Citroen, McLaren and Opel caught up in the Takata airbag saga
Approximately 1.1 million additional Australian vehicles are participating in Takata's latest round of airbag callbacks.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released a revised Takata airbag recall list that includes an additional 1.1 million vehicles, now including Citroen, McLaren and Opel.
This brings the total number of vehicles recalled due to defective Takata airbags to over five million in Australia and close to 100 million worldwide.
Importantly, Takata's latest round of airbag callbacks includes Citroen, McLaren and Opel vehicles for the first time, with the three European brands joining 25 other automakers currently participating.
The revised list includes models, many of which have not been touched before, from manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Chrysler, Jeep, Ford, Holden, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Skoda and Subaru, Tesla. , Toyota and Volkswagen.
According to the ACCC website, the above vehicles are not yet in active recall but will be subject to a mandatory recall that requires manufacturers to replace all defective airbags by the end of 2020.
Listings of vehicle identification numbers (VINs) for some new vehicles have yet to be released, although many are expected to appear on the ACCC consumer website in the coming months.
ACCC Vice Chair Delia Ricard told ABC News that more models are expected to join the mandatory recall.
“We know there will be a few more reviews next month that we are in the process of negotiating,” she said.
"When people visit productsafety.gov.au, they must sign up for free recall notifications so they can see if their vehicle has been added to the list."
Ms Rickard stressed that the owners of affected vehicles must take action.
“Alpha airbags are really incredibly worrisome,” she said.
“In the early 2000s, some airbags were made with a manufacturing error and are much more likely to deploy and injure or kill people than other airbags.
“If you have an Alpha bag, you need to stop driving immediately, contact your manufacturer or dealer, arrange for them to come and tow it. Don't drive."
As previously reported, drivers and occupants of vehicles affected by the Takata airbag recall are at risk of being pierced by metal fragments flying out of the airbag when deployed.
At least 22 people have died as a result of faulty Takata airbag inflators, including an Australian who died in Sydney last year.
“This is a really serious review. Take it seriously. Be sure to check the website right now and take action this week." Mrs Rickards added.
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