The Government has announced the recall of vehicles with Alpha-type Takata airbags and will closely monitor a further 257,000 vehicles.
Motor Industry Association CEO David Crawford says vehicle sellers shouldn't take any risk.
"Where there have been faulty deployments, they've been in areas in countries where there have been hot, humid conditions... We don't get those conditions in New Zealand, although, having said that, some of the Japanese used imports coming in have been in those conditions".
He says the recall is a result of poor response from vehicle sellers, only half of whom have acted on recall letters.
The Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Kris Faafoi, says the recall means Alpha-type airbags must be replaced by December 2019.
"This Government is committed to ensuring that these unsafe airbags are removed and replaced as quickly as possible.”