HONDA vehicles fitted with the faulty Tanaka airbags have been given three months to replace them or face having the cars blacklisted by the Road Transport Department, said Anthony Loke.

The transport minister said there’s no reason for Honda car owners to replace the faulty airbags as the manufacturer has said there is sufficient stock to make the change.

Loke said at a media conference today the other Japanese vehicles fitted with the Tanaka airbags, Mazda and Subaru, will be given a temporary exemption on the deadline as the car dealers here do have not enough stock to replace the airbags.

Four recorded fatal incidents linked to “defective, shrapnel-shooting inflator parts” of the Takata airbags in the country triggered a massive recall covering thousands of popular Japanese-brand cars.

Despite the replacement being done free and taking only a few minutes, many car owners have ignored the safety recall, Loke said.

In the next two weeks, RTD will be sending “Notice 114” to the affected car owners which would compel them to go to the nearest office and report the status of their vehicle.

Continued disregard of the notice would automatically get their car blacklisted, he said.

“They will not be able to renew their road tax if they are blacklisted.”

According to Carlist, the Honda models affected by the faulty airbags are Accord manufactured between 2003-2011, City (2003-2013), Civic (2001-2011), Civic Hybrid (2003, 2007-2012), CR-V (2002-2011, 2013), Jazz (2003-2007, 2009-2013), Jazz Hybrid (2012-2013), Insight (2011-2013), Steam (2003-2005, 2007-2013), Freed (2009-2011) and Odyssey (2004-2008).

Certain batches of Toyota, Mazda, Mitsibishi, Nissan and Subaru cars are also affected by the recall. – September 19, 2018.