Toyota, Mazda and Suzuki have issued voluntary recalls of more than 18,000 vehicles manufactured between 1996 and 1999, offering to buy back affected vehicles.
The 18,000 vehicles, including the popular Toyota Starlets, are fitted with potentially deadly Takata NADI 5-AT airbags.
“These airbags could injure to 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,” ACCC acting chair Stephen Ridgeway says.
“These airbags have also, in some instances, not fully inflated in a crash, thereby failing to protect drivers as expected.”
The ACCC says a substantial number of these cars are likely to be still registered and on the road.
Owners of affected Toyota, Mazda and Suzuki vehicles have been warned to stop driving their vehicles immediately and contact their manufacturer to arrange an urgent and free inspection.
“Drivers must take these warnings seriously. These airbags pose a serious safety risk that could lead to deaths or serious injuries. Please do not put lives at risk and consider other transport options if your vehicle is affected,” Ridgeway says.
Four incidents involving suspected misdeployments of these Takata airbags have been reported by safety authorities in Australia, resulting in a death and serious injury each in BMW and Toyota vehicles.
Consumers should check if their car is affected by visiting the Product Safety Australia website.
Mazda, Suzuki and Toyota are offering to buy back affected vehicles, Toyota also offering to provide alternative transport options until the airbag is replaced.
The latest moves follow voluntary recalls of nearly 17,000 vehicles by Audi, BMW and Ford since November 2019.
And the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development – supported by the ACCC – is also seeking to soon finalise voluntary recalls by Honda and Mitsubishi, the ACCC adds.
It says all the brands mentioned have agreed to consider providing urgent short-term assistance for consumers experiencing significant hardship as a result of the safety issue during the current holiday period in Australia.
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