The Consumer Protection Authority (CPA) launched a national campaign on Wednesday underlining the importance of rectifying the defects in vehicles by recalling them from the market. The campaign will continue until October 24.
According to Salim bin Ali al Hakmani, Chairman, CPA, "This campaign has been launched within the framework of the continuous efforts to preserve the rights of consumers and ensure the quality and safety standards of services or products.”
It may be noted that CPA has recalled over one million vehicles because some defects can cause a danger to consumer safety and health.
CPA said it implemented 764 recalls from 2013 until the end of the first half of this year, which included 1,175,673 vehicles and 154,315 vehicle parts.
There were 25 recall campaigns involving 8,787 vehicles and 17,500 goods during the first half of this year.
Khalid bin Ali al Rashidi, director of communications and information department, CPA, said, "The national campaign to recall vehicles is because there has been a lack of response from consumers to these campaigns despite the fact some risks can lead to traffic accidents, deaths and financial losses.
"Some of the serious defects found in vehicles are related to the sudden opening of the vehicle hood, safety locks, or automatic opening of the main lock.”
CPA recalled more than 20,000 vehicles with faults in the brakes, which could cause accidents, a vehicle fire due to oil leakage, and 8,295 vehicles with faults in the cruise control.
The number of vehicles affected by airbag defects was 210,420.
The number of vehicles affected by a defect in the engine start system, a defect in the engine programming, or a defect in the fuel pipe was 32,340, while 13,648 vehicles were affected by a transmission defect, 8,378 vehicles by poor manufacturing of the components and their non-conformity with the standard specifications.
Mohammed bin Mubarak al Qasimi, CPA, said, "As per Article (27) of the Consumer Protection Law, it is obligatory for the supplier upon discovering the existence of a defect in the commodity or service that may harm the consumer.”
CPA said that the supplier must stop the circulation of this commodity or provide the service immediately and must notify the consumers who purchased the commodity or received the service and the concerned authorities.
The punishment in cases of violations includes a fine of up to RO 50,000 and imprisonment of up to three years.
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