A compulsory recall order has been issued for Alpha Type Takata airbags under the Fair Trading Act 1986.

Alpha airbag inflators are a subset of inflators in the wider global Takata airbag inflator recall. Alpha type airbags may fail in a crash and explode, sending fragments into occupants in the vehicle, causing serious injury and even death.

While there haven’t been any serious injuries or death in New Zealand to date, there have been overseas incidents which have caused New Zealand authorities to invoke a compulsory recall.

If your car has been affected by the compulsory recall, your car supplier will contact you. This may already have happened. They will arrange a free replacement of the airbag when it initiates recall action for your vehicle. Free means you won’t have to pay for replacement parts or labour.

Check if your car is affected: Rightcar.govt.nz(external link)

You will need to know your licence plate or your vehicle identification number (‘VIN’) which is a unique 17 character serial number that can be found on your vehicle or in documentation (such as registration documentation).

If your vehicle is not currently under active recall, it is important to check again in the future as recall action may later be initiated for your car.

For more information see Takata recalls on the New Zealand Transport Agency website(external link) .