Takata airbag recall.

The affected vehicles have been fitted with driver and or front passenger airbags that utilise non desiccated ammonium nitrate propellant contained in the inflator, produced by Takata.

A mandatory safety recall has been issued by the Australian Government for all vehicles installed with affected frontal Takata airbag inflators due to concerns that, if a faulty Takata airbag needs to be deployed in the event of an accident, the airbag can go off with too much explosive force, rupturing the airbag inflator housing, causing sharp metal fragments to shoot out and kill or seriously injure people in the vehicle.

The ACCC’s investigation concluded that Takata PSAN airbags without a desiccant (or drying agent) or with a calcium sulphate desiccant have a design defect. The Minister decided to issue a compulsory recall because, based on extensive evidence provided by the ACCC, as the airbag ages and is exposed to high temperatures and humidity, the PSAN propellant is exposed to moisture and degrades. If this happens, when the airbag is triggered and deploys (in a collision), it can deploy with too much explosive force, rupturing the airbag inflator housing so that sharp metal fragments shoot out and hit vehicle occupants, injuring or killing them. A subset of Takata airbags called ‘alpha’ have been identified as posing the highest safety risk of all the recalled Takata airbags. Volkswagen vehicles imported to Australia are not equipped with the Alpha airbag. According to the Australian Government, for non-alpha airbags in vehicles manufactured less than 6 years previously, there is no immediate known risk with the airbag, but there will be in the future. For vehicles fitted with a frontal Takata airbag more than 6 years old, the Australian Government has stated that there is a risk of injury or death in the event of rupture of the airbag inflator.

According to the Australian Government, if a faulty Takata airbag needs to be deployed in the event of an accident, the airbag can go off with too much explosive force, rupturing the airbag inflator housing, causing sharp metal fragments to shoot out and kill or seriously injure people in the vehicle.

For vehicles fitted with a frontal Takata airbag more than 6 years old, the Australian Government has stated that there is a risk of injury or death in the event that the airbag inflator housing ruptures when the vehicle is involved in a collision. For non-alpha frontal Takata airbags in vehicles manufactured less than 6 years, there is no immediate known risk with the airbag, but there will be in the future. The Australian Government has stated that there is a risk of death or serious injury to people in the vehicle from when it reaches 6 years after its year of manufacture. The airbag inflator in these vehicles will need to be replaced before the airbag reaches 6 years old. The replacement will be carried out at no cost to you and will take approximately 45-75 minutes to complete.

A mandatory safety recall has been issued by the Australian Government for all vehicles installed with affected frontal Takata airbag inflators due to concerns that, if a faulty Takata airbag needs to be deployed in the event of an accident, the airbag can go off with too much explosive force, rupturing the airbag inflator housing, causing sharp metal fragments to shoot out and kill or seriously injure people in the vehicle.

Please refer to the Product Safety Australia website for more information: (https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recalls/compulsory-takata-airbag-recall).

The airbag inflator is a device inside the airbag that contains a propellant that inflates the airbag in the event of an accident.

Ammonium Nitrate is the chemical used by Takata as the propellant to inflate the airbag in the event of an accident.

All Volkswagen airbag inflators are being replaced using alternative suppliers that do not use Ammonium Nitrate as the propellant for their airbag inflators. Affected inflators will be replaced with new inflators using an alternative propellant, Quanidine Nitrate ("Guni"). No Volkswagen vehicles are being fitted with “like for like” replacements as is the case with some other manufacturers.

A subset of Takata airbags called ‘alpha’ have been identified as posing the highest safety risk of all the recalled Takata airbags.

Volkswagen vehicles imported to Australia are not equipped with the Alpha airbag.

According to the Australian Government:

• it is critical that owners of cars with alpha airbags installed take immediate steps to have the airbags replaced because of the significant risk of injury or death involved in using cars with these airbags;
  
  
• for non-alpha airbags like those installed in Volkswagen vehicles:
  
  
  • in vehicles manufactured less than 6 years previously, the Australian Government has stated that there is no immediate known risk with the airbag, but there will be in the future;
  
  
  • in vehicles more than 6 years old, the Australian Government has stated that there is a risk of injury or death in the event of rupture of the airbag inflator.

