Insurers could deny coverage for killer Takata airbags: report

A product comparison site has claimed some car insurers will deny coverage to recalled vehicles fitted with deadly Takata airbags after an accident if the owner can’t prove they’ve taken steps to have them replaced.

The research, delivered by comparison site Mozo.com.au, claims another 29 insurers will only provide post-incident coverage if they find the airbags weren’t the initial cause of the accident. The research was conducted by Mozo’s anaylsts, via each company’s Product Disclosure Statement and through select "mystery shopper" phone calls. 

“If you’re one of the 912,000 motorists still battling the biggest recall in Australian automotive history, it’s important to know where you stand when it comes time to claim on your car insurance,” says Mozo.com.au spokesperson Tom Godfrey.

But the Insurance Council of Australia, which represents the vast majority of the automotive insurance industry, has today rubbished the report, telling CarsGuide that Mozo's findings are incorrect, and that under no circumstances would automotive insurance be voided due to a Takata airbag, whether the owners had attempted to replace them or not. 

“Insurers do not deny coverage, nor fail to pay claims, due to the non-replacement of an airbag, because failure to replace an airbag does not increase the risk of an accident taking place,” says the Council’s GM of communications, Campbell Fuller. 

The news follows a recent change to the NSW Government’s Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulations, reported on CarsGuide last week, which now allows for the suspension of registration for vehicles fitted with the Alpha-type Takata airbags, meaning drivers can’t renew their rego until they take steps to replace the potential deadly airbags.

Every state of territory in Australia has already made similar changes, with the exception of Victoria, though VicRoads told CarsGuide it was considering similar steps.

Last year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched a massive and mandatory recall for the then 1.3 million vehicles fitted with Alpha- and Beta-type Takata airbags that were yet to be voluntarily recalled. They join the 2.7 million vehicles recalled since 2009.

The ACCC reported that one death and one serious injury had already occurred in Australia as a result of the airbags, and said 24 deaths and 300 injuries had been reported worldwide.

Vehicle owners looking for more information on the compulsory recall can text the word “Takata” to 0487 AIRBAG (0487 247 224) or visit the www.IsMyAirbagSafe.com.au website.

Have you had your Takata airbags replaced? Tell us in the comments below.