Faulty airbags lead to thousands of car recalls in UAE

Dubai — Japan’s top three automobile manufacturers on Wednesday announced millions of cars recall over problem in airbags made by Takata Corporation and their distributors in the UAE planned to launch service campaigns for thousands of vehicles.

The latest announcements raise to 31 million of vehicles recalled worldwide since 2008 over Takata airbag inflators. — AFP

Toyota Motor Corporation and Nissan Motor Company said they are recalling some 6.5 million vehicles globally, while Honda Motor Company said it would follow suit, without giving details.

The latest announcements raise to roughly 31 million the number of vehicles recalled worldwide since 2008 over Takata airbag inflators, which can erupt with too much force, spraying shrapnel inside the car.

Al-Futtaim Motors, exclusive distributor of Toyota in the UAE, has planned to start a service campaign for 27,816 vehicles in the country but Nissan Middle said it will recall Sentra, Sunny, Pathfinder, X-Trail and popular Patrol for models between 2003 and 2007 without providing the details of the number of vehicles affected.

Six deaths have been linked to the defective Takata airbags, all on cars made by Honda. Toyota and Nissan said their recalls were precautionary and that no accidents or injuries had been reported. As per your inquiry on the airbag inflator recall, please find below the statement from Nissan Middle East.

“As part of an ongoing investigation into Takata inflator issues, the Nissan Group will expand its ongoing Takata Passenger Airbag Inflator Recall Campaign to include additional MY2004-MY2007 vehicles equipped with “SPI” inflators. Nissan plans to begin notifying customers in June. Nissan dealers will test the subject inflators, and replace the inflator as necessary,” Nissan Middle East said in a statement to Khlaeej Times on Wednesday.

“Nissan is committed to a high level of customer safety, service and satisfaction and is working with its dealers to promptly address this issue,” it added.

Al Futtaim Motors said: “Following communication with Toyota Motor Corporation, we have started a Special Service Campaign on 25,825 Toyota Yaris Sedan, Yaris Hatchback and Corolla MY 2003 to 2007 in the UAE.”

In addition the automobile distributor said: “… We have started a Special Service Campaign on 1,991 Toyota RAV4 2003 – 2005 MY in the UAE.”

In the interests of delivering the highest standards of Toyota product quality and customer care, Al-Futtaim Motors will begin contacting all customers with affected models as soon as the parts to be replaced are available.

— abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com