ADAC Warns of Persistent Danger from Takata Airbags
Automobile club ADAC highlights the ongoing safety risks posed by Takata airbags. Multiple manufacturers have recalled vehicles due to these faulty safety devices.
The automobile club ADAC is once again drawing attention to the persistent safety risks associated with Takata airbags in vehicles. The issue, known for years, affects numerous car brands and has led to widespread recalls globally.
The defect in Takata airbags stems from an unsuitable propellant, reportedly used to save costs. This propellant can, under humid and warm conditions, explode without cause or deploy with excessive force during a crash. Such a forceful deployment can propel metal fragments into the cabin, causing severe or fatal injuries.
Recently, Skoda was compelled to recall approximately 13,500 vehicles in Germany. The recall affected models Citigo, Fabia, Octavia, Rapid, Superb, and Yeti manufactured between April 2014 and June 2016. The recall's KBA reference number is 15342R, with the manufacturer's recall code being 69PB.
Mercedes has also initiated a precautionary recall. In August 2025, 200,000 vans produced between 2002 and 2006 were recalled worldwide, with about 60,000 in Germany. The recall wasn't due to a factory defect but the possibility that incorrect airbags might have been installed during repairs.
In France, driving bans have already been imposed on hundreds of thousands of vehicles following a fatal accident caused by a faulty Takata airbag. Approximately 9,000 Opel vehicles registered in Germany have also faced recalls and potential driving bans if re-imported. Stellantis, Opel's parent company, has stated it will implement a phased recall approach based on field tests and technical analyses, considering the aging behavior of the airbag's chemical components.