Fears millions of Japanese cars could have faulty seat belts after safety reports were allegedly falsified by defective airbag company Takata

  • Seat belts made by faulty airbag company Takata could spark a new major recall
  • NRMA said Japanese cars built during the past two decades were most affected
  • Millions of cars could be recalled across the world, including popular Toyotas 

By Stephen Johnson, Economics Reporter For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

Owners of Japanese cars built during the past 20 years are being warned their car could be recalled over potentially faulty seat belts

Owners of Japanese cars built during the past 20 years are being warned their car could be recalled over potentially faulty seat belts 

Owners of Japanese cars built during the past 20 years are being warned their vehicles could be recalled over potentially faulty seat belts.

Takata, the company behind 100million dodgy airbags, is responsible for the new safety scare which might see millions more cars recalled worldwide.

Joyson Safety Systems, which bought Takata for $US1.6billion in 2018, has launched an investigation over major safety concerns.

The seat belts failed strength tests at a Japanese factory in Hikone but the data was altered so the cars would satisfy safety requirements, 9News has revealed.

Takata supplied 40 per cent of Japanese cars and 30 per cent of vehicles globally.  

Since 2009, 3.6million Australian cars with a faulty Takata airbag have been recalled. 

Motoring group NRMA's spokesman Peter Khoury said the shocking revelation could result in a global recall. Pictured is a Toyota Corolla sold in Australia from 2001

Motoring group NRMA's spokesman Peter Khoury said the shocking revelation could result in a global recall. Pictured is a Toyota Corolla sold in Australia from 2001

Takata, a Japanese component company, filed for bankruptcy in 2017. 

Motoring group NRMA's spokesman Peter Khoury said the shocking revelation could result in a global recall.

'There's a fear that they're going to have a global recall in addition to the airbags,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 

'This is going to be huge.'

'These are all the biggest brands in Australia. 

'We're talking about Toyota - these are all the biggest brands in Australia, the biggest Japanese cars that we've sold predominantly in Australia.'

As many as 9million seat belts in 2million cars could be affected by the potential new safety scandal

As many as 9million seat belts in 2million cars could be affected by the potential new safety scandal  

Joyson Safety Systems supplies 40 per cent of the Japanese car market including some of Australia's most popular cars, Honda, Nissan and Toyota. 

As many as 9million seat belts in 2million cars could be affected.

Australia's Department of Transport said it was aware of the investigation.  

Joyson Safety Systems said the problems occurred before it bought Takata in April 2018.

'The reporting issues arose long before the acquisition of the plant from Takata in April 2018,' it said.

'JSS is currently reviewing available and relevant data over a twenty-year period on a test-by-test and product-by-product basis, which is a substantial undertaking.'

Takata's new owner said it was continuing to investigate the safety problems and was 'focused on clarifying the issues with urgency to identify the causes and take appropriate corrective measures'.

'Thus far, JSS has not identified any related field issues during the time frame under investigation,' it said.

Joyson Safety Systems has contacted car manufacturers and government regulators across the world. 

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