PSA: Drivers of imported cars - check if your car is on the airbag recall list.

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › PSA: Drivers of imported cars - check if your car is on the airbag recall list.

Hatch

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#223289 22-Sep-2017 13:13

http://www.rightcar.govt.nz/airbagrecall

Just checked and found that our car (a Nissan) is caught by the recall.

Never received a letter from Nissan or our dealer.

Talked to a Nissan dealer who really didn't know how to deal with recalls for a Jap import.

They have sent an email to Nissan NZ to confirm next steps.

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#1870936 22-Sep-2017 13:22

My NZ new Lancer is on the list but what is supposed to happen? Are these bags ever going to be replaced, given that Takata is broke?

Hatch

797 posts

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#1870939 22-Sep-2017 13:39

linw:

My NZ new Lancer is on the list but what is supposed to happen? Are these bags ever going to be replaced, given that Takata is broke?

Yes, call your dealer to confirm your car is affected and arrange for replacement. I believe it was a voluntary bankruptcy and the recall may have been part of the $1B fines deal.

alasta

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#1871300 23-Sep-2017 07:29

Hatch:

http://www.rightcar.govt.nz/airbagrecall

Just checked and found that our car (a Nissan) is caught by the recall.

Never received a letter from Nissan or our dealer.

Talked to a Nissan dealer who really didn't know how to deal with recalls for a Jap import.

They have sent an email to Nissan NZ to confirm next steps.

I would have thought that lack of local support would be the price you would pay for privately importing a vehicle.

I am curious to know how you go with this because I am concerned about my friend's car which she bought many years ago from a cowboy importer and she can't afford to pay for the repair herself so it's a bit of a ticking time bomb.

NzBeagle

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#1871307 23-Sep-2017 07:55

Toyota sent me a letter for a car they didn't import, wasn't even a model released here. They all have access to the information, regardless of NZ new vs imported. I rarely drive the car, but I'll get it into my local Toyota for replacement.

kingjj

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#1871309 23-Sep-2017 08:13

NzBeagle: Toyota sent me a letter for a car they didn't import, wasn't even a model released here. They all have access to the information, regardless of NZ new vs imported. I rarely drive the car, but I'll get it into my local Toyota for replacement.

I got sent a letter 6 months ago by Toyota NZ for a recall to fix a transmission issue on an imported model not sold here new. IT was at the dealer on Wednesday and now I read about this... would have been nice if they had mentioned it at the time. Guess we wait for the letter from Toyota NZ and go through the 6 month wait again for a booking. My wife's Honda's also on the list, nothing heard as yet either.

Hatch

797 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1871317 23-Sep-2017 09:13

alasta:

I would have thought that lack of local support would be the price you would pay for privately importing a vehicle.

I am curious to know how you go with this because I am concerned about my friend's car which she bought many years ago from a cowboy importer and she can't afford to pay for the repair herself so it's a bit of a ticking time bomb.

The only way for this to go is for the car companies to do their utmost to ensure that all affected vehicles are repaired. This is a worldwide recall for an issue that has caused death and serious injuries to car owners.

I'm not sure what type of support a NZ new car will enjoy outside of its warranty period, but in terms of this type of issue there is no distinction between NZ new or imported. The fault is entirely with the manufacturers.

Gilco2

1556 posts

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#1871374 23-Sep-2017 09:43

I had a letter from Toyota New Zealand in early 2015 for my Toyota Spacio airbag recall saying they will send registered letter when parts arrived. 2 years later still waiting

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NzBeagle

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#1871377 23-Sep-2017 09:49

Gilco2:
I had a letter from Toyota New Zealand in early 2015 for my Toyota Spacio airbag recall saying they will send registered letter when parts arrived. 2 years later still waiting

This is what happened to me also. Different model though, maybe why mine came up first?

alasta

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#1871934 24-Sep-2017 12:39

Hatch:

alasta:

I would have thought that lack of local support would be the price you would pay for privately importing a vehicle.

I am curious to know how you go with this because I am concerned about my friend's car which she bought many years ago from a cowboy importer and she can't afford to pay for the repair herself so it's a bit of a ticking time bomb.

The only way for this to go is for the car companies to do their utmost to ensure that all affected vehicles are repaired. This is a worldwide recall for an issue that has caused death and serious injuries to car owners.

I'm not sure what type of support a NZ new car will enjoy outside of its warranty period, but in terms of this type of issue there is no distinction between NZ new or imported. The fault is entirely with the manufacturers.

Yes, but the manufacturers are not based in NZ.

It's interesting that other posters are getting support from the NZ distributors so I assume those distributors are, in turn, getting support from head office in Japan to fix vehicles that they didn't import themselves.

Batman

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#1871936 24-Sep-2017 12:43

Hatch:

http://www.rightcar.govt.nz/airbagrecall

Just checked and found that our car (a Nissan) is caught by the recall.

Never received a letter from Nissan or our dealer.

Talked to a Nissan dealer who really didn't know how to deal with recalls for a Jap import.

They have sent an email to Nissan NZ to confirm next steps.

Hi thanks so much, I registered with all the NZ distributors and they said none of my cars are recalled and I was a bit unsure. But this list confirms it. I'm still not sure though ...

Batman

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#1871938 24-Sep-2017 12:44

linw:

My NZ new Lancer is on the list but what is supposed to happen? Are these bags ever going to be replaced, given that Takata is broke?

They should be replaced. Is Takata broke?

kingdragonfly

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#1875132 30-Sep-2017 15:51

Important: Some overseas dealers are not reporting recalls, because they get a reduced rate from the manufacturer, so not inclined to tell you.

Not sure if there's any reports of NZ dealers doing the same sleazy thing.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2017/06/26/takata-air-bag-recall-lista/427828001/

"Takata bankruptcy: Is your car affected by air bag recall?"

"Vehicles affected by Japanese auto supplier Takata's air bag recall will continue to receive repairs despite the company's bankruptcy filing Sunday.

Dealers will notify owners when they are eligible for free repairs in the largest recall in U.S. history.

Repairs are expected to take through the end of the decade. The oldest cars in the most humid conditions are generally eligible to be repaired first, since the ammonium nitrate propellant in their air bag inflators is most likely to degrade"

These manufacturers have at least one model that are affected by the airbag recall:
Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler trucks and vans, Dodge/Ram, Ferrari, Fisker, Ford, GMC, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Scion, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen.

Bung

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#1875188 30-Sep-2017 17:38

"Thousands of Kiwi motorists facing Takata airbag 'time bomb' - but doing nothing"
https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/97119815/thousands-of-kiwi-motorists-facing-takata-airbag-time-bomb--but-doing-nothing

Less than 50% of owners advised that replacement airbag units have arrived for their car are taking their vehicles in for repair.

robjg63

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#1875208 30-Sep-2017 18:51

Batman:
linw:

My NZ new Lancer is on the list but what is supposed to happen? Are these bags ever going to be replaced, given that Takata is broke?

They should be replaced. Is Takata broke?

Of course they are. There are about 42,000,000 cars affected in the USA alone, 2,000,000 in Australia.
Takata would effectively need to reproduce years worth of airbags. Don't think many companies could afford that without going bust.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Batman

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#1875273 30-Sep-2017 20:27

hmm if they are broke how are they then making airbags for the recall?

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