Aussie cars in global airbag recall

More than 10,000 cars sold in Australia are included in a global recall of more than three million vehicles produced by four major Japanese manufacturers amid concerns over airbags.

Airbag recall

Honda appears the worst affected locally with 9980 cars across three models to be recalled.

Toyota will recall 1700 cars and Mazda 597.

Nissan Australia says the number of its vehicles affected is still being determined.

The recall involves vehicles built between 2000 and 2004 which could have a problem with passenger side airbags.

Toyota USA said the vehicles were equipped with front passenger airbag inflaters which could have been assembled with improperly manufactured propellant wafers.

This could cause the inflator to rupture and the front passenger airbag to deploy abnormally in the event of a crash.

The abnormal inflation cold also burn part of the vehicle’s interior and cause a fire, a Toyota spokesman in Japan said.

However, there were no reports of such incidents.

In Japan the four car makers put the worldwide total at 3.39 million vehicles while Japan’s transport ministry said the number of vehicles affected would reach 2.92 million.  There was no explanation for the discrepancy.

Toyota expects to recall more than 1.7 million vehicles, Honda more than 1.1 million, Nissan about 480,000 and Mazda more than 45,000.

The car makers said the airbags were made by the Tokyo-based Takata Corporation.

Honda Australia said its three models affected were the Civic sedan built between 2001 and 2003, the CR-V built between 2002 and 2003 and the 2003 model Jazz.

Toyota said its recall would affect Corolla and Avensis Verso models built between 2000 and 2004.

It said the vehicles would be inspected and if needed the airbag inflater would be replaced at no cost.
Mazda Australia’s recall all involved the first generation Mazda 6 built between 2002 and 2003.

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