Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Does this recall affect my car?

When do you expect parts to become available?

Please refer to the Takata Airbag Recall Initiation Schedule (published on holden.com) for dates for each impacted Holden, Saab or Opel vehicle.

How do I know if my car is impacted?

If you own a car on the list above, it is fitted with a front driver’s side airbag with an affected Takata inflator which will need to be replaced. Holden will contact all customers with impacted vehicles to let them know when parts are available and their airbag is ready to be replaced. You can also contact Holden’s Customer Care line on 1800 632 826 quoting your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Your VIN can be found:

  • On the bottom corner of the windscreen on the passenger side;
  • Inside the driver’s door; and
  • Near the firewall in the engine bay
What should I do if I think my vehicle is impacted?

Please ensure we have your contact details so that we can contact you if we need to. You can update your contact details at www.holden.com.au/forms/change-of-address-or-ownership. We will contact you directly to organise a replacement airbag to be fitted to your vehicle once parts become available.

I think I have an affected Takata airbag spare part in my possession. How can I confirm whether it is affected by this recall and what should I do with it?

Affected Takata airbags (new or used) cannot be sold under any circumstances. Holden is offering a rebate for the return of all new or used affected Takata airbags. Please call Holden Customer Care on 1800 632 826 and we will arrange the rebate and discuss options to collect the airbag from you at no cost. If you are unsure whether the spare part is affected by this recall you may take a photo of the serial number labels and email it to holdencustomercare@gm.com. Once the photo has been assessed a member of our team will contact you.

Why is Holden contacting me about my Saab or Opel vehicle for this recall?

Holden, as part of General Motors, is the importer of Saab and Opel vehicles. Holden dealerships are authorised to carry out the rework on Saab and Opel vehicles for this recall campaign.

If my vehicle has previously had a driver airbag replaced after a crash or other rework, is my vehicle still affected by the Takata Recall?

If your vehicle has had an airbag replacement following a collision or other incident, any replacement airbag installed in the Vehicle may be faulty and require replacement. Accordingly, please check your VIN on the VIN Lookup tool* to determine if your Vehicle requires an airbag replacement under an Active or Future recall**.

Safety concerns

Are any GM Holden vehicles fitted with ‘Alpha’ airbag inflators or any other inflators subject to Critical Safety Recall?

No GM Holden vehicles contain alpha airbag inflators. However, SAAB 3-9 built between July 2005 to January 2011, SAAB 9-5 built between July 2005 to January 2011, Holden Cruze, Trax and Barina built between February 2009 and December 2014, Holden Astra built between March 2005 and April 2009 and Opel Astra built between April 2012 and July 2013 may contain Driver Airbag inflators which are considered critical, as set out in guidance issued by the ACCC in August 2019. If you own one of these vehicles, you should stop driving your vehicle immediately! It is critical that you immediately contact Holden Customer Care on 1800 632 826 to arrange to have the airbag replaced. There will be no charge for the repair. A vehicle tow service or mobile repair technician can be arranged.

How do I find out if my vehicle is subject to a Critical Safety Recall?

Click the link below and enter your vehicle‘s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) into the VIN Lookup Tool. Check your car by VIN lookup tool

Is the replacement airbag also made by Takata?

The replacement airbags do not use Takata inflators. Holden is not using any like-for-like airbag replacements.

What do I need to know?

What is the problem with the affected airbag?

Some Takata airbag inflators are made with non-desiccated Phase Stabilised Ammonium Nitrate (PSAN) as a propellant. As it gets older, a combination of high temperatures and humidity can cause the airbag inflator propellant to degrade. If the vehicle is involved in a collision, the airbag can go off with too much explosive force, causing sharp metal fragments to shoot out and kill or seriously injure people in the vehicle.

Are all the airbags in the car impacted?

Airbag inflators impacted by the compulsory recall in Holden, Opel and Saab vehicles are only fitted to the driver's side (steering wheel mounted). Side and curtain airbags are not impacted.

Why is only the driver's side affected?

In Holden, Saab and Opel vehicles, only the driver’s side airbag inflators are manufactured by Takata and use phase-stabilised ammonium nitrate propellant without a desiccant.

Why are they being recalled if you don't use alpha inflators?

