It’s been more than 10 years now since the Takata airbag issue erupted, and the fact that we’re still reporting on it, despite the company having gone bankrupt eight years ago because of it, is a grim reminder of its sheer scale.
Airbags inflate with great speed and force using propellants, and Takata was found to have used an ammonium nitrate compound without a drying agent as the propellant for its airbag inflators. The compound’s volatility can cause the inflator to explode, potentially ejecting shrapnel into the cabin and causing serious injury or even death to vehicle occupants.
It took a series of injuries and deaths worldwide (including the tragic loss of a pregnant Malaysian woman’s life in 2014) to spark off the biggest recall in automotive history, involving at least two dozen carmakers, nearly 200 models and millions of vehicle units.
Needless to say, this highly safety-critical issue should not be taken lightly in the slightest, because the last thing you want is for something that’s designed to save your life to become a threat to it instead. Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia is fully aware of this and has been actively running the nationwide Takata airbag safety recall campaign for several years, but there are still 19,400 owners in Malaysia who have yet to replace their airbags.
If you own any of the below models in Malaysia, enter your vehicle identification number (VIN) into the online Service Action checker. If your vehicle is affected, contact your preferred authorised service centre (see all locations here) as soon as possible for an inspection and airbag replacement, free of charge and hassle.
- Beetle – 2012-2019
- EOS – 2010-2013
- Golf Mk6 – 2011-2013
- Passat – 2011-2015
- Passat CC – 2010-2012
- CC – 2012-2015
- Polo Sedan/Vento – 2013
- Polo Hatchback – 2010-2013
- Sharan – 2012-2013 and 2015
If you’re not an owner but know someone who owns any of these models, do help pass the word – you could save his or her life.
