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The government has announced that 50,000 vehicles with Alpha-type Takata airbags are subject to a compulsory recall.
According to Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Kris Faafoi, the unsafe airbags have been known to present a risk to drivers and passengers since 2013. Alpha airbag inflators pose a significantly higher risk of accidentally deploying in an accident and sending fragments towards vehicle occupants.
The latest move includes intensive monitoring of a further 257,000 vehicles that require repairs and replacements of non-Alpha Takata airbags. New measures to stop vehicles with affected airbags are also being introduced by the NZ Transport Agency.
“New Zealanders can be assured that this government is committed to ensuring that these unsafe airbags are removed and replaced as quickly as possible,” Faafoi said. “From today, we now have an agreed timeframe for replacements of Alpha-type airbags, and, after a 40-working day grace period, for vehicles already in transit, no affected new or used vehicles will be able to enter into New Zealand.”
The Minister also noted that a monitoring group was set up to report on the progress being made on other non-Alpha Takata airbag recalls.
In 2013, nearly 29,000 Alpha-type airbags were replaced. A total of more than 450,000 vehicles are known to be affected by Alpha and non-Alpha recalls in New Zealand and 100 million vehicles around the globe.
“As well as receiving monthly reporting from a monitoring and advisory panel, we will be working very closely with industry to ensure they meet the December 31, 2019, deadline for replacement,” he added. “I encourage all vehicle owners to check the status of their vehicle’s airbags.”
The monitoring and advisory panel includes representatives from Consumer New Zealand, the Automobile Association (AA), the Motor Trade Association (MTA), MIA, VIA, MBIE and NZTA.