The Australian Government has issued a compulsory recall for all vehicles with frontal Takata airbag inflators that use phase-stabilised ammonium nitrate propellant without a desiccant.

Why don't all my airbags in my car have these types of propellants?

Holden, Saab and Opel vehicles contain a range of airbags supplied by several different suppliers. Design specifications mean the Takata airbags affected by the compulsory recall were used for driver side airbags only. Other suppliers were used for other airbags inside Holden, Saab and Opel vehicles.

Why is my vehicle being recalled after other Holden vehicles affected by the Takata recall?

In accordance with the requirements of the Recall Notice GM Holden has prioritized the replacement of Affected Takata Airbag Inflators by reference to: (1) the geographical location of vehicles, with first priority given to vehicles currently registered in areas of high heat; and humidity. (2) the age of Vehicles, with first priority given to older Vehicles, and particularly those that are older than 6 years.

Next steps

When will I receive contact about next steps?

Holden has now commenced repairs for all affected Holden, Opel and Saab vehicles. Letters, emails and SMS have been sent to registered owners of impacted vehicles. If you have received a recall letter, email or SMS from Holden, DO NOT ignore it. Holden encourages you to take the action described in the letter, email or SMS as soon as possible.

Should I visit my closest dealer now?

Yes. Holden has now commenced repairs for all affected Holden, Opel and Saab vehicles. Letters, emails and SMS have been sent to registered owners of impacted vehicles. If you have received a recall letter, email or SMS from Holden, DO NOT ignore it. Holden encourages you to take the action described in the letter, email or SMS as soon as possible.

How will you contact me once parts are available and you are ready to replace my airbag?

Holden has now commenced repairs for all affected Holden, Opel and Saab vehicles. Letters, emails and SMS have been sent to registered owners of impacted vehicles. If you have received a recall letter, email or SMS from Holden, DO NOT ignore it. Holden encourages you to take the action described in the letter, email or SMS as soon as possible.

Please ensure we have your up-to-date contact details by visiting www.holden.com.au/forms/change-of-address-or-ownership.

I have bought a second-hand Holden which is on the recalled vehicle list, what should I do?

Holden will ensure all GM vehicles (Holden, Opel & Saab) fitted with defective Takata Driver's airbags have replacement parts fitted. This includes second-hand vehicles. Please ensure we have your up-to-date contact details by visiting www.holden.com.au/forms/change-of-address-or-ownership When we have parts ready, we'll contact you to arrange a suitable time for your local dealership to replace your airbag.

I'm a Used Car Dealer and I have several second-hand Holdens for sale under active recall, what should I do?

Vehicles under active recall cannot be sold until the driver airbag is replaced by a Holden Dealer. Please call Holden Customer Care on 1800 632 826 as we have options available that may help you, such as mobile repair.

Get in contact

Where can I get further information?

The most up-to-date information will be displayed on this webpage, which will be updated as new information on future recalls becomes available. If you have further questions, please call Holden Customer Care on 1800 632 826. If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, for assistance making a free-of-charge relay call to Holden Customer Care, please contact the National Relay Service on 1800 555 660 or visit www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/phone/services-people-disability/accesshub/national-relay-service. We will contact our customers directly when we have more information to share and to organise a suitable time to have your replacement airbag fitted. You may also report concerns to the ACCC by visiting www.productsafety.gov.au/contact-us/for-consumers/make-an-enquiry.

Where can I leave my details to receive further updates?

You can update your contact details at www.holden.com.au/forms/change-of-address-or-ownership. If you have further questions, please call Holden Customer Care on 1800 632 826. If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, for assistance making a free-of-charge relay call to Holden Customer Care, please contact the National Relay Service on 1800 555 660 or visit www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/phone/services-people-disability/accesshub/national-relay-service.

My car is unregistered or not driveable and it is affected by an active recall. How can I get it to a Holden Dealer to have the airbag replaced?

Please call Holden Customer Care on 1800 632 826 as we have options that may be able to help you, such as mobile repair or towing at no cost to you.

I have a General Motors vehicle that was privately imported from a different country (grey import), what do I do?

The vehicle’s importer is responsible for recall action under the Recall Notice, including repairing your vehicle if it is affected. You should contact the vehicle’s importer to discuss if your vehicle is impacted.