Vehicles With Risky Takata Airbags To Be Banned From Traffic If Not Replaced

Speaking at a press conference held this morning at the ministry’s meeting hall, Arıklı outlined the regulations prepared on the issue and explained the steps vehicle owners must follow. The ministry’s Undersecretary, Enver Öztürk, also addressed the press, providing information on a public awareness campaign prepared by the ministry.

Arıklı said Takata airbags have caused accidents, injuries and deaths worldwide, not only in Northern Cyprus. He noted that the issue has been discussed more extensively in Northern Cyprus due to the high number of Japanese-made vehicles in the country, the difficulty in implementing international recall procedures because of the lack of recognition, and the hot climate, which increases the risk of airbag explosions.

He said the vehicles most commonly affected include Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi, BMW and Volkswagen models. Arıklı stressed that the risky vehicle groups were manufactured between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2019.

Vehicle owners have until March 31, 2026, to check whether their vehicles fall within the risky group by entering their vehicle identification numbers on the relevant manufacturers’ websites. Owners of vehicles without a local dealer or distributor must apply to the Traffic Department under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport with their chassis numbers, while those whose vehicles have local representation should apply directly to the relevant dealers.

For vehicles with local dealers or distributors, the replacement of risky Takata airbags must be carried out by those dealers. For vehicles without local representation, replacements will be handled by authorised institutions designated by the Traffic Department. All replacements must be completed by June 30, 2027.

Following the replacement, owners must submit documentation confirming that the airbag has been replaced in accordance with the manufacturer’s technical procedures to vehicle inspection branches of the Police General Directorate by the same date. Vehicles that fail to comply will be banned from traffic.

Undersecretary Enver Öztürk said Takata airbags were originally designed to protect passenger safety, but manufacturing defects in some airbags produced between 2000 and 2019 have led to serious dangers. He noted that vehicle owners have faced difficulties contacting manufacturers due to the country’s lack of recognition, adding that professional chambers and the Automobile Importers Association have made significant contributions to addressing the problem.

Öztürk said many companies with local dealerships have replaced risky Takata airbags free of charge after applications by vehicle owners, and urged those who have not yet applied to do so by March 31, 2026. For vehicles without local dealers or distributors, owners must apply to the Traffic Department, which will coordinate with manufacturers in Turkey to procure and replace the airbags.

He added that drivers can check whether their airbags are risky by entering their chassis numbers on manufacturers’ websites via the “VIN Check” page. Öztürk warned that failure to comply with the requirements would result in vehicles being removed from traffic as of June 30, 2027, stressing that airbag explosions can lead to serious injury or death.