Over 2,000 Australians have signed up to a campaign, Aussies for Airbag Justice, expressing their support for a class action to recover costs for financial loss experienced by many of the 2.5 million Australian motorists who own or lease cars fitted with defective Takata airbags.
Takata airbags have been linked to the deaths of at least 24 people worldwide, including one death last year in Sydney, and hundreds of injuries. A compulsory recall of all affected vehicles was ordered by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in February because car manufacturers were too slow to respond to this serious safety issue.
Not only have car owners and families had their safety compromised through the faulty airbags, they are also out of pocket through significant devaluation of their vehicles, time off work and alternate transport and childcare costs. The response from car manufacturers grossly underestimates the gravity of the safety risk of the faulty airbags and Australian motorists should have a way to recoup some of their financial losses.
Due to a global shortage of safe airbags, many drivers are only being offered a temporary fix, with the replacement containing the same dangerous chemical that is found in the defective airbags. Customers are still being encouraged to accept this temporary fix as a newer defective airbag is preferable to an older Takata airbag.
The Takata airbag class action is fully funded, signing up will cost affected owners and leasees nothing.
Australian car owners can
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