The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's dedicated website reveals there are more than 1800 cars in Canberra still not repaired under the international Takata airbag recall. Of these, 121 are deemed as "critical".

Access Canberra said it had "undertaken a number of activities to inform the community about Takata airbag safety concerns", and regulations had now been developed to "refuse, cancel or suspend registration" for owners who did not comply.

"Warning letters have been sent to registered operators of vehicles fitted with Alpha and critical non-alpha airbags," Access Canberra said in a statement.

"If registered operators do not comply with the recall, they will receive a suspension warning letter and if non-compliance persists, the registered operator will receive a suspension confirmation letter."

More than 100 million cars worldwide were fitted with the deadly devices which contain an explosive charge and propellant designed to protect the occupants, but instead could kill them.

Shards of metals sent out by the charge killed one Honda driver in Sydney and has permanently maimed and incapacitated a Darwin woman who was driving her Toyota RAV4 when she had a minor collision, resulting in metal fragments entering her eye and brain.

The December 31 2020 deadline imposed by the ACCC for the industry to complete the recall has now passed, but 65,000 cars are still on Australian roads and driving around with these ticking timebombs sitting directly in front of the vehicle occupants.

Now the deadline now passed and some owners are still refusing to comply, state and territory governments around the country now have little option but to withhold or suspend registration. All vehicles affected are identified by their unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Replacing the faulty airbags is free, but owners have to contact their franchised dealers and book in to have the work done, which usually takes a few hours.

There are around 6000 airbags considered "critical" around the country, and should not be driven at all. There are 121 still remaining on ACT roads and owners are urged to park them immediately and have the vehicles towed to their dealer for immediate replacement.

The ACCC says that manufacturers have "ongoing obligations to replace outstanding inflators where they have not achieved 100 per cent actual replacement", and must retrieve the spare parts. This obligation extends until 100 per cent of the recall is complete.

There is now also a second international airbag recall under way for a different type of Takata airbag from that which was previously identified, but which has received scant public awareness from safety authorities.

These Takata NADI 5-AT airbags use a different type of propellant but will kill occupants in the same way, or underinflate and not work effectively in a crash.

About 80,000 Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota built between 1996 and 2000 are affected, and this recall is being managed by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.

If you believe your car may be affected by either of these airbag recalls there are two websites to visit: ismyairbagsafe.com.au, or the product safety website specific to the NADI 5-AT airbags.

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