Approximately 40% of vehicles listed for recall by the Road Transport Department still have not had their faulty Takata airbags replaced, official data shows.
Of the 81,000 vehicles initially placed on recall lists, 35,000 remained pending replacement as of 30 July, according to the Road Transport Department. The figure is indicative as recent repairs carried out by dealerships have not yet been registered in the department’s system.
The recall forms part of a global safety crisis involving defective Takata airbag inflators that can rupture during deployment, propelling metal fragments into vehicle cabins. Over 100 million airbag inflators worldwide have been recalled by more than 20 carmakers, with 35 deaths globally attributed to the faulty components.
Vehicle owners face a 3 October deadline for the faulty airbag recall. After this date, the roadworthiness certificates for these vehicles will become invalid.
The urgency of the recall was underscored by two fatal accidents in Cyprus potentially linked to the defective airbags. In January 2023, 24-year-old Kyriakos Oxyinos died in a car crash, followed by 19-year-old Styliani Georgalli in October 2024. Official investigations are examining whether Takata airbag defects caused both fatalities.
The recall affects 26 car brands, including major manufacturers such as Toyota, Honda, BMW, Mercedes, and Volkswagen.
The 35,000 outstanding cases include roughly 3,000 vehicles that have been deregistered or destroyed and will therefore not proceed with the recall implementation.
Dealerships report that many drivers have not yet responded to arrange appointments, despite several companies having sufficient available slots.
The recall particularly affects “grey imports” – vehicles imported outside official dealer networks – which comprise approximately 85% of pending Toyota recalls. These vehicles were imported without manufacturer oversight, creating additional challenges for tracking and replacement.
Takata Corporation, the Japanese automotive parts supplier responsible for the defective airbags, filed for bankruptcy in 2017 following the global recall crisis.
All airbag replacements are provided free of charge. Vehicle owners can verify if their car requires replacement by checking the Road Transport Department website using their registration number.
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