Six Major Car Brands Issue Urgent Recall Warning For South African Drivers

South African motorists are once again being urged to take vehicle safety seriously as six major car brands confirm active recalls linked to the global Takata airbag crisis. While the issue is not new, manufacturers warn that a number of affected vehicles are still on local roads, some with potentially life-threatening defects.

At the centre of the latest warning is Stellantis South Africa, which says it is still trying to trace about 25 vehicles that have not yet been repaired. The company has reissued a Stop-Drive warning, stressing that driving with an unrepaired Takata airbag could lead to serious injury or even death.

Why The Takata Airbag Recall Matters

The Takata airbag defect has become the largest vehicle recall in global automotive history. The problem lies in certain airbag inflators manufactured by Takata, which can degrade over time when exposed to heat and moisture.

According to Toyota, moisture intrusion can cause excessive pressure when an airbag deploys. In severe cases, the inflator can rupture, sending metal fragments through the airbag cushion and into the vehicle cabin.

Although no injuries or fatalities linked to this defect have been reported in South Africa so far, global cases have shown just how dangerous the failure can be.

Stellantis Pushes Renewed Stop-Drive Warning

Stellantis South Africa says it has spent several years proactively contacting customers and replacing defective inflators free of charge. While most vehicles have been fixed, some owners have either not responded or can no longer be reached.

The company is urging anyone who suspects their vehicle may be affected to immediately stop driving and book a repair at an authorised service centre. All recall work is carried out at no cost to the owner.

Other Brands Also Affected

Stellantis is not alone. Ford, Honda, and BMW have also issued Takata-related recalls over the years, affecting millions of vehicles worldwide.

On South African social media, motoring forums and community groups have renewed calls for drivers to take recalls seriously. Many users point out that second-hand owners are often unaware their vehicles are affected, especially when cars change hands multiple times.

Affected Vehicles In South Africa

The recall affects several models across Citroën, DS, Chrysler, Jeep, Opel, and Chevrolet. These include popular vehicles such as the Citroën C3, Jeep Wrangler, Opel Astra, and Chevrolet Cruze, spanning production years from the early 2000s to late 2010s.

Drivers can check whether their vehicle is affected by visiting their manufacturer’s official website and entering their VIN number into the recall portal.

What South African Drivers Should Do Now

With older vehicles still common on local roads, especially in Gauteng and other urban centres, manufacturers say this recall remains a real safety concern. The advice is simple: check your VIN, take the Stop-Drive warning seriously, and book the free repair if your car is affected.

In a country where road safety is already under pressure, fixing a known defect could make the difference between walking away from an accident or suffering a preventable tragedy.

{Source:Business Tech}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com