The Department of Transport and Main Roads is sending notices to owners of about 3,000 vehicles with faulty Takata airbags notifying them their registration will be cancelled.
The Department said this followed several warnings about the need to replace the airbags which had been ignored.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey said if one of the faulty airbags was deployed following a crash, sharp metal fragments could fly out and hit vehicle occupants, potentially injuring or killing them.
“We have been working with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) since 2018 to get 600,000 vehicles with these faulty airbags off Queensland roads,” Mr Bailey said.
“The initial focus from manufacturers and the Department was on the highest risk ‘alpha’ airbag vehicles,” he said.
“Action against these vehicles was completed last year and a small number of registrations were cancelled.”
Mr Bailey said the Department was now taking action against the remaining Takata fleet, which was subject to the Federal Government’s compulsory recall.
“Vehicle owners who have so far failed to replace defective airbags have already been sent a courtesy letter and, if they do not have the airbag replaced, their registration will be cancelled next month,” he said.
“My message to those drivers is simple: You are not only putting your own life at risk, but you are also risking the lives of any passengers in your vehicle if you continue to drive with faulty airbags — that is why it is so important to have your airbag replaced.”
Mr Bailey said if the vehicle registration was cancelled, the remaining portion of registration fees would be refunded.
More information on the airbag safety recall can be accessed at this PS News link.
