Consumer Council Urges Strict Measures for 490,000 Vehicles with Dangerous Takata Airbags

The Consumer Council has received an urgent letter from the Consumer Protection Office detailing the escalation of recall measures for Takata airbag pressure units following the fifth fatality in Thailand. Phatrakorn Teepboonrat, Deputy Head of Consumer Protection and Rights, emphasized that approximately 490,000 vehicles in Thailand still have unresolved Takata airbag issues, representing an imminent risk. He proposed elevating warning measures to legal enforcement. Currently, the Department of Land Transport will mark vehicle tax documents in red for cars with unresolved Takata airbags. The proposed administrative measures include: 1. Stopping vehicle tax renewal for cars with unresolved airbag issues 2. Considering driving restrictions for vehicles in the high-risk database 3. Issuing official recall orders for problematic vehicle models 4. Controlling and eliminating second-hand airbag parts to prevent reuse Phatrakorn also stressed the need for comprehensive public communication through multiple channels, highlighting that five deaths have occurred in Thailand. He noted that most consumers have forgotten about this "silent danger" over time, and current publicity methods are insufficient. The key message is to urgently address the Takata airbag crisis and prevent potential fatalities through strict legal and administrative measures.