What’s the deal with the Takata airbag recall?
Alright, so you’ve probably heard a bit about this big Takata airbag carry-on. Long story short, the NZ government made a compulsory recall – could affect up to 50,000 cars driving around in NZ, including heaps in Hamilton and the towns just out of town like Cambridge, Te Awamutu, and Ngaruawahia. All because of these dodgy Alpha-type airbags getting a bit cranky.
Takata airbags are supposed to save you in a crash, right? They’ve got a chemical (nitrate) that makes the airbag blow up super fast if you hit something – like when that idiot cuts in front of you on Kahikatea Drive and you have to slam on the brakes. Trouble is, when these ones fail, the airbag might not inflate like it should, and there’s even a risk of bits of metal flying out. Not what you want in a simple car park prang at The Base or out on State Highway 1.
For all the fine print and official info, you can suss it out on the NZTA website. Worth a look if you haven’t checked already.
Is your car on the list?
Here’s the thing – Takata’s not just Japanese. They supply airbags to manufacturers all over, including a lot of European makes. Don’t think just because you drive a VW or BMW you’re in the clear. We’ve seen all sorts roll through here in Hamilton, from Honda Fits picking up the kids in Rototuna to an older lady from Morrinsville bringing in her Audi Q5, and even the odd Ferrari that probably spends more time parked than actually out on Tramway Road.
A lot of common NZ brands are affected:
- Audi – Q5, SQ5
- BMW – heaps, like 318i, 330Ci, some Alpinas for the Euro fans
- Honda – Accord, CR-V, Civic, Fit, Jazz
- Mazda – Atenza (Mazda6), Demio (Mazda2), RX-8
- Toyota – Corolla, RAV4, Vitz, Alphard (loads of imports)
- Nissan – Cube, March, Caravan, X-Trail
- Mercedes-Benz – bit of everything, A180, C200, E-class
- Daihatsu – Mira, Hijet, ESSE
- Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Lexus, Subaru, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, Isuzu, Volkswagen – and others, too!
This isn’t a full list, just a sampler – if your car’s on there, or you’re not sure, check the full details. There are more specific years and models affected. You can double check using the official NZTA website or give us a yell here at Grimmer Motors. We see a pretty wide range, from new-shape hybrids to classic Corolla wagons – don’t assume you’re safe just because your car isn’t “fancy.”
What if your airbags are recalled or the warning light’s on?
If your airbags need swapping out, your vehicle’s manufacturer should let you know when the new parts are ready. The good news: it’s a free fix – you don’t pay for labour or the new airbag bits. If you’re hanging around Dinsdale or Hillcrest and you haven’t heard anything, it’s worth checking. Don’t wait until your WOF in Hamilton is due and get caught out.
If you see that airbag warning light pop up on your dash, don’t freak out, but don’t ignore it either. Could be something simple, could be serious – we’ll sort it either way. We do airbag diagnostics right here in our workshop on Kent Street. Our techs use the scan tools (always updating, by the way – shoutout to the team at Rennacs working on even better gear for airbags) to figure out what’s really going on.
No need to guess – just drop in if you’ve got a concern or book in for a scan. You’d be surprised how many times it’s an easy fix. Whether it’s a mum in a Toyota Estima from Cambridge or someone in a Mazda Bongo running deliveries across Frankton, we’ve seen it all.
Any dramas or questions about car service, dodgy airbags, or WOFs? Give us a buzz, or hit the button below to book in.