Mercedes-Benz is slammed for ignoring a warning about deadly Takata airbags and refusing to announce a recall
- Luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz slammed for ignoring recall warning
- Mercedes-Benz has acknowledged the failings because of lack of spare parts
- The enforceable undertaking has been issued to recall affected C and E classes
- Believed to be 29 deaths and 320 injuries globally because of the faulty airbags
Mercedes-Benz has been slammed for ignoring warnings to recall cars fitted with deadly airbags.
More than 20,000 Australian drivers were told to stop driving their car immediately in 2018 because of the faulty Takata airbag – which can potentially fire shrapnel when deployed.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said Mercedes-Benz Australia failed to recall its C and E-Class vehicles despite being required to between June and November of that year.
Pictured: A Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicle in 2011. The luxury car manufacturer has been criticised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for not recalling cars fitted with potentially deadly airbags
A court-enforceable undertaking has now been issued to the car manufacturer by the ACCC to recall the affected models.
‘Mercedes-Benz failed to comply with its obligations to initiate recalls under the Takata compulsory recall, potentially putting the lives of drivers and passengers at risk, and failed to inform anyone of the delay,’ ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said.
The affected cars are certain C and E class cars older than six years in Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia and New South Wales.
Those older than nine years old in other parts of Australia are also included in the compulsory recall.
Mercedes-Benz has acknowledged the failings, caused by the availability of spare parts, the ACCC said in a statement.
The manufacturer will also provide a hire car or alternative transport if the airbag is not replaced within two weeks of the customer’s request.
The faulty Takata airbag (pictured) can potentially fire shrapnel at the driver when deployed and has led to the largest recall in automotive history
Other cars affected by the faulty airbags include certain Honda, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, Mazda and Lexus models built between 2001 and 2004.
It is believed there have been 29 deaths and more than 320 injuries worldwide from faulty Takata alpha airbags.
In the US alone, more than 40 million cars were affected and the global recall is the largest in automotive history.
The ACCC’s undertaking includes further details of the cars recalled.