HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

Spain's main consumer watchdog La Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios (OCU), has recently warned Spanish drivers about two potential faults that could compromise the safety of some of the most popular cars in the country. According to the OCU, these two errors are the result of separate factory issues that have affected tens of thousands of cars.

The first of these issues relates to the Peugeot 208, one of the most widely sold cars in Spain. OCU has received reports of a steering system failure in some models of the Peugeot 208. The French automaker has informed the European Union's rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products (RAPEX) about the problem, which could potentially cause serious accidents. The steering system error affects more than 30,000 Peugeot 208 models that were manufactured between March 19, 2020, and October 24, 2022. Specifically, the problem lies in the locking nuts of the steering tie rods, which are not properly adjusted. This misalignment can cause drivers to lose control of the vehicle while driving, leading to accidents.

Peugeot has agreed to contact the owners of affected models in order to address the issue.

The company will fix the problem free of charge and as quickly as possible. However, OCU advises drivers to check with Peugeot's customer service to confirm whether their vehicle is among those affected, especially if it was purchased second-hand. Some owners may not be registered in Peugeot's databases, which could cause them to slip through the cracks.

The second issue identified by OCU relates to potentially faulty airbags that were manufactured by the Japanese company, Takata. The issue is said to affect as many as 300,000 cars on Spanish roads. The airbag defect is believed to impact several Audi cars built between 2004-2017, BMWs built between 2012-2014, and Skoda models built between 2012-2017.

Takata is one of the world's leading manufacturers of seat belts and airbag devices. Over the years, however, its faulty components have led to the recall of millions of cars around the world. The affected airbags can explode violently, spraying shrapnel and causing serious injuries or even death. Given the severity of the problem, OCU recommends that drivers who suspect their vehicle may be affected should contact their manufacturer directly.

Audi, BMW, and Skoda have already begun reaching out to people who have purchased their vehicles to replace the faulty airbags. Drivers who are unsure about whether their car is impacted by the issue are encouraged to consult the list and contact their manufacturer if necessary. OCU stresses the importance of taking action to address these issues, as they can have serious consequences for the safety of drivers and passengers on the road.

A complete list of affected models can be found on their respective websites but here is a brief rundown of the makes and models listed.

Audi
Audi A4 and A4 Cabriolet, S4 and S4 Cabriolet, RS4 and RS4 Cabriolet, Audi A6, S6, A6 Allroad Quattro and RS6 built between February 23, 2004 and August 2011.

Audi A5, Q5, Q5 Hybrid, SQ5 TDI and SQ5 TDI Plus built between September 13th 2008 and November 26th 2012.

TTS Coupe, TT Coupe, TTS Roadster, TT Roadster, TT RS Coupe, TT RS Roadster, R8 Coupe and R8 Spyder built between September 3rd 2014 and February 11th 2017.

BMW
BMW1, BMW 2 and BMW 2 Active Tourer/Gran Tourer, BMW 3, BMW 4, BMW 5, BMW 6, BMW X1, X3, X4 , X5, X6 as well as the BMW M2, M3, M4 and X5M manufactured between February 2012 and December 28th 2014.

Skoda
Skoda Citigo, Roomster, Fabia II, Fabia III, Rapid, Yeti, Kodiaq, Octavia III, Superb II and Superb III models manufactured between June 1st 2012 and December 15th 2017.

Source

https://www.ocu.org/coches/coches/noticias/airbag-peligroso-audi-bmw-skoda
https://www.thelocal.es/20230424/factory-error-affects-safety-of-tens-of-thousands-of-cars-in-spain