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🛡️ EUSW
🇬🇧
🧸 Product DE THE NETHERLANDS March 11, 2022

OPEL — Astra, Cascada, Meriva, Zafira

Passenger car

Risk level
Serious risk
Type
Injuries
Category
Motor vehicles
Hazard
A defect in the gas generator of the driver airbag can lead to uncontrolled inflation and the release of metal fragments when the airbag is activated. This defect may increase the risk of injuries in the event of an accident.
Origin
Poland

⚖️ Actions ordered by authorities

  • Measures ordered by economic operators (to: Manufacturer) Recall of the product from end users
🗄
Archived (older alert)
This alert was reported 1538 days ago and has been moved from our active feed to the archive. The original safety information still applies — we have no confirmation from the issuing agency that the product is safe again. Refer to the official notice for the current status.
📈 Timeline
10 days in total
May 17, 2026 May 27, 2026
Daily snapshot data starts accumulating once the scheduler runs — for now this is interpolated from the agency's first/last dates.

What is this? This is about a problem with some Opel cars. The driver’s airbag may not work right. It could blow up too hard and send out metal pieces.

What's happening? Opel has found this issue in some Astra, Cascada, Meriva, and Zafira cars. The airbag might hurt the driver instead of helping.

Does this affect me? If you own one of these Opel cars, you could be at risk. The problem is in cars made in Poland.

What should I do? Take your car to an Opel dealer right away. Ask your mechanic or doctor if you feel unsure.

🤖 This plain-language summary is automatically generated from the official agency notice using AI. It is for general information only — not medical advice. For decisions about your health, always consult a pharmacist or doctor and read the official source linked below.

🔬 Medical / technical details (for professionals)
Brand(s) / product name(s)
Agency-published detail

Risk level: Serious risk · Type: Injuries · Category: Motor vehicles · Hazard: A defect in the gas generator of the driver airbag can lead to uncontrolled inflation and the release of metal fragments when the airbag is activated. This defect may increase the risk of injuries in the event of an accident. · Origin: Poland

First published
March 11, 2022
Last refreshed by us
1 week ago
Severity (as classified)
High
Official source
https://ec.europa.eu/safety-gate-alerts/screen/webReport/alertDetail/10005616

All information on this page comes from the official agency notice. We translate and summarise it; we don't add or edit facts.

❓ Frequently asked questions

What is this product recall alert about?
OPEL — Astra, Cascada, Meriva, Zafira. Risk level: Serious risk · Type: Injuries · Category: Motor vehicles · Hazard: A defect in the gas generator of the driver airbag can lead to uncontrolled inflation and the release of metal fragments when the airbag is activated. This defect may increase the risk of injuries in t...
When was this alert issued?
This alert was issued on March 11, 2022 by EU Safety Gate.
Which countries are affected?
The alert applies to the following countries: Germany and THE NETHERLANDS.
How serious is this alert?
Serious risk. A serious risk means the product or medicine can cause significant harm. Treat the alert as urgent.
What should I do?
If you have this product at home, stop using it and return it to the point of purchase for a refund. Keep the receipt if you have one — most retailers refund without it for safety recalls.
Where can I find the official notice?
The full official notice is published on ec.europa.eu.

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⚠️ We aggregate official notices. We do not give medical advice. For medical or legal decisions, consult the source agency and a qualified professional.