensure all replacements are completed with minimal disruption to their operations,” Vincent says.