Takata Corporation manufactured the airbags that are affected by the airbag inflator recall.

Certain Volkswagen models produced between 2006-2016, please refer to the table below.

No, only vehicles with a Takata frontal airbag containing an inflator that uses phase-stabilised ammonium nitrate propellant without a desiccant and those that use a calcium sulphate desiccant.

To check if your vehicle is affected, please enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) into the VIN checker tool on Volkswagen’s website: https://www.volkswagen.com.au/app/locals/owners-service/airbag-safety-recall. You can locate your VIN at the bottom of your windscreen (as you look into the vehicle from the outside) or on your vehicle registration certificate issued by the vehicle registration body in your state or territory.

A full list of all vehicles is also available on the ACCC website.

Yes, the vehicle can be used until it is checked and/or repaired. According to the Australian Government, the risk of a defective Takata airbag rupturing arises between 6 and 25 years after it is installed in a vehicle. In areas of high heat and humidity, the risk of rupture arises between 6 and 9 years. This is why, for vehicles such as the affected Volkswagen vehicles that do not have Alpha airbags, the recall can be conducted in a staged process between now and the end of 2020.

The Australian Government has concluded that under certain conditions there is a risk of death or serious injury.

For non-alpha frontal Takata airbags in vehicles manufactured less than 6 years, there is no immediate known risk with the airbag, but there will be in the future. For vehicles fitted with a frontal Takata airbag more than 6 years old, the Australian Government has stated that there is a risk of serious injury or death to people in the vehicle in the event that the airbag inflator housing ruptures when the vehicle is involved in a collision. According to the Australian Government, the risk of a defective Takata airbag rupturing arises between 6 and 25 years after it is installed in a vehicle. In areas of high heat and humidity, the risk of rupture arises between 6 and 9 years.

No Volkswagen vehicle is equipped with an airbag from the Alpha population, which the Australian Government has prioritised for immediate replacement. Globally, there have been no incidents reported of a Takata airbag rupture in any Volkswagen vehicles. Nevertheless, the Australian Government has decided upon a mandatory recall for all vehicles equipped with Takata Airbag Inflators. This is why, for vehicles such as Volkswagen vehicles (which do not have Alpha airbags) affected by the Takata Airbag recall, the recall can be conducted in a staged process between now and the end of 2020.

This means that your vehicle is not yet currently under an active recall, but it will be in the future. In accordance with the ACCC Recall Notice, Volkswagen will initiate the recall of your vehicle in the future. The Recall Initiation Schedule specifies the dates on which the future recalls will become active.

Parts availability is currently being assessed and customers will be notified accordingly. Customer notifications will be prioritised based on vehicle age (oldest first) and location (areas with high humidity will be given priority). Volkswagen will contact you when your airbag inflator is to be replaced. When Volkswagen contacts you to inform you that the recall of your vehicle has been initiated, it is important that you follow the instructions contained in that communication to have the airbag replaced.

Upon bringing a vehicle in, if the parts are available, rectification will be carried out at no costs to you and take between 45-75 minutes to complete. Affected inflators will be replaced with new inflators using an alternative propellant.

Yes, all Volkswagen Dealers in Australia have been informed. Volkswagen has been taking steps to supply replacement parts as soon as possible. We request that customers await official communication from Volkswagen advising you to bring your vehicle in to have the airbag inflator replaced.

Yes, that's important. Your Volkswagen Dealer wants to ensure that your airbag inflator is replaced and that you are back on the road as soon as possible.

Volkswagen has sourced new airbag inflators from a range of suppliers, including JSS (formerly KSS), TRW, Daicel and Autoliv.

No, all Volkswagen airbag inflators are being replaced using alternative suppliers that do not use Ammonium Nitrate as the propellant for their airbag inflators. Affected inflators will be replaced with new inflators using an alternative propellant, Quanidine Nitrate ("Guni"). No Volkswagen vehicles are being fitted with “like for like” replacements as is the case with some other manufacturers.

Under certain special circumstances (for example, if there is an affected vehicle in a remote location or to assist customers who are elderly, infirm or disabled), loan vehicles or special repair arrangements will be made available upon request. In addition, in all cases, a loan vehicle or alternate transportation arrangements will be made available upon request if a vehicle is required to be left at a Volkswagen Dealer for more than 24 hours to replace the airbag.

