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The Department of Road Transport (DRT) has issued a series of warnings covering both illegal replacement airbags and a range of vehicles and components that may pose serious safety risks, including electric shock, fire and injury, urging importers, professionals and consumers in Cyprus to remain vigilant.
In an announcement issued on Monday, the DRT drew attention to an urgent warning by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concerning dangerous and illegal replacement airbags of Chinese origin. The airbags, manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co (DTN), have been linked to at least ten road traffic accidents in the United States resulting in death or serious injury.
According to the authorities, the airbags are typically installed as replacements, often after a vehicle has been involved in a previous collision. In the event of a crash, they may rupture and expel metal fragments, significantly increasing the risk of fatal or severe injuries. The DRT stressed that, at present, there is no indication that such airbags are on the Cypriot market, but noted that it is closely monitoring developments.
Importers and sellers who may have placed or may be placing such products on the market in Cyprus are called upon to inform the Department of Road Transport and to take all necessary measures to recall them, as required by legislation. The Department also reminded mechanics and body repairers that, under the Craftsmen Law, they are obliged to keep records of all vehicle modifications they carry out.
Consumers who believe they may have such replacement airbags installed are urged to contact their mechanic, body repairer or seller. If an importer or seller refuses to comply with consumer rights, a written complaint may be submitted to the Consumer Protection Service via www.consumer.gov.cy.
The DRT has also said it will inform the Department of Electromechanical Services, as well as professional bodies and consumer authorities, and will proceed with further announcements or a public awareness campaign should information be received from European authorities or the EU Safety Gate system.
A separate warning issued on Tuesday extends to a range of vehicles and components flagged through the EU early warning system for dangerous non-food products (Safety Gate), following information received from the Consumer Protection Service during the fourth week of 2026.
The DRT said there is a risk of electric shock associated with certain electric trucks, specifically Renault Trucks D ZE and D WIDE ZE, produced between December 2023 and July or November 2024, as well as Renault Trucks T BEV manufactured between October 2023 and November 2024. A potential risk of fire has been identified in Ford Otosan CARGO TRUCK and F-MAX TRUCK models produced between August 2022 and February 2024, and in Toyota Proace and Proace City passenger pickup and light commercial vehicles manufactured between July and October 2025.
The Department also warned of injury risks linked to specific components, including ALCAR Dezent TV aluminium rims (6.5x16 5x120 ET51) and Michelin truck tyres 355/50R22.5 X MULTI Z (CAI 124164) and X LINE ENERGY Z (CAI 928196), produced between January 2023 and February 2025. Further injury risks have been identified in the Suzuki DR-Z400 motorcycle (models DR-Z4SM and DR-Z4S), the Ford Ranger pickup truck, and the Ford Transit Custom light commercial vehicle, covering various production periods in 2024 and 2025.
Manufacturers, representatives, distributors, importers and sellers are again called upon to inform the Department of Road Transport if they have placed such products on the Cypriot market and to ensure that recall procedures are implemented where required. Consumers who own any of the vehicles mentioned are advised to check their vehicle registration certificate to confirm production details and to contact the manufacturer, representative or distributor for instructions. Where components are concerned, the public is urged, if deemed necessary, to stop using them and return them to the point of purchase.
Further details on all the dangerous products can be found on the Safety Gate website at https://ec.europa.eu/safety-gate-alerts/screen/search, using the relevant warning numbers. For additional information, consumers may contact the Department of Road Transport by phone on 22600500 or via email at recalls@rtd.mcw.gov.cy.
