Warning issued against importation of faulty vehicles manufactured between 2002-2015
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competition Commission has issued a warning regarding the importation of various vehicle brands manufactured between 2002 and 2015, following recent recalls in the United States and Japan.
The affected brands include Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, and Ford, among others. These vehicles have been identified as having poorly fitted airbags produced by the now-defunct Japanese manufacturer Takata Corporation. Reports indicate that these faulty airbags have caused at least 22 deaths and over 180 injuries worldwide.
"The Commission wishes to alert consumers in the COMESA region about the ongoing developments regarding the Takata airbags, due to the high importation of used cars in the region," stated the COMESA in an official statement.
In May, the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a "Do Not Drive" warning to owners of 11 vehicles, including Pontiac, Acura, BMW, Chrysler, Infiniti, and Dodge. The warning cited safety concerns due to the defective airbags.
"According to the Safety Recall Notice by the US NHTSA, the Takata PSDI-5 inflator propellant may, over time, create excessive internal pressure, resulting in the rupture of the inflator body upon deployment. This rupture can cause metal fragments to pass through the airbag cushion material, potentially causing injury or death to vehicle occupants," explained the alert.
As of January 2024, over 100 million Takata airbags had been recalled, leading to the manufacturer's bankruptcy after being overwhelmed by product recalls due to safety concerns.
