The companies changing TAKATA airbags for free, the ones charging, and for how much

Company call centres are being inundated with calls from citizens trying to clarify whether their vehicles have the defective TAKATA airbags, and how they can proceed with their replacement.

The callers are requesting clarification on various issues, including whether their vehicle has the specific airbags, and whether there is will be any charge for them to be changed.

Reporter contacted ten companies listed on the Department of Road Transport's recall list for recalls, with seven of them clarifying that the process is free for everyone, regardless of whether the vehicle was purchased from Cyprus, a European country or Japan.

These are Char. Pilakoutas Ltd, (BMW, Mitsubishi, Nissan), Unicars Ltd (Volkswagen, Audi, Seat/Cupra, Skoda, Lamborghini, MAN), Cyprus Import Corporation LTD (Mercedes, Citroen), Michaels Automotive LTD (Ford), Galatariotis Motors Ltd (Honda).

Two other companies, Geo Pavlides Automotive, a Mazda representative, as they informed Reporter, will charge an amount of 120 euros for labor costs on vehicles from Japan, while the replacement of the airbags themselves is free. For those who have vehicles purchased from Cyprus or the European market, all procedures will be carried out completely free of charge.

Furthermore, Dickran Ouzounian Co.LTD, which owns TOYOTA vehicles, is changing airbags for vehicles purchased from the Cypriot and European markets for free, while for those purchased from Japan, the amount of 159 euros is being charged for the investigation as to whether they have defective airbags and in case they have TAKATA, then the change will be carried out for free.

It is noted that A. Loutsios & Sons Ltd (KIA, Isuzu) do not have vehicles with the specific airbags in their vehicles.

However, both Mazda and Honda, which announced the final list of their vehicles that have TAKATA, as reported by the people who answered the calls, are receiving a huge volume of phone calls from citizens, who the companies say are being served normally, without any particular problems.

It is noted that Geo Pavlides & Araouzos had announced since 10 December that 11,180 of its vehicles carry the specific airbags, in the passenger seat, while on the afternoon of 18 December, Galatariotis Motors Ltd announced that 10,850 vehicles need replacement.

However, it is not clear whether the defective airbags concern the driver's seat or whether there are more than one per vehicle that need to be replaced.

In a statement, the Road Transport Department states that it "has received information from the company Galatariotis Motors from the manufacturer Honda that Honda vehicles, which had a valid registration certificate or were declared as immobilised on 14/11/2024 in the Department's register, and are included in the list posted on the Road Transport Department's website, are subject to recall(s) for the replacement of Takata brand airbag(s)".

As it notes, "the Department of Road Transport recommends not using these vehicles until specific instructions are given by the manufacturer's distributor."

Furthermore, owners of these vehicles are invited to contact the manufacturer's distributor in Cyprus, Galatariotis Motors, for further instructions. Any new and/or updated information will be posted on the TOM website."

(Source: Reporter)