The_Accessor_Autumn 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 33
countries. Out of the 20 FIEA institutes,
only eight responded (including
the IAEA). The FIEA executive was
disappointed with the low response
rate. I also submitted a report on
phantom braking relating to an almost
new Mercedes Vito, which the franchise
dealer declared was too dangerous
to drive. Unfortunately, it could not
be repaired for six to 12 months.
Only after some considerable time
and media pressure did Mercedes
eventually provide the owner with a
refund for the van.
One delegate gave an instance of a
connected vehicle being caused to
malfunction due to a hitchhiker by
the roadside holding up a homemade
destination card towards facing traf昀椀c.
TAKATA AIRBAGS
Jacques advised that there was
concern over the potentially unsafe
condition of a huge number of vehicles
throughout Europe. Although Citroen
has recalled thousands of their cars in
the UK, there are still many thousands
of other makes of cars, with potentially
dangerous airbags on the road, which
are not being repaired swiftly enough.
I advised the meeting that the UK
government, in my experience,
takes a passive approach to vehicle
safety recalls, relying on vehicle
manufacturers to act as the prime
movers.
I explained that Citroen owners of
affected cars in the UK, had been told
to stop using their cars, which has
been causing catastrophic problems,
because it has prevented people
getting to work, schools, hospitals
and shops, whilst their cars are laid
up waiting for repairs. I produced a
report from the Consumer Association
who were highly critical of Stellantis,
the parent company of Citroen,
lambasting their recall process as
shameful, because of delays and
poor communication, even though
they stated their intention to have
all vehicles repaired by the end of
September 2025. There have not been
enough technicians to do the work and
parts supply inadequate. Some insurers
have agreed to allow insurance cover
for drivers to drive to their local dealers
for the repairs to be carried out.
environments. I posed the question:
Should the vehicle manufacturers
be concentrating more on replacing
airbags earlier, on older cars and those
in the Mediterranean countries?
Indications from other delegates
showed that their governments were
also less than proactive resolving this
safety issue for their citizens. One in
four Australian vehicles were said to
have had these defective airbags,
but earlier this year, their recall rate is
logged at 99%. Australia has recorded
at least one fatality and one serious
injury caused by these airbags.
NET ZERO
I explained that I had emailed the
Association of British Insurers (ABI)
suggesting that they consider making
a public announcement, advising
owners of effected vehicles about
their insurance status. This included
whether they are still insured or not,
and in what circumstances. I have
received no response or seen a public
announcement. Drivers are generally
advised to contact their respective
insurers.
At last count, a few weeks ago, there
appears to be no evidence of fatalities
or injuries in the UK from these
potentially defective airbags. The
airbags are more prone to failure if the
vehicles are used in hot and/or damp
www.iaea-online.org/news/the-assessor | AUTUMN 2025 | THE ASSESSORS JOURNAL
One delegate advised that vehicles
equipped with these airbags, which
had not been recalled and repaired,
would have a limited trading value.
Jacques advised that the FIEA
intended to make representations
to the EU authorities, once further
information was collated from other
FIEA board members.
I was asked what steps the profession
in the UK was taking, to contribute
towards Net Zero emissions. I stated
that very little had been done by our
profession towards Net Zero recently,
but I had explained at a previous FIEA
board meeting that there has been a
seismic shift towards remote damage
inspections over the past two decades.
This has reduced the need for experts
travelling to inspect vehicles which is
believed to be in the order of over 90%
of cases. Although it is a major move
by the profession, it is minute when
put in perspective of the overall global
objective. Some of our members
believe that this initiative has resulted
in a signi昀椀cant increase in claims costs,
but there has been little researched
data produced to con昀椀rm this.
The Board meeting was followed by
a Technical Day and AGM – Alan’s
report from both days will follow in the
next issue of The Assessors Journal.
Our thanks to Alan for his diligent
reporting!
JOURNAL
33
