LTA finds 3,200 more vehicles with defective Takata airbags, linked to death of S'porean in 2022

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has identified another 3,200 vehicles affected by the recall of defective Takata airbags, which were linked to the death of a Singaporean man in 2022.

The case

The fatal incident involved late driver Michael Ong Kong Meng, who was driving along the SLE on Oct. 10, 2022 when a chain collision happened.

When Ong collided with the vehicle in front of him, it caused a "quite extensive" impact that led to his airbag being deployed.

He was killed when a metal piece, believed to have been broken off from an object in the airbag, penetrated his head.

Another 3,200 vehicles discovered

In response to Mothership's queries, LTA said the additional 3,200 vehicles were identified after it worked with authorised motor dealers to verify the recall status of vehicles potentially fitted with the defective Takata airbags.

These vehicles had previously been sold by parallel importers that are no longer in operation.

LTA said it will issue letters to the owners of the affected vehicles and advise them to have their vehicles rectified.

As of mid-January 2026, about 94 per cent of vehicles affected by the Takata airbag recall in Singapore have been rectified.

The board added that motor dealers have notified around 212,000 vehicles affected by the defect, with the remaining 6 per cent still being addressed.

An LTA spokesperson also urged buyers of vehicles to consider a seller's ability to meet long-term obligations such as after-sales support, recall notification and rectification of safety defects.

Buyers are advised to purchase cars from dealers with "a strong track record and ability to discharge these responsibilities over the vehicle's useful life".

"Upon notification, vehicle owners should work with their motor dealers to have any safety-related defects rectified promptly, for their own safety," said the spokesperson.

Top photo from Canva