Families in Cyprus caring for disabled relatives have experienced months of desperation and uncertainty over the imminent immobilisation of their vehicles due to defective Takata airbag recalls, with some owners unable to obtain necessary replacement parts.
Owners of certain vehicle models no longer in production have been left without access to required replacement components, risking loss of their only means of transport for medical appointments and essential care needs.
After months of waiting, complaints and pressure from the Road Transport Department, the company responsible has responded to complainants and scheduled appointments for replacements.
Months of uncertainty end after complaints and pressure
“In our family, two people are being cared for, one with quadriplegia and one bedridden. The car that is at risk of immobilisation is of vital importance and is used, amongst other things, for their medical needs,” one complainant told Phileleftheros, whose identity is known to this publication.
The complainant stated he is obliged to comply with the law. “We risk being left without a disability vehicle. However, it is not through any fault of our own,” he said, adding that there is no possibility of renting a disability vehicle to cover their transport needs.
The complainant noted he has approached both the representative of the manufacturing company in Cyprus and the Road Transport Department. He stated that, according to information from the company, five other families are in the same situation. “Our car must be immobilised on 3 October 2025,” he said.
Five families affected by discontinued vehicle models
“We ask that an applicable and proper solution be found for the affected families to the problem of disability vehicle immobilisation due to the inability to find parts for replacing Takata airbags. The immobilisation of our vehicles will cause major problems,” he emphasised, adding that after all the months of hardship and waiting, he feels insecure about whether they will ultimately be served.
Regarding communication with the relevant authorities, he noted this began several months ago on 5 March 2025, when payment was made for the airbag replacement fee, which exceeded €100.
On 13 May 2025, he contacted the company’s call centre and documents were sent proving the vehicle is for disability use to see if priority could be given.
A related email was also sent to the Road Transport Department. “We received a response from the Road Transport Department, but without proposing any solution. We also had an immediate response from the company, which assured us that priority would be given when they receive the part”.
Replacement parts unavailable for obsolete car models
On 30 June 2025, the complainant sent a polite reminder, to which the company replied that they were awaiting the part.
On 15 July 2025, they sent another email. The company responded that no part was available and that an order had been placed without a known delivery date.
On 5 September 2025, he sent another email to the company with an appeal to find a solution. “I also requested that the company provide us with a disability vehicle until a solution is found.”
On 8 September 2025, the company stated that the specific cars are no longer produced and no parts are available on the market and that a special order was placed and they are waiting for it to be sent.
The company also responded that the responsibility lies with the used car importer. “We bought the car in 2010 from a used car importer,” he clarified.
Following complaints and intervention from Phileleftheros, the complainant finally received a telephone call from the company on 18 September 2025, which scheduled an appointment for replacement.
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