Don't drive these cars until their airbags are changed

As Australia's largest ever compulsory recall in the automobile industry gets underway today, owners of cars fitted with Takata Alpha airbags have been warned to take action immediately - and not drive their cars until the airbags are changed.

Over 60 models of cars are impacted by the Takata airbag recall in AUstralia Source: Creative Commons

Almost two out of seven cars on Australian roads have been impacted by a compulsory recall announced by the federal government today, since they are fitted with faulty Takata airbags which have been known to 'explode' in the car and release shrapnel into the bodies of drivers and their passengers.

Assistant Minister to the Treasurer Michael Sukkar made the announcement this morning, saying, "The compulsory recall notice requires all vehicle suppliers to recall and replace the defective airbags in their vehicles within a specified timeframe. To ensure a coordinated recall of this quite large size and scale, suppliers may recall all affected vehicles and replace all defective Takata airbags on a rolling basis, but these must be completed by the 31 December 2020."

Furthermore, Rod Sims from Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says there are thousands of vehicles that are currently unsafe and must not be driven unless their Takata Alpha airbags are changed.

This includes:

BMW 3 series E46 manufactured between Dec 2001 - March 2003

Honda Accord, CRV and Civic manufactured between 2001 - 2002

Honda Civic, Accord, Accord Euro, CRV, Jazz and MDX manufactured between 2001 - 2003

Honda Jazz manufactured in 2004

Mazda 6 and RX 8 manufactured between 2002 - 2007

Nissan Pulsar, Patrol, Navara, X Trail and Maxima manufactured between 2002 - 2004

Toyota Corolla, Avensis Verso, and Lexus SC manufactured between 2000 - 2004

Toyota Echo and Rav 4 manufactured between 2002 - 2003

To read more about all the cars and motorcycles affected by this compulsory recall, please read this

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