Recalled cars 'refitted with dodgy Takata airbags'
Five major car manufacturers have been accused of refitting vehicles with potentially faulty airbags without the knowledge of owners.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will now investigate claims that car makers have been replacing the recalled Takata airbags with the same defective product.
Consumer watchdog Choice says car companies Toyota, Mazda, Lexus, BMW and Subaru have been using Takata airbags even though vehicles fitted with those devices are part of a global recall sparked by safety concerns.
ACCC chair Rod Sims told Choice: "We would have very serious concerns if manufacturers were found to be misleading consumers about their car's safety in breach of their obligations under consumer law."
There have been several deaths linked to Takata airbags. Photo: AAP
"Car manufacturers and retailers must let consumers know when they are having their car's airbag replaced, what type of airbag it is being replaced with, and if it is likely to be the subject of another recall down the track."
Eighteen people, including a Sydney man, from around the world are believed to have died after being hit by shrapnel released by exploding Takata airbags.
The 58-year-old man was killed in a collision at Cabramatta on July 13 when his Honda CRV slammed into another vehicle at an intersection in Sydney's southwest.
NSW Police on Friday said a faulty airbag was likely to blame after the driver was "struck in the neck by a small fragment".
"Further investigations revealed the vehicle in the incident was subject of a worldwide recall for a faulty airbag," they said in a statement.
The Japanese manufacturer has filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States and Japan. Photo: AAP
The dodgy Takata airbags, which can explode and launch metal shards when deployed, have previously been linked to 17 deaths and at least 180 injuries worldwide.
"The tragic news out of New South Wales this evening is a terrible reminder to motorists to check whether their own vehicle is one of those on the recall list," Choice spokesman Tom Godfrey said in a statement.
The Japanese manufacturer has filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States and Japan.
The company faces tens of billions of dollars in costs and liabilities resulting from almost a decade of recalls and lawsuits.
The dodgy Takata airbags, which can explode and launch metal shards when deployed, have previously been linked to 17 deaths and at least 180 injuries worldwide. Photo: AAP
Before last week's incident, there had not been any fatalities involving Takata airbags in Australia.
However, in late April a 21-year-old Northern Territory woman suffered serious injuries when one of the faulty airbags didn't deploy properly during a crash in Darwin.
She was struck in the head by a small metal fragment, NT Police said at the time.
"This type of crash, in normal circumstances, would not have caused this level of injury," Sergeant Mark Casey said.
The recall covers approximately 100 million vehicles worldwide and 2.1 million in Australia.
Click here for a full list of car models affected by the Takata airbag recall.
