A growing issue with defective airbags has underscored significant gaps in the vehicle recall process in Cyprus. Currently, around 12,000 vehicles with defective Takata airbags are on Cypriot roads. Although vehicle owners were notified, many have yet to bring their cars to dealerships for replacement.

Compounding this issue, these 12,000 vehicles are not the only ones affected. Vehicles imported from Japan are not registered in the European database, making them difficult to track for recalls despite potentially having defective parts.

New cars purchased directly in Cyprus or imported from Europe or the UK can be identified and recalled for repairs. However, vehicles imported from Japan and Singapore are not registered in the European database, meaning they cannot be easily identified for recalls even if they have faulty components.

As Brief reports, according to officials, the only way to verify if an imported Japanese vehicle is affected by a recall is for the owner to visit a local dealership for inspection. However, one dealership has reportedly charged €160 for this inspection, discouraging many owners. This complaint has drawn the attention of the Parliamentary Committee, which has requested further explanations. Nonetheless, even if this cost issue is addressed, the larger problem remains unresolved.

While the current issue is with defective airbags, the lack of a standardized recall solution raises concerns for future recalls. European manufacturers are required to issue recalls for safety issues, but this is not mandatory for manufacturers in other countries. For example, a European-made vehicle with a defect would be recalled, but the same model produced in Japan might not be due to different recall policies.

This issue is particularly challenging to resolve because Japanese manufacturers may not choose to recall these vehicles, and Cyprus, being one of the few right-hand-drive countries, relies on vehicle imports from Japan. As a result, there are limited examples or solutions from other countries that Cyprus could adopt.

Cyprus’s Minister of Transport, Alexis Vafeadis, is seeking solutions not only for defective airbags but also for future recall processes. In statements to Brief, Vafeadis described the situation as highly complex, noting that the Ministry of Transport and related departments are exploring ways to keep citizens informed.

Two options are currently under consideration for public information. The first is to notify vehicle owners about recalls during their regular MOT inspections. The second is to send recall information, possibly with utility bills, reminding all vehicle owners in Cyprus about recalls and providing steps to check if their vehicles are on the recall list.