The Department of Road Transport launched an urgent recall campaign affecting approximately 82,000 vehicles with faulty airbags and brakes, giving owners eight months to complete necessary repairs or face vehicle registration suspension.
Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades announced two ministerial decrees addressing vehicle recalls, revealing a significant oversight in the system since 2010 affecting cars imported from non-EU countries.
The recall primarily targets vehicles fitted with potentially dangerous Takata airbags and includes 134 Mercedes vehicles requiring immediate immobilisation due to faulty brakes. Among the affected vehicles, 138 must be immediately taken off the road due to critical Takata airbag defects, including 130 Citroens and eight Fords.
Japanese manufacturers account for the majority of affected vehicles, with Toyota leading at 27,111 units, followed by Mazda with 16,023 and Honda with 10,253 vehicles.
“Nearly 200,000 vehicles currently require recalls, and their owners are unaware”, Vafeades said during a press conference, noting that this represents over 50% of the 442,000 used cars on Cypriot roads.
The minister confirmed that airbag replacements would be free of charge, with manufacturers bearing the cost. For vehicle owners affected by mandatory immobilisation orders, the government will consider a proposal for free bus transportation.
The new regulations require vehicle owners to obtain certification confirming their vehicles are not subject to recalls before registration or transfer of ownership. The Department has established a dedicated call centre to manage the crisis and has published a list of affected vehicles on its website.
Cyprus’s total registered vehicle fleet currently stands at approximately 810,000 units. (incyprus)
