Learn more about the Takata NADI 5-AT airbag recall.
On this page
Defects and hazards
What are the defects?
The faulty airbags may allow moisture to enter the unit and degrade the airbag propellant due to poorly attached and inadequate sealing tape. If this occurs, the properties of the propellant may be changed so that it does not react as intended during an accident, causing the airbag to misfire. The airbag propellant is known as a non-azide driver inflator (NADI) that use 5-aminotetrazole (5-AT) propellant, more commonly known as NADI 5-AT.
What are the hazards?
If a vehicle with an affected airbag is involved in a collision, the airbag may misfire, causing sharp metal fragments to propel out of the airbag at high speed, resulting in serious injuries or death to vehicle occupants.
There is also a risk that the airbag may under-inflate in a collision and may not protect the driver as intended.
Affected vehicles
Are affected vehicles being recalled?
About 85,000 Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota vehicles manufactured between 1996 and 2001 may be fitted with these dangerous Takata airbags. While it is expected that many of these vehicles will no longer be in use, a substantial number of affected vehicles may still be on our roads.
What vehicles are affected?
Certain models of Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota vehicles manufactured between 1996 and 2001 may be affected. See our list of affected vehicles for make, model and year details. You should continue to check our website for any updates, or subscribe to receive alerts on vehicle recalls to stay across the latest information.
How can I check if my car is affected?
You can check if your car is affected by visiting:
- your vehicle manufacturer’s website and entering your VIN number in the recall search tool or by contacting them for more information
- the list of affected vehicles on our website, which includes details on the makes, models and model years.
I am a grey importer or private importer of vehicles under concessional pathways — how do I check whether any vehicles I have imported and supplied are affected by a recall in overseas markets?
Suppliers of vehicles affected by NADI airbag inflators can include individual private importers and Registered Automotive Workshops. If you supply a vehicle to the Australian market under a concessional pathway you have obligations under Australian law to take recall action in accordance with the Department’s Recalls Policy.
The department has reviewed records of vehicles imported under concessional pathways to identify any vehicles that may be affected by a NADI 5-AT airbag inflator. Australian distributors have decided to rectify these vehicles on behalf of concessional importers if presented to a local dealership. This is an exceptional circumstance due to the complex and technical nature of an airbag replacement and disposal.
If you are unsure of your obligations or whether you have supplied affected vehicles, please contact us for further information at: recalls@infrastructure.gov.au
I own a grey import or private import vehicle — how do I check whether it contains a NADI 5-AT airbag?
Vehicles imported through concessional pathways, also referred to as grey imports or private imports, were not supplied to the Australian market by the original manufacturers or their Australian distributors. Due to the complex and technical nature of an airbag replacement Australian distributors with links to the original manufacturers are taking extraordinary action to rectify these vehicles in the interests of public safety.
See our list of recalls for vehicles imported under concessional pathways.
If your vehicle is affected
Should I still drive my car?
Drivers should be aware of the serious safety risk if they have an affected car. Consumers should seriously consider the need to drive their vehicle and consider other transport options if possible.
What should I do if my car is affected?
If you identify that you have an affected vehicle, you should contact your vehicle manufacturer’s head office (contact details can be found at Recall of Takata NADI 5-AT airbags) and arrange a free vehicle inspection to confirm if your vehicle is fitted with a NADI 5-AT airbag.
My airbags were replaced as part of the compulsory Takata airbag recall, could I still be affected?
Yes, your vehicle could still be affected. NADI 5-AT inflators are used in front driver’s side airbags only. Some vehicles may have different types of driver and passenger airbag inflators installed. For example, your vehicle may have had a passenger airbag with a phase-stabilised ammonium nitrate (PSAN) inflator and a driver’s airbag with a NADI 5-AT inflator. If your PSAN passenger airbag inflator was replaced, you may still have a NADI 5-AT inflator in your driver’s side airbag.
You should contact your vehicle manufacturer directly to provide your vehicle information and current contact details, and arrange an inspection to see if an affected airbag is fitted in your vehicle.
My driver’s side airbag was replaced under the compulsory Takata airbag recall, could it have been replaced with a NADI 5-AT airbag?
NADI 5-AT airbag inflators were manufactured between May 1995 and August 1999 and were fitted in vehicles manufactured between 1996 and 2001.
It’s very unlikely that your driver’s side airbag replaced under the compulsory Takata airbag recall was replaced with a Takata NADI 5-AT airbag due to the age of these airbags.
You should still contact your vehicle manufacturer directly to provide your vehicle information and current contact details, and to arrange an inspection to see if a NADI 5-AT airbag is fitted.
Can’t I just disable the airbag?
No, you should not disconnect, disable or remove the airbag.
Airbags are an important safety feature for you and your passengers.
If the airbag is disconnected, the vehicle may be considered by road safety authorities as not roadworthy, compromising eligibility for registration or insurance.
The recall
When did the department first become aware of this issue?
Safety authorities in Australia, Japan and the United States identified a pattern of abnormal airbag deployments involving BMW vehicles.
In September 2019, a NADI 5-AT airbag that deployed in a BMW vehicle was identified as the suspected cause of a fatal injury, leading to the department assisted by the ACCC, engaging with BMW to negotiate an urgent recall.
Immediately following notification of the BMW recall in early November 2019, we contacted all vehicle manufacturers to determine which other vehicles in Australia may be affected and started recall negotiations.
Why did it take so long for some vehicle manufacturers to issue a recall notice?
Manufacturers say their delay in beginning a recall relates to various issues, including understanding the cause of the issue, the identification of vehicle identification numbers and vehicles containing this type of airbag due to their age, and the lack of availability of inflators to replace them.
How many deaths and injuries are associated with these airbags in Australia?
We are aware of 4 suspected misdeployments of these inflators in Australia, including 2 deaths and 2 serious injuries.
Is the defect in these airbags only in old Takata airbags?
Based on current information from manufacturers it is understood that these inflators were installed in vehicles up until 2001. NADI 5-AT inflators with this defect were manufactured between May 1995 and August 1999.
What is the difference between a voluntary and compulsory recall?
A voluntary recall is action taken by vehicle and component suppliers to fix a potential safety or non-compliance issue with a road vehicle or component.
A compulsory recall is when the responsible Commonwealth Minister issues a compulsory recall notice to suppliers if it appears that they have not taken satisfactory action to either:
- prevent injury, or
- fix a non-compliance issue with applicable standards.
How is this different to the compulsory Takata airbag recall?
The compulsory Takata PSAN recall is different to the voluntary Takata NADI 5-AT recall as the airbags affected contain different chemical components. In addition, the compulsory Takata PSAN recall is administered by the ACCC whereas the voluntary Takata NADI 5-AT recall is administered by the department.
For more information, on the compulsory Takata PSAN recall, please visit the ACCC’s Product Safety webpage: compulsory Takata airbag recall