Faulty Takata airbags: Government forces manufacturers to lend replacement vehicles

Faced with the scandal surrounding Takata's faulty airbags and the ongoing vehicle immobilisations in France, affected motorists must receive more support. In a decree to be published in the Official Journal on Wednesday, July 30, and which Libération has been able to consult, the Ministry of Transport has announced that car manufacturers will have to offer "mobility solutions" to customers immobilised for more than 15 days by dangerous Takata airbags , such as the loan of a replacement vehicle or financing another means of transport.

These vehicles targeted by a "stop drive," 1.7 million in total in France, will have to be repaired on average 15 days after the appointment is made, otherwise "heavy penalties" will be imposed, the same source reports. Home repair appointments or towing of the vehicle to the repair center must also be offered.

Furthermore, Philippe Tabarot's ministry specifies that "a minimum level of airbag stocks is to be expected for manufacturers." These are all solutions that manufacturers must implement "quickly" so that "the drivers concerned can continue to travel."

This decree confirms that all affected cars equipped with airbags considered to be at risk in Corsica and overseas must be immobilized, as well as cars dating from before 2011 in mainland France excluding Corsica.

The ministry also confirmed a general recall of all cars equipped with a high-risk airbag throughout France , representing an additional 600,000 vehicles, but without any immobilization. Most manufacturers are affected, from Citroën to Volkswagen and Mercedes, excluding the Renault group.

If they have not already been contacted by mail, motorists should check on the website of their vehicle manufacturer whether it is affected , using its VIN number, indicated on the registration document. Manufacturers then have twenty days from Wednesday to send the State an initial weekly report listing the actions they have taken.

In the event of non-compliance, manufacturers have one week to implement corrective actions, failing which they will be subject to a penalty of one million euros per week of delay.

Manufacturers are also required to launch "regular" radio and poster campaigns to inform their customers, as well as "door-to-door and street canvassing in the overseas departments and regions," where recalls are stalling.

Since 2014, the industrial scandal surrounding these airbags, which have caused a long series of accidents and deaths, has rocked the automotive sector worldwide. Due to a gas that ages poorly, these safety devices, which are supposed to protect passengers in the event of an impact, can explode, particularly in hot and humid climates, projecting parts into the driver's face. A second fatal accident linked to these airbags occurred in mainland France in early June. They have caused a total of 18 deaths and 25 injuries—including 16 deaths and 24 injuries in overseas territories—according to the Ministry of Transport.

Updated at 4:55 p.m. with more details