SAVE LIVES WITH AN AIRBAG CHECK
Car makers call on Australians to tap someone they know on the shoulder and urge them to check their vehicles for the Takata airbag safety recall
Car makers are calling on every Australian to tap someone they know on the shoulder – family, friends, neighbours or work colleagues – and urge them to check if their vehicles are affected by the Takata airbag recall.
The faulty airbags have the potential to kill vehicle drivers and passengers. There have been 26 reported deaths and more than 300 reported injuries globally attributed to the airbags.
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber said the status of more than 7.8 million vehicles have been checked on the industry’s airbag recall website. Th˜s had ˜dent˜fied more than 1.2 million vehicles that were affected by the recall.
But there are still more than 530,000 veh˜cles to be rect˜fied.
“We are pleading with owners to check the status of their vehicles. It’s time everyone joined this campaign by urging family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues to check if their vehicles are affected,” Mr Weber said.
“A quick tap on the shoulder could be the personal reminder that saves a life or prevents a serious injury.”
“This personal approach is particularly important for the elderly and people with limited English language skills.”
“We offer a simple and free checking process – just go to the website (ismyairbagsafe.com.au) and enter your vehicle’s registration plate number and state or territory. You can also check by texting TAKATA to 0487AIRBAG (247 224).”
It is important that people buying used vehicles privately check the recall status of a vehicle.
“The ACCC has placed requirements on licensed dealers to ensure vehicles are ˜dent˜fied and rect˜fied prior to sale. However, these requirements do not apply to private sales of vehicles,” he said.
“Our advice is clear. If you are looking to privately purchase a used vehicle, please check the vehicle’s recall status on the industry website.”
Mr Weber said the industry had recently stepped up the tempo of its recall advertising with more direct messaging to remind vehicle owners of the urgent need to check their vehicles.
It was now focussing much of its campaigning on outer metropolitan suburbs and in regional and rural areas where many of the outstanding vehicles were located.
Car makers had replaced airbags in more than 2.28 million vehicles representing 75 per cent of the 3.03 million affected vehicles.
“The industry has done a great job in replacing faulty airbags. Our brands have really stepped up, but we won’t be sat˜sfied unt˜l we have completed the task,” Mr Weber said.
TO CHECK YOUR VEHICLE’S AIRBAG: Visit ismyairbagsafe.com.au to check if your airbag has been affected by the Takata airbag recall. Or check by texting TAKATA to 0487AIRBAG (247 224).
“A tap on the shoulder could be the personal reminder that saves a life or prevents a serious injury.”