New requirements surrounding the safety of small children have caught out a popular car brand, prompting urgent action from parents.
Potentially deadly button batteries hidden inside car keys have sparked a recall of almost 7500 cars sold by Mitsubishi.
The car maker says popular models such as the Mitsubishi Triton and Pajero Sport may have been sold to customers without sufficient warnings surrounding button batteries.
Mitsubishi says affected customers must bring their keys and other documents to dealers for new warning labels.
A fact sheet produced by the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network warns that the easily-swallowed batteries “can cause life threatening injuries and even death”.
“When swallowed, the left over electrical current in a button battery reacts with moisture to produce a strong alkali chemical. The chemical can cause serious internal burns and bleeding,” the fact sheet says.
Button batteries are easily swallowed. Picture: Choice.com.au
The batteries can also leak chemicals which can cause serious burns. The coin shaped batteries are easily caught in the oesophagus, and when stuck start to cause damage immediately and can erode through the oesophagus wall very quickly (within 2 hours).”
At least two children have died in Australia after ingesting button batteries.
Product Safety Australia estimates that “one child a month is seriously injured after swallowing or inserting a button battery, with some of them sustaining lifelong injuries”.
Mitsubishi key with button battery warning label.
A recall notice published by Vehiclerecalls.gov.au states that “some remote keys supplied to consumers do not contain sufficient button battery warnings and do not comply with the mandatory labelling requirements for items containing button batteries”.
“In the absence of the necessary warnings, if young children gain access to button batteries and ingest them, they are likely to suffer severe internal burn injuries, which can result in serious injury or death. Button batteries also pose a choking hazard to young children.”
Car makers must attach warning labels to car keys.
Button batteries are a focal point for Australia’s consumer regulator.
Former ACCC chair Rod Sims said in 2021 that Australia’s “world-first standards for button batteries will improve safety in the design of products containing button batteries, the packaging of button batteries, as well as the warning requirements alerting consumers to the risks”.
A bulletin published by the Australian Automotive Dealer Association in 2022 told people in the car industry that “all participants in the supply chain are responsible for complying with these new safety standards and include manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers of consumer goods containing button or coin batteries in Australia.”
“As such, it is important for Dealers to work with their Manufacturers to ensure the due date for compliance with the new mandatory safety standards is adhered to for any products containing a button or coin battery.”
A spokeswoman for Mitsubishi said it was difficult to determine exactly which vehicles are affected as compliance with warning labels required from June 2022 “varied from dealer to dealer”.
Customers can compare their car’s vehicle identification number with a list on Vehiclerecalls.gov.au or contact Mitsubishi Customer Service on 1300 131 211.
Keyword: Popular car maker issues recall over killer button batteries