In Cyprus, a massive review of cars was announced due to faulty Takata airbags. 276 cars were immediately removed from the roads, and the owners of 80,000 are recommended to undergo the replacement of the element. The Ministry of Transport urge drivers to check their cars.
Mass review of cars
276 cars are subject to immediate review from the roads of Cyprus. Another 80,000 require replacement of airbags. The Ministry of Transport published a complete list of cars with defective equipment.
On February 4, the Minister of Transport Alexis Vafiades assured motorists that, despite the mass feedback of cars, the risk that a specific airbag is threatening, very low. “The review is the only measure that will reduce the risk to the owners. Not all airbags are faulty. The reason why manufacturers do not recall these cars immediately is that the risk is very small. In fact, you can check the malfunction only when the pillow is removed and open, ”the minister concluded, adding that not all airbags made by Takata are dangerous.
Layment of operation
On February 3, the Ministry of Transport announced the recall of more than 80,000 cars equipped with potentially dangerous Takata pillows. Faulty equipment should be replaced within eight months. Of these almost 100,000, only 276 vehicles were immediately withdrawn from roads, and their certificates of ILO and the payment of road tax were canceled.
Owners of other cars, not included in the list of 276 positions, have the right to use their cars without restrictions, although the Ministry of Transport does not recommend doing this. For eight months, they should make an appointment with the Cyprus distributor to replace the airbag. MOT certificates and payment of road tax are in force. They will not be fine for driving this car. Some of the drivers received a text message with a request to contact the regional distributor.
How to check your car
Check if the car falls under the review, you can on the Ministry of Transport’s website at the link.
The owners of the SAAB brand, whose cars are subject to recall, were sent a special notification with the recommendation to contact any auto -electrician. The Swedish automaker went bankrupt in the 2010s.
Replacing all 80,000 car pillows will be paid by car manufacturers, even if the machine was imported private from abroad. Those who have already been replaced by airbags should contact the road department to be excluded from the list.
How is the recall process
“We immediately start contacts with all distributors in order to make a recall plan, see their capabilities, understand how they can help, what is their profit when ordering spare parts, how many free human resources are at their disposal, what the state can do,” assured him, ”assured him Minister.
The chairman of the Cyprus Consumer Association Marios Drushiotis expressed satisfaction with the decision of the government. “Given the existing circumstances and previous experience, we are satisfied with the actions of the Ministry of Transport. You can not put financial difficulties that consumers or owners of vehicles will encounter, above safety and preservation of human lives, ”he said.
What is the danger of Takata pillows
Recall that Takata’s safety pillows have one characteristic defect: from exposure to high temperature or humidity, they can work by themselves. It would not be so scary, but the pillows also have a metal element that flies out with force when the pillow is revealed, and actually “shoots” the driver point blank.
For the first time, the danger of airbags was spoke after the death of 24-year-old Kiryakos Oxinos in January 2023. The 19-year-old styliani Jorgally in October 2024 also died most likely because of this defect.
The text is prepared based on the materials of Cyprus mail