Initially, we encourage you to contact the business that replaced your airbag and ask what type of airbag was fitted into your vehicle and where it was purchased from. If the airbag was purchased from an authorised Volkswagen Dealer, we will be able to identify if it requires replacement. Alternately, you can take your vehicle to any authorised Volkswagen Dealer who can check the type of airbag inflator that is installed in your vehicle.

You should check if any Volkswagen vehicle in your possession is subject to an ‘active’ or ‘future’ Takata Airbag Safety Recall by entering the VIN into the VIN Checker tool on Volkswagen’s website https://www.volkswagen.com.au/app/locals/owners-service/airbag-safety-recall. You can also check if vehicles in your possession will be recalled in the future by viewing the Recall Initiation Schedule. If you cannot find the information you need online, please contact our toll-free Volkswagen Recall Campaign Hotline on 1800 504 076, between 8.30am and 6:00pm Monday to Friday (AEST).

If you are a wrecker/salvage yard owner, you should check if there are any Takata airbag inflator parts in your possession that are subject to a Takata Airbag Safety Recall. To check if the part is under ‘active’ or ‘future’ recall, please check the VIN of the Volkswagen vehicle from which the part was removed, on the VIN checker tool on the Volkswagen website: https://www.volkswagen.com.au/app/locals/owners-service/airbag-safety-recall. Once confirmed, the salvage/auto-recyclers should contact All Auto Recalls by email info@allautorecalls.com.au who will facilitate the collection/return of Affected Takata Airbag Inflator. The following details are required:

• the name of the person or business holding the part;
• relevant details of the part including quantity, type;
• vehicle VIN (where possible);

and any other relevant information that will assist All Auto Recalls to facilitate the safe retrieval of the part from the salvage and/or auto-recycler’s possession.

Salvage/auto-recyclers must not sell the removed Affected Takata Airbag Inflator.

You must not sell the removed Takata airbag inflator. Please contact All Auto Recalls by email info@allautorecalls.com.au who will facilitate the collection/return of Affected Takata Airbag Inflator. The following details are required:

• the name of the person or business holding the part;
• relevant details of the part including quantity, type;
• vehicle VIN (where possible);

any other relevant information that will assist All Auto Recalls to facilitate the safe retrieval of the part from the salvage and/or auto-recycler's possession.

If you have an unregistered vehicle, you can enter the VIN into the Volkswagen VIN checker tool available on Volkswagen’s website: https://www.volkswagen.com.au/app/locals/owners-service/airbag-safety-recall. Alternately Please contact our toll-free Volkswagen Recall Campaign Hotline on 1800 504 076, between 8.30am and 6:00pm Monday to Friday (AEST) for assistance.

Second-hand dealers and auction houses must not sell a Volkswagen vehicle that is under active recall until the recall has been completed. This requirement does not apply to private sales. Please contact our toll-free Volkswagen Recall Campaign Hotline on 1800 504 076 between 8.30am and 6:00pm Monday to Friday (AEST) or an authorised Volkswagen Dealer for airbag replacement. This will be conducted free of charge.

Second-hand dealers and auction houses can sell a vehicle that is classified as being under ‘future’ recall provided they comply with their obligations under the ACCC Mandatory Recall Notice, including notifying the prospective purchaser that the vehicle will be subject to a Takata recall by Volkswagen in the future. For your obligations, please visit the ACCC Product Safety Australia website: https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recalls/compulsory-takata-airbag-recall for more information. This requirement does not apply to private sales.

You can contact our toll-free Volkswagen Recall Campaign Hotline on 1800 504 076, between 8.30am and 6:00pm Monday to Friday (AEST) or visit our website: https://www.volkswagen.com.au/app/locals/owners-service/airbag-safety-recall.

You can contact the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) on (02) 6260 3035 for free of charge translators and interpreters, between 9:00am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday.

Please visit the National Relay Service website at https://nrscaptions.nrscall.gov.au/nrs/captionrelay.

If you are no longer the owner of this vehicle please complete the online Owner Amendment Form on our website: https://www.volkswagen.com.au/app/locals/about/contact-us or email us at: recalls@myvw.com.au so that we can make contact with the new owner.