Northern Advocate
  • Northern Advocate home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings

Locations

  • Far North
  • Kaitaia
  • Kaikohe
  • Bay of Islands
  • Whangārei
  • Kaipara
  • Mangawhai
  • Dargaville

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whangārei
  • Dargaville

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Northern Advocate

Explainer: Is your car one of the 50,000 affected in the recall?

NZ Herald
4 Apr, 2018 12:46 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Consumer Affairs Minister announces recall of over 50,000 vehicles fitted with defective airbags
Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi announcing the recall of over 50,000 vehicles fitted with defective airbags. ...
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
0:00
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • subtitles settings, opens subtitles settings dialog
    • subtitles off, selected

      This is a modal window.

      Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

      Text
      Text Background
      Caption Area Background
      Font Size
      Text Edge Style
      Font Family

      End of dialog window.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      Autoplay in
      3
      Disable Autoplay
      Cancel Video
      Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi announcing the recall of over 50,000 vehicles fitted with defective airbags.
      NOW PLAYING • Consumer Affairs Minister announces recall of over 50,000 vehicles fitted with defective airbags
      Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi announcing the recall of over 50,000 vehicles fitted with defective airbags. ...

      Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi today announced a compulsory recall of 50,000 vehicles.

      While a voluntary recall of the faulty Takata airbags had been in place since 2013, Faafoi said slow progress was leaving many New Zealanders in jeopardy and that it was necessary to take active steps.

      Consumer NZ's Dr Paul Smith has welcomed the move, saying that it ensures that New Zealanders are safe on the road.

      "Making the recall compulsory will provide clarity for consumers over whether their car is affected and reassure them that the riskiest airbags are being prioritised," Smith said.

      But what does this mean for New Zealanders affected by the recall and what steps are being taken to ensure the process runs smoothly?

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      A designated section on the NZTA website currently provides information for those impacted by the issue.

      How do you find out if your vehicle is affected?

      According to the site, new vehicle owners will be contacted directly through their dealership, which will arrange a free replacement of the airbag.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      All vehicles under active recall are currently listed on the website, and concerned car owners can search their car make and model at NZTA's Recalls site.

      What if my vehicle is a used import?

      The NZTA is currently working to identify any affected import vehicles. In the meantime, there's a list of affected vehicles on the Rightcar website. If your car is on the list, it's strongly recommended that you contact the official brand representative of your vehicle or the importer.

      How dangerous is my car?

      The short answer is that it's dangerous enough for the Government to make it a priority to have the issue repaired. There have been around 100 million vehicles supplied worldwide with affected Takata airbags with 19 reported fatalities and around 200 incidents where Takata airbags have not deployed correctly.

      However, Consumer NZ says the risk of failure is greatest if the car's in a hot and humid environment.

      "Recalls in Australia and the US have prioritised vehicles in areas of highest heat and humidity. We enjoy a temperate climate, so failure here is less likely, even for the oldest airbags," Consumer NZ said in a statement.

      How much will the repair cost me?

      The NZTA website says the repair will not cost the car owner anything - and that costs for both parts and labour should be picked up by the vehicle supplier.

      Does the recall affect my vehicle registration?

      The airbag recall does not render the vehicle unroadworthy or unregisterable. However, if the repairs aren't completed, the NZTA may prevent you from getting a Warrant of Fitness in future.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      What's the difference between the compulsory and voluntary recalls?

      Voluntary recalls are initiated by suppliers, while a compulsory recall is ordered by the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

      A compulsory recall places the onus on suppliers to ensure that the issue is rectified. While it doesn't compel consumers to bring their vehicles in for a repair, it does require suppliers to fulfil a number of active obligations to ensure that car owners are aware that their cars are affected.

      How long do suppliers have to resolve this issue?

      Manufacturers and importers have 18 months to close out repairs on affected vehicles. Failing to do so could result in a fine of up to $600,000.

      Save
        Share this article

      Latest from Northern Advocate

      Northern Advocate

      'Boxing saved my life': Kiwi champ set for historic showdown

      Northern Advocate

      Tasman 'preparing for the worst' with more heavy rain on the horizon

      Northern Advocate

      Is $4 an hour too much to pay for car parking in central Whangārei?


      Sponsored

      Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Recommended for you

      Trump not considering clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell
      World

      Trump not considering clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell

      Solar system: Warriors match to provide NRL first, powered by sun
      Sport

      Solar system: Warriors match to provide NRL first, powered by sun

      Why Wexford Stables had a record season and what comes next
      Racing

      Why Wexford Stables had a record season and what comes next

      Frosty morning outage: Power cut affects thousands in Porirua
      Wellington

      Frosty morning outage: Power cut affects thousands in Porirua

      Legendary British jazz singer Cleo Laine dies at 97
      Entertainment

      Legendary British jazz singer Cleo Laine dies at 97

      Large fire breaks out at former Auckland uni campus
      New Zealand

      Large fire breaks out at former Auckland uni campus



      Latest from Northern Advocate

      'Boxing saved my life': Kiwi champ set for historic showdown
      Northern Advocate

      'Boxing saved my life': Kiwi champ set for historic showdown

      Lani Daniels will fight Claressa Shields in Detroit on July 27 (NZT).

      26 Jul 12:00 AM
      Tasman 'preparing for the worst' with more heavy rain on the horizon
      Northern Advocate

      Tasman 'preparing for the worst' with more heavy rain on the horizon

      25 Jul 06:00 PM
      Is $4 an hour too much to pay for car parking in central Whangārei?
      Northern Advocate

      Is $4 an hour too much to pay for car parking in central Whangārei?

      25 Jul 05:00 PM


      Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
      Sponsored

      Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

      06 Jul 09:47 PM

      NZ Herald
      • About NZ Herald
      • Meet the journalists
      • Newsletters
      • Classifieds
      • Help & support
      • Contact us
      • House rules
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of use
      • Competition terms & conditions
      • Our use of AI
      Subscriber Services
      • The Northern Advocate e-edition
      • Manage your print subscription
      • Manage your digital subscription
      • Subscribe to Herald Premium
      • Subscribe to the Northern Advocate
      • Gift a subscription
      • Subscriber FAQs
      • Subscription terms & conditions
      • Promotions and subscriber benefits
      NZME Network
      • The Northern Advocate
      • The New Zealand Herald
      • The Northland Age
      • Waikato Herald
      • Bay of Plenty Times
      • Rotorua Daily Post
      • Hawke's Bay Today
      • Whanganui Chronicle
      • Viva
      • NZ Listener
      • Newstalk ZB
      • BusinessDesk
      • OneRoof
      • Driven Car Guide
      • iHeart Radio
      • Restaurant Hub
      NZME
      • About NZME
      • NZME careers
      • Advertise with NZME
      • Digital self-service advertising
      • Book your classified ad
      • Photo sales
      • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
      All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
      Subscribe now

      All Access Weekly

      From $2 per week
      Pay just
      $15.75
      $2
      per week ongoing
      Subscribe now
      BEST VALUE

      All Access Annual

      Pay just
      $449
      $49
      per year ongoing
      Subscribe now
      Learn more
      30
      TOP
      search by queryly Advanced Search