Car owners in Eastern and Southern Africa are urged to be cautious as a regional consumer watchdog raises concerns about used vehicles with potentially dangerous airbags.
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Competition Commission issued a warning after major car manufacturers, including Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, and Ford, recalled millions of vehicles produced between 2002 and 2015 due to faulty airbags. These airbags, manufactured by the now-defunct Takata Corporation, have been linked to at least 22 deaths and over 180 injuries worldwide.
“The high volume of used car imports in our region necessitates informing consumers about the Takata airbag issue,” the Commission stated. East Africa relies heavily on second-hand vehicles, with Kenya alone importing over 62,000 used cars last year, primarily from Japan.
The faulty airbags can rupture upon deployment, causing serious injuries or even death to occupants. Car owners are advised to check their vehicle’s identification number (VIN) against recall lists published by automakers or safety agencies.
Fortunately, even if you are not the original owner, you can still have the faulty airbag replaced by contacting the car’s manufacturer.
This warning comes after the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a similar “Do Not Drive” warning in May for specific car models equipped with Takata airbags. The safety concerns ultimately led to Takata’s bankruptcy in 2017 due to the overwhelming number of recalls.
Consumers in Eastern and Southern Africa are urged to remain vigilant and take immediate action if their vehicle identification number falls within the recall range.
