Newest Air Bag Recall

[The_Hawk]

From what I understand any modifications to a vehicle are supposed to be certified by the person selling (and potentially installing) the part. Sometimes sellers "get around" these rules by saying "for offroad use only". I've seen this on things like superbright spot lights/driving lights etc.

Some things are engineered as 'compliant' out of the box, like lots of aftermarket rims. In this case, they are a particular size and load rated to whatever spec but it's up to you (or the person selling and installing them for you) to ensure are appropriate for your vehicle. Clearly, this is a common one that gets maybe a little bit ignored by many.

Dealers will fit plenty of options, but again it's up to them to ensure they are compliant with whatever rules they are supposed to by. Sometimes this might mean that the extra accessories are covered for a different period to the rest of the car because of an extended factory warranty on the car but a lesser warranty on the accessories.

Again based on my understanding your 'warranty' is technically with the person who sold you the car, but we have this term of 'factory-backed warranty' meaning the manufacturer will help out the dealer network for warranty work.


After all that, the question of recall on an aftermarket purchase of a steering wheel with airbag. My interpretation would be that the requirement would be on the seller to cover the replacement. If you purchased it from VW they should come to the party without question regardless of what vehicle you installed it in, the only question might be a question of labour if they didn't install it.

If on the other hand you've pulled it out of a written off vehicle or some other source it gets pretty grey. It's sort of up to their good will of VW since they didn't supply it to you... I can't image this scenario would represent a large percentage of their airbags... so maybe? Given the way VW work they usually need a VIN before they can refill the wiper fluid I'm guessing it's likely to fall into the "computer says no" bucket.

If it was me I'd probably start by ringing around the dealer network to see if anyone is willing/able to do it make it work. Failing that I'd hit up the customer service team and ask for their position (and if they refused I'd ask for their advice/direction on who should be replacing it).

[theresanothersteve]

No your absolutely wrong.
Walk into any dealer, vw, Holden, Isuzu, and ask them to put the up-spec wheels from the limited edition or top model on your base model. They will all do it . So all those cars running around on different alloys are not compliant according to you?
Further, way back in the old days (94-2000), not all cars had Air con . So if that is fitted at the dealership , again according to you it’s not compliant?
If you fit a bullbar tow bar and snorkel ,at the dealer, it’s not compliant? Those all change the impact areas to set off the airbags. There also fitted by their thousand by dealers everywhere.

When you walk into a dealer they are factory appointed technicians. Bullbars are supposed to be certified by the manufacturer. Once fitted the vehicle manufacturer can wipe their hands of any changes to compliance and pass the buck to the bullbar manufacturer (not that they will, they'll just refuse responsibility and it's up to the owner to chase up who's to blame). Wheels are different, I believe the manufacturer certifies all the wheel options as such. If, however, you buy a non-genuine you're not compliant according to the manufacturer and rely on the wheel maker.


The parts you cite are considered accessories, unlike steering wheels. Can you find an options list that allows the dealer to add a different steering wheel (will be called dealer fitted accessory or something similar).


I don't know why we're going down the path about arguing if someone retrofits they are still compliant with the ADRs. I would like to think they are, because it's common sense and passes the pub test. But it's not. Unfortunately I work in an area where compliance is a god to be worshipped and I know common sense goes out the door.


The guidelines to the ADR state:
Replacement steering wheels must not affect compliance with ADR 10 (after 1970) and ADR 69(after June 1995). Unless a steering wheel is marked, or has accompanying information, as having been tested to the appropriate ADR, it must not be used as a replacement. In addition,for vehicles required to comply with ADR 69, the steering wheel assembly must be identical to one fitted as an option to the same model by the vehicle manufacturer, or alternatively, a steering wheel that has been certified by the replacement wheel manufacturer as a complying wheel for the specific make and model may be used.


So, although you can use a wheel that has been fitted to the same model it still needs documentation that shows it has been tested to the ADRs. That's what compliance is about.

