Filenews 2 October 2025 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The case of the defective Takata airbags takes an unexpected turn, as, according to reliable information, the decision of the Ministry of Transport not to give any extension to the deadline of October 3, 2025 for the mandatory recall has been finalized. Therefore, from tomorrow, thousands of cars are compulsorily immobilized, since the revocation of the certificate of suitability also suspends the registration certificate. Therefore, they are not allowed to circulate until the recall is implemented and the vehicle is subjected to a new roadworthiness test.
The decision was taken yesterday after consultations between the Minister of Transport Alexis Vafeadis and the Department of Road Transport (TOM), where it was clarified that all vehicles that have not complied will face immediate cancellation of the Certificate of Suitability (MOT) and must be immobilized.
The only exception concerns vehicles for which an appointment has already been scheduled until the end of October 2025, and only if this is documented with official confirmation from the distributor.
Decisive in this decision was the attitude of the Department of Road Transport, which no longer trusts the schedules of all distributors. According to well-informed sources, there were repeated cases where distributors constantly postponed the dates of receipt of spare parts, resulting in significant delays in the execution of recalls.
Especially in the case of Mazda, thousands of owners remain without an appointment, while the company appears to have plans that even reach November. In contrast, manufacturers like Toyota have responded adequately, with appointments readily available and adequate stocks of components.
According to the latest data presented to the parliamentary Committee on Transport:
● Of the 81,060 vehicles initially identified with problematic airbags, 76% have completed the recall.
● 19,671 vehicles remain pending. Of these, only 2,853 have scheduled appointments.
● 16,818 owners have not given any response at all.
It is worth noting that from February until today, an additional 18,500 vehicles have been added to the recall list, bringing the total number to 99,560 vehicles (including immobilized and deleted).
Recalls for life reasons – Possible death by explosion
The Decree of the Minister of Transport, which comes into full force from October 3, 2025, aims to prevent fatal accidents. Takata airbags have been blamed internationally for explosions after the chemical propellant decomposes, causing serious injuries and/or deaths. In Cyprus we had two fatalities and one serious injury attributed to the faulty airbag explosion.
The replacement is considered a matter of immediate safety, with manufacturers having already classified the affected airbags as high risk.
Warning to drivers
With yesterday's decision, the Ministry sends a clear message that there will be no further flexibility, nor an excuse for delay. The Minister of Transport, Alexis Vafeadis, had earlier stated that "we are closely monitoring the developments and we will not let the issue slip through our fingers", implying that the law will be implemented in full. Those drivers who did not comply are also at risk of criminal liability in the event of an accident, as long as the vehicle is circulating without a valid MOT and insurance.
Official announcement within the day
An official announcement from the Department of Road Transport is expected during the day, which will determine exactly what applies to each category of vehicle owners. The TOM invites citizens to check the Ministry's website for information through the box number (VIN).
WHEN AND FOR WHICH VEHICLES THE DEADLINES EXPIRE
Pressure is caused by the expiring deadlines. Today, October 2, the recall expires for 5,612 vehicles (5,584 Toyota, 28 Lexus), on October 5 for 155 vehicles (11 Audi, 28 BMW, 4 Jaguar-Land Rover-Range Rover, 4 Mazda, 63 Mercedes, 4 Mitsubishi, 23 Nissan, 8 Subaru, 9 Toyota, 1 Volkswagen), on October 7 for 3,918 vehicles (504 BMW, 3,387 Honda, 27 Jaguar-Land Rover-Range Rover), on October 10 63 (33 Audi, 12 BMW, 7 Seat, 11 Volkswagen), on 11 October 280 (241 Audi, 19 Seat, 20 Skoda), on 12 October 72 BMW, on 13 October 120 (97 BMW, 23 Ford), on 14 October 647 (109 BMW, 538 Mercedes), on 17 October 999 (118 BMW, 842 Mitsubishi, 39 Volvo), on 18 October 332 (15 BMW, 105 Chevrolet, 3 Citroen, 185 Opel, 24 Suzuki), on October 19 1,496 (119 BMW, 12 Mercedes, 1365 Nissan), on October 20 239 BMW, on October 24 275 BMW, on October 25 13 Mazda, on October 27 2 Nissan, on October 28 12 (9 Mazda, 1 Mitsubishi, 2 Nissan), on October 30 4,113 Mazda, on November 8 693 Nissan, on November 11 400 Volkswagen, on November 23 10 Seat, and on December 8 212 Subaru).
This is the announcement of the TOM:
The Department of Road Transport of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works wishes to inform that from October 3, 2025, the process of suspending the validity of the certificate of suitability of vehicles for which the implementation of a recall for the replacement of an airbag is pending, on the basis of the eight-month deadline set by Circular 8/2025, in February, begins.
The first wave of suspensions applies from October 3 to 30, 2025, on a different date for each brand of vehicle, depending on the day on which an official notification was submitted by each company to the Department and the owners. The deadline for the implementation of the recall can be seen next to each affected vehicle on the website of the Ministry of www.gov.cy/mtcw.
According to the Department's estimates, there is the possibility, provided that the crews work persistently and intensively, to implement other recalls for vehicles that have made an appointment within the eight-month period, despite the large number of vehicles that did not implement the recall by September 30, and ranges from about 16,900 or about 20% of the initial number which was around 81,000 vehicles.
Excluded from this assessment are the cases of vehicles whose owners did not respond. The Toyota company stands out in number, which, according to data provided to the Department, about 5,000 owners did not respond, as well as the Honda company with about 2,000 unresponsive owners. For all vehicles whose owners have not responded, no time extension will be granted for the implementation of the recall
However, for all vehicle owners who have already arranged an appointment to implement the recall within the month of October, they will be given the opportunity to replace the defective part until the date of their appointment, but no later than October 31, 2025.
The eight-month deadline was set due to the severity of the risk and was an exception to the general framework of eighteen months, set out in the Circular. That is why the timetable was strict, with the aim of immediately protecting the citizens. This decision was based on the recommendations of the manufacturing companies, which in some cases had issued instructions for the immediate immobilization of cars.
The affected owners have been informed by letters and messages on their mobile phones, while at the same time large-scale campaigns have been carried out by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works to widely inform the public.
The Department of Road Transport invites citizens who are unable to contact the manufacturers' distributors or are unable to locate an authorized workshop or spare parts, to contact the call center of the Department of Road Transport to receive guidance.
Manufacturers' distributors are invited to make every effort to complete the recalls within the specified period of eight months, increasing the replacement rates of airbags accordingly.
The Department of Road Transport and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works recall the recommendation of non-use given from the beginning in the cases of vehicles that were under recall due to a defective airbag, until the replacement of the component.
The recall is an essential measure for road safety, prevents serious hazards and protects the lives of drivers, passengers and third parties.
