First cars taken out of service in Cyprus due to faulty Takata airbags

In Cyprus, practical implementation of the recall of cars equipped with Japanese Takata airbags, recognized as potentially dangerous, has begun. On Friday, the first vehicles lost their MOT certificates and road tax validity, effectively preventing their further use.

The decision for early recall was made by Transport Minister Alexis Vafiades back in February. At that time, owners of cars with Takata airbags were given an eight-month period for replacement. After this period, vehicles for which the work has not been completed lose their right to operate.

The first measures affected Citroen, Ford, and Jeep vehicles: their owners will not be able to pass MOT or pay the tax. In the coming weeks, similar restrictions will be introduced for other brands covered by the recall. Deadlines will vary depending on when manufacturers submitted the lists of vehicles to be repaired to the government.

According to the Department of Road Transport, about 16,900 cars (approximately 20% of the total subject to recall) still have not had their airbags replaced. About 5,000 of them are Toyotas, and around 2,000 are Hondas. All of these vehicles will be taken out of service by the end of October. Extensions are excluded. The only relief applies to owners who have already scheduled replacement by the end of the month: their cars temporarily retain the right to MOT.

The department emphasizes that the shortened eight-month period, unlike the usual 18 months, was set due to the severity of the risk and on the recommendation of the manufacturers themselves. Owners are advised to immediately contact dealerships or the department if they encounter difficulties scheduling the replacement.

The danger of Takata airbags lies in their design: exposure to high temperature and humidity can cause corrosion and gas generator failure. As a result, when the airbag deploys, metal fragments may fly into the cabin, causing serious injuries or fatalities to passengers.

To investigate the circumstances of the supply and control the situation in the country, a special commission was created. Its conclusions were submitted to Attorney General Georgios Savvidis. The report notes that the delayed response could implicate four former transport ministers who held office from 2013 to 2023: Efimios Flourentzou, Marios Demetriades, Vasiliki Anastasiadou, and the current Famagusta governor, Yannis Karousos.