No Warrant of Fitness for faulty airbag cars?

Wednesday, 6 March 2019

Could having a faulty Takata alpha-type airbag in your car soon prevent you from getting a Warrant of Fitness? That is one possibility being considered by the government to get unresponsive owners to take action.

Figures released last month showed that, as of the end of January this year, 67 per cent of vehicles affected by the mandatory recall for faulty Takata airbags have had replacements fitted, while 54 per cent of vehicles affected by the voluntary recall for the non-alpha airbags had also had work completed.

Used imported vehicles are lagging behind New Zealand new vehicles in both the mandatory recall for alpha-type airbags and the voluntary recall for the non-alpha airbags.

Used imports are still lagging behind New Zealand new cars when it comes to getting faulty Takata airbags replaced.

Just over 90 per cent of New Zealand new vehicles with alpha-type airbags have been fixed, while used imported vehicles are sitting on just 60 per cent. The voluntary recall for the non-alpha airbags has seen 75 per cent of New Zealand new vehicles repaired, while just 34 per cent of used imported vehicles have been addressed.

**READ MORE:

MIA CEO David Crawford and Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Kris Faafoi at the announcement of the compulsory recall.

* Takata airbag recall site launches in NZ, allowing drivers to see if their car's been affected

* Airbag recall progress impresses, roughly half the faulty cars have been fixed

Airbags have undoubtedly saved many lives since they were first introduced in the 1970s.

* Why such slow progress on Takata airbag recall?**

According to the Motor Industry Association (MIA), the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' decision to make the alpha-type Takata airbag recall mandatory has significantly assisted the new car industry in addressing the issue, but while the organisation says that overall progress is tracking in the right direction, there is still work to be done.

While parts supply has been an obstacle in the voluntary non-alpha airbag recall, the MIA says it is less of an issue now.

'We still need vehicle owners to respond to letters to bring their vehicle in to have the airbag replaced,' said David Crawford, CEO of the MIA.

'Some distributors have completed the process of writing 3 to 4 - or more - times to current vehicle owners and the NZTA has now written to these people as well. The NZTA letter has meant a significant number of those who have not responded to previous letters from distributors have now also bought their vehicles in for the airbags to be replaced.

Crawford said that the letter, which was translated into 7 different languages, has proven to be effective in getting a number of vehicle owners to who previously had not responded to get their vehicles fixed.

Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Kris Faafoi, said that while the recall is progressing well and has been a huge achievement to date for the industry, consumer groups and government agencies that have worked together since the recall began, he is urging all parties to keep up their efforts.

'With 27,000 vehicles still having these airbags I don't intend for there to be any complacency,' Faafoi said.

'These alpha airbags are a priority because these are the airbags most at-risk of malfunction and causing injury, so we will be stepping up efforts in the remainder of this year to get to these vehicles.'

Faafoi acknowledged that the remaining cars will be the hardest to find and fix, whether it be from consumer complacency or a lack of awareness.

'There are always people who are harder to reach and this can be for a variety of reasons,' said Faafoi.

'I'd also acknowledge that we are asking people to take actions that aren't always convenient – taking your car in for replacement airbag. But it is my view that keeping families safe is a priority.'

While parts availability of non-alpha airbags has been a problem for used imported vehicles, the MIA says that this is now less of an issue.

'Parts availability for used imported vehicles is improving,' said Crawford.

'Distributors have put in a huge amount of effort to identify which used imported vehicles are caught and have ordered parts for these.'

The government is currently reviewing what actions should be taken in regards to owners who don't respond to the latest letter, with the possibility of withholding a WoF included as a potential last resort.

According to a spokesperson from the NZTA, the agency is considering the option of preventing affected vehicles from being able to get a Warrant of Fitness when the mandatory recall has been completed.

'I understand NZTA is considering the option,' said Faafoi. 'No decision has yet been made but I would expect if we get to that stage all reasonable steps would be taken to minimise the impact to vulnerable consumers.'

Faafoi said he has also asked officials, the industry and consumer groups to keep working on how they can reach people, with WoF inspectors being asked to check whether vehicles are under compulsory recall and to give their customers information if their cars are on the list.

'We will keep working on this because I don't want any New Zealanders at risk when we can take measures to avoid it,' he said.