Consumer advocates CHOICE have uncovered a disturbing factor in the very slow replacement of millions of faulty airbags, in what has become a worldwide problem, and one that the ACCC is now investigating, too.

CHOICE’s investigation into the “largest automotive recall in Australian history” has found Toyota, Mazda, BMW, Lexus and Subaru have been “refitting vehicles with potentially faulty airbags and have failed to inform consumers of the ongoing risk of death or injury".

That’s incredibly worrying, with CHOICE spokesperson Tom Godfrey stating: “With 2.3 million vehicles in Australia requiring their potentially lethal Takata airbags to be replaced, it’s clear the car companies are under pressure to fulfil their obligations under Australian Consumer Law. However, refitting vehicles with the same dangerous airbags still leaves people driving ticking time-bombs.”

My own car, a Mazda 6, is within the recall period, and even though the car was purchased second-hand, I have received a letter from the dealer stating the airbags are being recalled.

I duly called the dealer, but they have no replacement parts yet, which I’ve read is a global problem thanks to Takata, the Japanese manufacturer, having reportedly gone bankrupt, which you’d imagine would cause problems with timely and quality replacements!

Here are some key findings before we continue with CHOICE’s eye-opening revelations:

• The Takata airbag recall in Australia is more than 21 times bigger than that of the VW 'Dieselgate' debacle.
• Only 31% of 2.3 million affected vehicles have had their potentially lethal airbags replaced as of April 2017.
• Toyota, Mazda, BMW and Subaru have admitted making like-for-like airbag replacements in Australia.
• More than 180 people have been injured and 18 people have been killed worldwide.
• Some Takata “Alpha” airbags can deploy defectively in up to 50% of cases. These Alpha inflators can be found in 12,300 Honda vehicles in Australia.

Separately to that, Choice advised that it “pressured the 14 manufacturers affected in Australia to reveal if they applied this temporary fix to the cars they have recalled. Many confirmed a percentage were treated with like-for-like replacements and will therefore have to be recalled again".

Godfrey said: “While estimates of how long the dodgy Takata airbags take to break down vary, it’s deeply concerning to think these bombs in a bag lie in wait in many popular cars poised to explode their deadly shrapnel into unsuspecting victims.

“Although Toyota, Mazda, BMW, Lexus and Subaru admitted to CHOICE they made identical replacements, perhaps more worrying are the other manufacturers who continue to refuse to share this information with the public.”

However, we are told that “Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi all have vehicles impacted by the recall but are remaining silent about any potential ongoing risk to the public".

Godfrey added: “We are also concerned by reports that consumers who respond to the recall and make contact with car companies are being told to wait in excess of six months before any form of remedy can be achieved.”

CHOICE explained how “police reports detail how these airbags violently explode, sending metal shards, shrapnel and/or foreign material into the cabin where the car's occupants sit captive. The shards have been known to puncture people's eyes, face, neck and chest".

If that doesn’t scare the bejeezus out of you, then what would? Clearly, even being a passenger in one of these cars with faulty airbags puts you in serious danger should you suffer the misfortune of being in an accident.

Godfrey continued: “This is yet another wake up call for governments about the flaws in our product safety system.

“It’s hard to understand how the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development could give their tick of approval to car companies who knowingly reinstall potentially lethal airbags and yet that is exactly what has happened.

“We need to end this product safety charade and make it a legal requirement for companies to ensure that the products they place in the market are safe. We believe the best way to achieve this is through the immediate introduction of a general safety provision coupled with strong penalties within the Australian Consumer Law.

“By introducing and enforcing a general safety provision, the regulator would be able to take swift and meaningful action against companies who knowingly put lives at risk,” Godfrey concluded.

CHOICE explained it is “calling on all car companies involved in the flawed recall to come clean and inform the public about their like-for-like airbag replacement programmes".

“The revelations come as federal, state and territory consumer affairs ministers are set to meet next month to discuss the changes to the Australian Consumer Law. Among the proposed changes are the need for a general safety provision and the ability for consumers to assert a right to a refund after experiencing multiple minor failures with a product.”

CHOICE has a Takata recall page here and a call for a general safety provision and a stronger consumer law here.

Meanwhile, the ACCC has opened its own investigation – a link will be provided here shortly.