Holden recalls vehicles over possible airbag fault

Holden New Zealand Ltd is recalling several models of its motor vehicles to repair a fault that may cause side airbags to inflate unintentionally.

The Auckland-based company says owners should contact any Holden dealer to arrange the installation of an extra earthing component relating to the side airbag system.

"A condition can occur where an electrical earth wire that is fitted to either front seat may become detached," Holden says in newspaper advertisements published today.

Without the earthing, an electrostatic discharge may set off the side airbag, but only when the vehicle is stationary and a person has exited either of the front seats.

The recall affects:
* Sedans -- Executive, Equipe, Lumina and Acclaim Series VY and VY Series 2 * S, SV6, SV8, SS, Berlina and Calais, including HSV variants.
* Wagons -- Executive, Equipe, Lumina, Acclaim, SS, Berlina and Adventra, including HSV variants.
* Light Commercial -- Crewman, Crewman S, Crewman SS. X6 Crewman and X8Crewman, including HSV variants.
* V2 Series 2 -- Monaro, including HSV variants.
* WK/WL -- Statesman and Caprice, including HSV variants.

Only the series and models listed that were built between April 1, 2003, and December 2, 2005, are involved.

Holden said owners of affected vehicles would be contacted individually, but if they hadn't heard from the company by the end of this month, they should call the Holden recall advice line on 0800 465 336.

- NZPA