Great Australian / Global Airbag Crisis - Defective Takata Alpha Airbag

[DCBStingerGT]

Cover page of Australia's Herald-Sun newspaper: Wednesday , February 28 , 2018
Im posting these photos as this article refers to the car brands affected in Australia. Some 2.3 million cars on Australian roads have the defective Takata Alpha airbags, and effects a total of 4 million vehicles nationwide, of course this is a Global issue, which has been linked to more than 23 deaths and 230 injuries around the world. One of those deaths is an Australian.



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The article states, " Drivers are warned if their vehicle has an Alpha airbag, there is an extreme safety risk, and the vehicle should not be driven". Airbags 6 years and over are most at risk, but all Takata Alpha airbags that are defective contain inflators that use ammonium nitrate, a chemical compound which degrades over time when exposed to moisture, potentially setting them off.

Injuries documented around the world include the loss of eyesight, facial injuries, lacerations to the face, neck and body, severed vocal cords, spinal damage and head injuries that include brain damage.

The compulsory recall covers various models made by:
1) Ford
2) GM Holden
3) Mercedes-Benz
4) Tesla
5) Jaguar
6) Land Rover
7) Volkswagen
8) Audi
9) Skoda
Voluntary recalls are already in place for various models of:
10) BMW
11) Chevrolet
12) Chrysler
13) Dodge
14) Ferrari
15) GMC
16) Honda
17) Jeep
18) Lexus
19) Mazda
20) Mitsubishi
21) Nissan
22) Subaru
23) Toyota
24) Volvo
25) Hino trucks

I called Holden Customer Service this afternoon , and im told they are hearing about this for the first time as well, they already have my personal and vehicle details , so if my car is affected, i have to wait for a recall letter.

 

[AV8R]

And no Kia!

 

[DCBStingerGT]

And no Kia!

Thank Kia for that

 

[mldavis2]

Kia makes their own airbags.

 

[DaJackson]

How is this just making it to Australia? The recall has been going on for a couple of years in the US.

 

[DCBStingerGT]

How is this just making it to Australia? The recall has been going on for a couple of years in the US.

I believe it has become Compulsory now, the first 9 car companies on the list have not begun a Voluntary recall, like those from number 10 to 25. So i would imagine those first 9 car companies have obviously known about it for God knows how long, they have just done JACK SHIT, so too speak, knowing that so many owners are driving their cars with defective airbags, and decide too do nothing voluntary, until now, when they are now forced under law to recall all their cars effected.

 

[mldavis2]

Part of the trouble is that Takata filed for bankruptcy.