More than 50,000 vehicles with faulty alpha-type Takata airbags are being recalled by the Government.
And that could be followed by another 257,000 vehicles, consumer affair minister Kris Faafoi says.
The plan comes after Australia’s move to recall more than two million vehicles with the problem.
Manufacturers and importers will have 18 months to close out repairs on affected vehicles.
The Motor Industry Association is welcoming the move.
“The Takata airbag recall is unprecedented in scale. It is a massively large and complex logistical issue affecting new and used vehicles with two different types of Takata airbags,” MIA chief executive David Crawford says.
“The alpha type airbag inflator fitted to vehicles between 2001 and 2006 is more at risk of failure if activated than other types of Takata airbag inflators. Completion of the recall will require the cooperation of government and industry to undertake and the MIA welcomes the Government’s decision to make the alpha type airbag recall mandatory.”
An MIA stocktake of affected vehicles in New Zealand during March revealed that there are about 11,280 New Zealand new vehicles with the alpha type inflator of which 6485 have had the inflator replaced.
However, of the 68,116 used vehicles with the alpha type inflator only 22,494 vehicles had had the inflator replaced.
Crawford says the problem is exacerbated by the importation of used vehicles from countries where the recall is still open.
“It is then left up to New Zealand distributors to try and identify these vehicles and endeavour to manage a recall.”
However, the importer of the vehicle rather than the New Zealand distributor is legally obliged to replace the part.
“MIA welcomes the Government’s decision to prevent any vehicle with an open recall from passing compliance and entry into the New Zealand fleet.”
Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) chief executive David Vinsen says the Government’s decision is a positive one.
“We welcome clear direction from the Government on this issue. For some months, we have been working with the MIA and new vehicle distributors to deal with the challenge of replacing airbags in vehicles already in New Zealand’s fleet. Today’s action will support the deployment of measures to bring vehicles in service up to the required safety standards.
“We thank the MIA and New Zealand’s new vehicle distributors for their assistance in dealing with the recall so far, and will continue working with them to ensure all vehicles in the New Zealand market meet the appropriate safety criteria.”
Faafoi says intensive monitoring is being put in place for a further 257,000 vehicles also requiring repairs to replace non-alpha Takata airbags
“New Zealanders can be assured that this Government is committed to ensuring that these unsafe airbags are removed and replaced as quickly as possible,” says Faafoi.
“From today, we now have an agreed timeframe for replacements of Alpha-type airbags, and, after a 40 working day grace period for vehicles already in transit, no affected new or used vehicles will be able to enter into New Zealand.
“Further, because I am not satisfied that enough progress has been made on other non-Alpha Takata airbag recalls, I have set up a monitoring group that will report monthly on this. If enough progress isn’t made, I will enact a compulsory recall across the board because I am not willing to compromise on the safety of New Zealanders.”
