The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

“Safety comes first” is a worldwide notion that seems to have lost its way when coming around to Egypt. Many people neglect that concept when it comes to things like crossing the street, operating dangerous machines, or driving their cars around town. But things are getting real with a development that is shaking vehicular safety.

Faulty Airbags Prove Fatal

Takata, a Japanese company that manufactures airbags, has been bombarded with a backlash lately when it was discovered that their airbags become faulty after six or more years. The problem here is not that the airbag fails to open, the major concern is that when it does, it could be fatal. Airbags contain a metal piece responsible for inflating it with air, and it has been discovered that the design does not allow that part to sustain itself throughout years of usage in damp and hot environments. Depending on the weather, this part could fail in a time range between 6 to 20 years. Airbags are created to safeguard passengers and drivers at times of dangerous crashes, but even in some small incidents, the airbags could deploy, and if they’ve gone faulty, the metal shrapnel will be sprayed as it deploys, and is highly likely to be fatal.

Worldwide Response to the Crisis

Last month, The Guardian reported 23 deaths linked to Takata’s faulty airbags, and we’ve had incidents here in Egypt as well. The problem is worldwide, real, and likely fatal. This is not a publicity stunt, not a rumour, and not an exaggeration of a concern. Australia has ordered the recall of 1.7 million vehicles, and many countries are following suit, with the USA recalling over 40 million vehicles. While this may be news in Egypt, the catastrophe has been known for about a year. In June of 2017, the New York Times reports that Takata has failed to manage that crisis and has filed for bankruptcy.

Which Cars Were Affected?

Unfortunately, Takata was not a small company. Founded in 1933, it has manufactured airbags for numerous major car companies. The affected automakers list is long, it includes BMW, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, as well as Jaguar and Land Rover.

What You Should Do

Skoda is investigating the incident that sparked this matter in Egypt, and Toyota have, in fact, started a recall process in Egypt. Yet, you should not wait for someone to call you. If you own a car from the above manufacturers, you must check with your car manufacturer regarding the issue of the recall. To be sure, search on the Internet for anything regarding your specific model and year of manufacture.

You can also check on the official website of your car manufacturer in the recall checker section. You can do so using the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) which is a 17-digit number found inside your car at the bottom of the windshield in the driver side, beneath the pillar when the door is open, or on the car’s official papers. You can also check with the chassis number, which is the last 7 digits of the VIN.

Stay safe everyone, don’t take this lightly, and make sure your car is safe.