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Recalls set Kiwi record

Posted on 20 May, 2015

Two distributors in New Zealand are recalling about 40,000 cars because of faulty airbags – part of the largest-ever call-back for new cars in this country.

Japan-based Takata, which supplies airbags to many major marques, is behind the call-back of 34 million units worldwide because of problems with systems it has supplied.

There have been no reports of Hondas in New Zealand failing to deploy their airbags, says national service manager Bryan Davis. However, it is the company’s “highest priority” to recall about 16,400 Civic, Jazz, Accord Euro and CR-V models.

The company is tracking down owners through registration and vehicle identification number details so arrangements can be made for replacement parts to be fitted. It also has a webpage – www.honda.co.nz/service/recalls/ – where owners can enter their cars’ details to see if they are part of the recall. It called back about 7,000 vehicles last year because of airbag faults.

Toyota and Nissan are among manufacturers that Takata supplies airbags to. Nissan is set to call around 10,300 New Zealand vehicles with details yet to be confirmed, according to reports.

Last week, Toyota NZ said it is recalling more than more than 26,000 Corollas, Picnics and Yarises made between 2001 and 2007, and another 3,122 Yarises and 2,760 RAV4s manufactured between 2003 and 2005.

Takata is going through its records to find out the models faulty airbags were fitted to – and it needs to manufacture the replacement parts.