Technical bulletins

43 Takata airbag recall

From 1 November 2018 takata non-alpha air bags subject to a recall will be flagged at the border. As with the alpha airbags, if vehicles do show ‘Open Airbag Recall’, then these vehicles are to be rejected for entry certification until such time as irrefutable evidence is provided from the manufacturer showing that the affected airbags have been replaced.

Note: sometimes the New Zealand distributor will not have been advised of the recall by the manufacturer as the vehicle was not first registered in New Zealand. Therefore, confirmation must be obtained from the the manufacturer or manufacturers representative in the country of origin based in the country of export or the manufacturers global records. Receipts from the New Zealand distributor or franchised dealer confirming the work has been completed is an acceptable alternative.

The recently announced compulsory ‘Takata alpha airbag inflator recall order 2018’ becomes effective from 31 May 2018. From the effective date Takata alpha airbag inflators become a prohibited import as well as being prohibited for sale in trade.

The purpose of this technical bulletin is to outline the entry inspection process to identify vehicles subject to the mandatory Takata Alpha type airbag recall and how to deal with them.

Process

From 31 May 2018 entry certifiers will be required to check if vehicles they are inspecting are damage flagged with notes recorded stating ‘Open Airbag Recall’. Vehicles that are flagged only for ‘Open Airbag Recall’ and have no other damage recorded do not require repair certification.

If they do show ‘Open Airbag Recall’, then these vehicles are to be rejected for entry certification until such time as irrefutable evidence is provided from the manufacturer showing that the affected airbags have been replaced. If that evidence is provided, then the entry certifier can begin the rest of the entry certification compliance process as per usual procedures.

Note. Some vehicles may turn up for entry certification before 31 May 2018 that have already been damage flagged for ‘Open Airbag Recall’ by a Border Inspection Organisation. These vehicles can have the damage flag removed providing the airbag was the only fault, however the customers must be advised that unless the recall is remedied the vehicle cannot be offered for sale in trade after 31 May 2018.

For vehicles border checked prior to 21 May 2018 these notes will not have been added to affected vehicles. A check will have to be made to determine whether or not the vehicle is fitted with an effected airbag. This check can be done using the following websites:

If vehicles are listed on these websites, and no conclusive evidence from the manufacturer is available to show the recall has been conducted, then a damage flag and notes must be recorded stating ‘Open Airbag Recall’.

For vehicles imported from countries other than those listed above, it is up to the importer to show that they are not subject to the recall by providing evidence from the governing authority of the country in question, or alternatively from the manufacturer's New Zealand representative.

Vehicle makes to check

Other than for left-hand drive vehicles, you only need to check vehicles from the following manufacturers (as listed on the www.vehiclerecallsafety.nzta.govt.nz/takata/takataalpha):

  • BMW
  • Daihatsu
  • Honda
  • Isuzu
  • Lexus
  • Mazda
  • Mitsubishi
  • Nissan
  • Subaru
  • Toyota.

Vehicles from other manufacturers will not have Takata Alpha type airbags fitted, or be Japanese vehicles of concern, so are not subject to the recall.

For left-hand drive vehicles it is up to the importer to supply conclusive evidence that there is no recall for the vehicle and/or that the airbag has been replaced.

Conclusive evidence

Conclusive evidence means documentation stating the Takata Alpha airbag recall has been rectified for the vehicle in question - from any source approved by the Transport Agency, including:

  • the manufacturer
  • the local manufacturer's agent (official brand importer)
  • Shaken test documentation (see below).
Recall completion certificate

A Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) process document like the image below can be used to provide evidence of a Shaken test (Japanese WoF). A vehicle can only pass a Shaken test if it has had its Takata Aplha airbags replaced.

If a completed recall certificate for the vehicle in question is presented with a dealers stamp on it, it can be accepted as evidence that the vehicle in question can pass a Shaken test and therefore has had its airbags replaced. It can be accepted as proof that a vehicle has been rectified at a dealership level but might not yet have come off their website.

MLIT evidence

Example of recall completion certificate (without dealer stamp).

Reporting

Please note the Transport Agency require each KSDP to report weekly, the number and the details of vehicles presented that week with damage flag notes stating ‘Open Airbag Recall’ noting which had been rectified (and went through certification) and which were sent away.  These reports can be sent to vehicles@nzta.govt.nz.

Process Summary

For vehicle arriving at entry certification on or after 31 May 2018 the following table applies.

Vehicles border checked before 21 May 2018

Vehicles border checked on or after 21 May 2018

Check the websites listed above for the vehicle make, model and year

  • If the vehicle is listed and no conclusive evidence from the manufacturer is   available to show the recall has been remedied, then damage flag the vehicle   and add notes stating ‘Open Airbag Recall’. Do not entry certify the   vehicle.
  • If   the vehicle is listed, but conclusive evidence from the manufacturer is   available to show the recall has been remedied, then the entry certifier can   begin the entry certification compliance process as per usual procedures
  • If the vehicle is not listed, then the entry certifier can begin the entry   certification compliance process as per usual procedures

If the vehicle is damage flagged check vehicle notes for ‘Open airbag recall’

  • If the vehicle has a damage flag and notes stating ‘Open airbag recall’ and no conclusive evidence from the manufacturer to show the recall has been remedied. Do not entry certify the vehicle.
  • If the vehicle has a damage flag and notes stating ‘Open airbag recall’ and there is conclusive evidence from the manufacturer is available to show the recall has been remedied, then the entry certifier can begin the entry   certification compliance process as per usual procedures

For vehicle arriving at entry certification before 31 May 2018 that have already been damage flagged for ‘Open Airbag Recall’ by a Border Inspection Organisation. These vehicles can have the damage flag removed providing the airbag was the only fault. However, the customers must be advised that unless the recall is remedied the vehicle cannot be offered for sale in trade on or after 31 May 2018.

Page updated 25 May 2021 (see details)

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