Newsroom
Hundreds of vehicles in Cyprus are being taken off the roads immediately due to serious safety concerns linked to faulty airbags and braking systems. Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades announced two new decrees on Monday that regulate vehicle recalls, with 276 cars now immobilized—138 over defective Takata airbags and another 138 due to brake failures.
Check the full list of recalled vehicles here.
Stricter recall rules introduced
Vafeades explained that the first decree streamlines the recall process, requiring car distributors and the Department of Road Transport to immediately notify owners. It also sets an 18-month deadline for general recalls unless authorities decide an issue is urgent and needs to be addressed sooner.
The second decree now makes it mandatory for anyone registering or transferring a vehicle to provide proof that it is not under recall. This ensures that affected vehicles are logged in the distributor’s database for future recall notifications.
Takata airbags and brake failures force vehicle immobilization
For the 138 vehicles affected by the Takata airbag recall, manufacturers have determined they pose an immediate danger, leading to the suspension of their Certificate of Fitness and cancellation of their road licenses. The same measures apply to another 138 vehicles recalled over brake system defects, bringing the total immobilized cars to 276.
But the issue is much bigger—Vafeades warned that around 80,000 cars in Cyprus are subject to the Takata airbag recall. Owners are urged to contact their vehicle’s distributor to assess the risk and schedule the necessary repairs.
In response to the severity of the airbag defect, the Transport Ministry has shortened the recall completion deadline from 18 months to just 8 months.
Authorities are urging all affected vehicle owners to take action immediately to prevent potential accidents.
