The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competition Commission has released a consumer alert for consumers of Rwanda and other regional countries over faulty Takata airbags that are linked to 22 deaths and more than 180 known injuries.

According to a statement from COMESA Competition Commission, the affected vehicles are mostly from model years 2002 to 2015 and as of January 2024, over 100 million Takata airbag inflators worldwide had been recalled by more than 20 manufacturers.

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"According to the Safety Recall Notice by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Takata PSDI-5 inflator propellant may over time, create excessive internal pressure resulting in the rupture of the body of the inflator upon deployment, thereby causing metal fragments to pass through the air bag cushion material and cause injury or death to vehicle occupants,” the statement reads in part.

"The ruptures may occur in some of the inflators after several years of exposure to persistent conditions of high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling, among other factors.”

The commission added that it learnt of a "Do not Drive” warning by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to affected vehicle owners in May 2024. The affected vehicles include Toyota RAV4s made between 2004 - 2005, Corolla’s, Nissan Sentras, Nissan Pathfinders, Honda Accords, Honda Civics, Honda Odyssey, Honda Pilot.

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Efforts to speak to Damien Ndizeye, the Executive Director of the Rwanda Consumer Rights Protection Organisation (ADECOR) on whether some consumers have been affected - were futile by press time.

All affected individuals have been urged to contact the CCC or the local competition authoritie