Registration to be refused for cars with defective airbags

7 August 2020

See the latest update from 4 January 2021

Action is being taken to remove light vehicles fitted with critical defective Takata airbag inflators from the road network.  The defective airbags are highly dangerous and can mis-deploy, resulting in death or serious injury.

In November 2018, registration was refused for vehicles with the higher-priority ‘Alpha’ defective Takata airbags.  This decision was in line with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) compulsory safety recall.

From Monday, 10 August, registration refusal will be extended to all remaining defective Takata airbags classified as critical.

Impacted owners should have already received notification from the vehicle manufacturer that their vehicle is under active recall for urgent repair, as required by the compulsory recall notice administered by ACCC.

The replacement of a defective airbag is free.  The vehicle manufacturer must offer to arrange for the vehicle to be towed to a repairer or send a qualified technician to conduct the repairs.  This is so the owner does not have to drive the vehicle to a place of repair.

If your vehicle is fitted with a defective Takata airbag do not drive the vehicle. Contact your vehicle manufacturer immediately to arrange for the airbag to be replaced.

Vehicle owners will be notified by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles if their vehicle is identified as fitted with a critical defective Takata airbag.  The owner will be given one calendar month to provide the required evidence that the defective airbag has been replaced. The responsibility is on the registered owner to provide this evidence.

If no response is received within one month, a Safety Recall Incident will be placed against the vehicle’s record. This will prevent the vehicle’s registration from being renewed until evidence is produced showing the airbag has been replaced or rectified.

Where necessary, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles will issue a second notification to vehicle owners with their registration renewal notice. The second notice will advise that the vehicle registration cannot be renewed until evidence is produced showing the airbag has been replaced or rectified.

A Safety Recall Incident will not be lifted unless suitable evidence is provided confirming a defective airbag has been replaced or rectified.

You can check if your vehicle is affected immediately via the website www.IsMyAirbagSafe.com.au or text the word ‘Takata’ to 0487 AIRBAG (0487 247 224).  For further information about the recall visit www.productsafety.gov.au.