Italy's Takata Airbag Recall Targets 1.25 Million Vehicles
More than 1.25 million cars on Italian roads still contain Takata airbags that can rupture and shoot metal fragments, posing a serious safety risk.
Consumer groups Codacons, Adusbef and Assoutt have launched the “Strade Sicure” campaign and a new online portal, supported by Stellantis, that lets owners enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is part of the recall. The portal aggregates data from ACI, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the EU Safety Gate and manufacturers.
The Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport issued decree n. 229 on 2 July 2026, obliging inspection stations to check for recalled Takata airbags during the periodic vehicle revision. Vehicles flagged under an urgent “Stop‑drive” recall are automatically barred from circulation until the inflators are replaced; ordinary recalls must be resolved by 1 October 2026.
Around four million Italian vehicles have been identified in the recall programmes, of which roughly 1.25 million are still in use. Manufacturers such as Citroën have already sent replacement notices to owners. The defect stems from an ammonium‑nitrate propellant that can degrade with humidity and temperature, causing excessive pressure and rupture of the inflator.
Entities: Citroën · Codacons · Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport · Stellantis · Takata Corporation
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The deadline for ordinary Takata airbag replacement in Italy is 1 October 2026. (Italian Ministry decree)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The “Strade Sicure” campaign launched an online portal that lets owners verify by VIN if their car is affected by the Takata recall. (campaign organizers)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Stellantis supports the “Strade Sicure” campaign and its portal for Takata airbag checks. (campaign announcement)
- [DISPUTED] Approximately 1.25 million vehicles in Italy are equipped with potentially defective Takata airbags. (consumer groups and ministry data)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Decree n. 229 issued on 2 July 2026 requires inspection of airbags during vehicle revision in Italy. (Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Takata airbag defect involves an ammonium‑nitrate propellant that can degrade, causing inflator rupture and projection of metal fragments. (technical analysis of the defect)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Vehicles subject to a “Stop‑drive” Takata recall are prohibited from circulation until airbags are replaced. (decree and recall guidelines)
- [DISPUTED] Around four million Italian vehicles have been identified in Takata recall campaigns. (associations' campaign data)