Takata defective airbags: Citroën, Opel, Audi,… how to know if your vehicle is affected by a recall measure ?

Now that the Japanese airbag manufacturer Takata has gone bankrupt, the government is launching an information campaign to encourage the repair of vehicles equipped by the Japanese company and to contact manufacturers and garages as soon as possible.

Between 1998 and 2019, many cars were equipped with airbags manufactured by the Japanese company Takata. This Wednesday, January 8, the Ministry of Transport and the Overseas Prefects launched an information campaign to encourage people to change their car's Takata airbags.

According to information from the Radio France investigation unit, at least 500,000 French motorists were affected by potential vehicle recalls.

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An information campaign for Overseas

Takata used ammonium nitrate in these airbags to inflate them. However, humidity, heat and aging caused the ammonium nitrate to deteriorate and possibly explode. Due to the weather conditions in these regions, the overseas territories are most exposed to the risk of these airbags. But generally speaking, the aging of airbags can lead to their degradation.

A “free and fast” repair

As part of the information campaign, the government recommends checking your mail or contacting the manufacturer to find out if your vehicle is affected. Citroën, DS, Opel and Volkswagen are among the manufacturers concerned. The complete list and the platform set up by each manufacturer are available on the government website.

Manufacturers offer to check if your vehicle has a defective airbag via their website using the vehicle identification number (VIN) available on the registration document. The repair is, according to the government, “free and quick” and takes only half a day.