A dangerous defect in airbags made by the now-bankrupt Japanese company Takata has led to recalls spanning multiple car brands, with millions of vehicles across Europe potentially affected.

The scandal has been developing for months. In June 2024, Citroën initiated a massive recall across Europe due to faulty airbags supplied by the now-bankrupt Japanese manufacturer Takata.

Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Honda, and Mercedes, among others, are among the 20 manufacturers believed to be affected by these potentially hazardous airbags, which have been linked to numerous deaths and injuries.

Takata airbags have been a major concern in the automotive industry since 2014, when it was discovered that they could cause deadly injuries by ejecting dangerous fragments into the driver's face. This defect is attributed to a gas used in the airbags that deteriorates in hot and humid climates.

"Many vehicles manufactured between 1998 and 2019 are equipped with Takata airbags that pose a risk of serious or fatal injury to both the driver and front passenger," warns the French government on a dedicated webpage.

Since 2016, at least 15 fatalities have been reported in France due to these defective airbags, including 14 in Overseas France, according to France Info.

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A Takata airbag. / © USA TODAY NETWORK via Reuters Connect

The defect in Takata airbags has been known for over a decade. Despite repeated warnings, vehicle manufacturers were slow to initiate recalls. However, in recent months, numerous companies, including Citroën, Volkswagen, and Skoda, have begun recalling millions of affected vehicles.

In October 2024, the Stellantis group reported that around 200,000 Citroën and DS vehicles equipped with the faulty airbags had been repaired in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. These four countries account for 91% of the vehicles involved in Stellantis' major recall campaign, which mandates that affected vehicles remain immobilised until repaired.

Despite these efforts, many car owners have yet to come forward, and the list of manufacturers impacted by the recall continues to grow.

Is your vehicle affected? Check the list below

Around 20 manufacturers are now recalling vehicles with faulty airbags, affecting cars produced between 1998 and 2019. To find out if your vehicle is impacted, visit the manufacturer's website using the links below (this list has been provided by the French government). Once there, enter your chassis number, which can be found on your vehicle registration document.

If your car is affected, contact an authorised repair shop for your vehicle's make as soon as possible to have the airbags replaced. The repair is free of charge and usually takes less than half a day.