The Department of Road Transport has suspended the MOT’s of vehicles with unresolved airbag recall notices.
The suspension applies to vehicles that have exceeded the eight-month deadline set by Circular 8/2025 issued in February.
According to the ministry, approximately 16,900 vehicles—roughly 20% of the original 81,000 affected—have yet to undergo airbag replacement.
Toyota and Honda account for the largest share of non-compliant vehicles, with 5,000 and 2,000 units respectively.
Vehicle owners can check their recall deadlines on the ministry’s website. No extensions will be granted for cases without scheduled appointments.
The department urged owners facing difficulties locating authorized service centers or parts to contact its helpline for assistance. Officials reiterated that vehicles under recall should not be used, emphasizing that airbag replacement is a critical safety measure for drivers, passengers, and others.
Special provisions apply to disabled vehicle owners.
In a statement, the Department of Road Transport acknowledged the challenges faced by disabled users and pledged to seek “practical solutions,” though no specific measures were detailed. Officials said each case would be prioritized and that discussions with manufacturers were ongoing to ensure continued mobility for affected individuals.
The Takata airbag defect, first identified more than two decades ago, has triggered the largest automotive recall in history and prompted sweeping changes in global vehicle safety regulations.
At the center of the crisis is a faulty airbag inflator manufactured by Japan’s Takata Corporation. The inflator, which used ammonium nitrate as a propellant, was found to degrade over time when exposed to heat and humidity. In some cases, the inflators exploded during deployment, sending metal fragments into the vehicle cabin.
The defect has been linked to at least 31 deaths and hundreds of injuries worldwide. More than 100 million vehicles from 19 major automakers—including Honda, Toyota, BMW, Ford, and Nissan—have been recalled since the issue first came to light.