[Ozsko]

No your absolutely wrong.
Walk into any dealer, vw, Holden, Isuzu, and ask them to put the up-spec wheels from the limited edition or top model on your base model. They will all do it . So all those cars running around on different alloys are not compliant according to you?
Further, way back in the old days (94-2000), not all cars had Air con . So if that is fitted at the dealership , again according to you it’s not compliant?
If you fit a bullbar tow bar and snorkel ,at the dealer, it’s not compliant? Those all change the impact areas to set off the airbags. There also fitted by their thousand by dealers everywhere.

Have you rung VW and asked your question instead of berating people here and insisting you are right and everyone else is wrong? I guess the answer is no but correct me if I am wrong and let us into what VW said. No one here has the answer you want to hear because no one knows so why insist on answers that can't be given. Compliance is black and white, either it came with the wheel or it didn't, simple.

[Umai Naa!!]

I don't know why the discussion de-railed to include dealer-fitted accessories, which may or may not be ADR-approved. It's al beside the point.

Lets just stick to the topic at hand, and the facts relating to it, of which at this point aren't very many.

For anyone who is concerned about whether their vehicle is affected by the impending rework campain, I'd suggest contacting Volkswagen Australia on their dedicated recall hotline, found here: Contact Us | Volkswagen Australia

In the mean time, we need to sit back and wait for further information. Volkswagen Australia, like many other importers, has until the end of April 2018 to carry out their internal investigations, and produce an action plan on repairing the affected vehicles.

Making wild accusations, spreading miss-truths, and scare-mongering, does not help those who are perhaps a little anxious about the safety of their vehicle. This goes for posters on here and media alike. The reality is, a supplier to the car manufacturers has a rather large faulty batch of parts which has filtered onto the production lines, in various saturation. Our Government has acted upon it now, to ensure the local importers of the potentially affected vehicles seek to rectify the situation as practically and reasonably as possible.

For us, the owners of potentially-affected vehicles; there is nothing we can do at this point in time, but remain patient and wait for further instruction from Volkswagen Australia, that they will seek to remedy what is a very complicated and costly situation, in an efficient and well-executed manner.

[brettue]

That number is the potential worst case scenario. As in, the models listed are the ones Takata have an airbag for. Not amount of cars that actually have a Takata airbag in them.

They don't know the exact numbers yet, of vehicles that will require rectification.

Ahhh ok. So if I'm reading you correctly, while Volksy did use Takata airbags in the 2010 Passat, not every one of the 2,509 models in Australia will have had the Takata unit fitted, there were other brand airbags also used at the some time on the production line? That makes me feel a bit better.

PS: I called that hotline last week. Although they were polite they didn't really have any futher information yet. They said they are investigating the issue and will be giving priority to cars most at risk (eg older cars in humid climate). They are using local traffic authority records to locate and contact owners so no one should be missed. Don't contact us, we will contact you, was the impression I was given.

[Ozsko]

Ahhh ok. So if I'm reading you correctly, while Volksy did use Takata airbags in the 2010 Passat, not every one of the 2,509 models in Australia will have had the Takata unit fitted, there were other brand airbags also used at the some time on the production line? That makes me feel a bit better.

It would not make me feel better, you still do not know if your car is involved, the only real way to know that is have an air bag activation or when VW finalise the recall numbers. An interesting article in this mornings SMH.....

Exclusive: ACCC, BMW investigate Takata injury claim

I will bet there are more injuries like this that went unreported, a lot more.

[brettue]

It would not make me feel better, you still do not know if your car is involved, the only real way to know that is have an air bag activation or when VW finalise the recall numbers.

Yeah, but I've gone from thinking that my car *is* a ticking time bomb to *potentially*. That's an improvement in my view!

[ian]

Sounds reassuring as long as your not sitting in the passenger seat ?

[rory]

For what it's worth; heard today that all Jettas sold in Australia will not be subjected to a recall re the Tanaka airbags.
Source? Mentioned in phone conversation with a supposed VW Aust person about another matter.
Hope it's true ???

[Ozsko]

I would be cautious with believing anything until the official recall ranges are released by VW.