More than 400 registered vehicles in Victoria still have defective Takata alpha airbags installed.
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Risking serious injury or death when deployed, the Victorian Government is taking action to ensure motorists replace the dangerous airbags.
VicRoads is in the process of contacting vehicle owners and urging them to have their airbags replaced, with registration sanctions able to be applied if owners do not comply.
Since the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ordered a national, mandatory recall of the Takata alpha airbags in February 2018, VicRoads has been assisting manufacturers to contact vehicle owners.
“Despite concerted and ongoing efforts by vehicle manufacturers, we still have more than 400 vehicle owners who have not responded to the recall order,” Roads, Road Safety and TAC Minister Jaala Pulford said.
The move follows multiple attempts by vehicle manufactures to contact the affected owners through letters, phone calls, emails and door knocking.
Before registration sanctions commence, VicRoads will write to owners informing them that this is their last chance to act.
“We don’t want to suspend or cancel anybody’s registration, but we will do whatever is necessary to get these potentially deadly airbags off our roads,” Ms Pulford said.
Affected owners should contact their local authorised brand dealer immediately to organise a replacement airbag at no cost.
The defective airbags were installed in certain Honda, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, Mazda and Lexus models manufactured between 2001 and 2004.
There have been 29 reported deaths and more than 320 injuries worldwide from the Takata alpha airbags, including one death and one serious injury in Australia.
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