03.06.2026 22:31
A citizen living in Aydın had an accident last year with a 2024 model vehicle purchased as brand new. Believing the vehicle was defective because the airbags did not deploy in the accident, the citizen applied to the consumer court and filed a case against the company. The court found the plaintiff, who claimed that a secretly defective product was provided, to be justified and ordered the company to pay 2,263,600 TL in compensation to the consumer, plus statutory interest.
Fırat Soncul, who lives in Aydın, had an accident on April 16, 2025, while driving his brand new car on the Aydın-Denizli highway at 110 km/h, when the vehicle in front suddenly braked, causing him to brake but unable to stop in time.
FILED A LAWSUIT WHEN AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY
After the airbags in his totaled car did not deploy, the driver, who narrowly escaped death, filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer for a total of 5.5 million TL, including 2 million 799 thousand liras for the vehicle price, 300 thousand TL in material damages, and 2 million 400 thousand TL in non-pecuniary damages.
AWARDED MILLIONS OF LIRAS IN COMPENSATION
In the case heard at the Aydın Consumer Court, the expert report supported the consumer's claim of a defect in the vehicle. At the end of the trial, the court ruled that the vehicle should be considered as a defective product. The sales contract was terminated, and it was ordered that the 2 million 263 thousand 600 liras paid for the vehicle be paid to the plaintiff with interest accruing from the date of the lawsuit.
The court also ruled to dismiss the case procedurally against the defendant company due to lack of active standing, while finding the consumer's claim justified against the intervening defendant.
"I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE IT WAS ADVERTISED AS SAFE WITH 12 DIFFERENT AIRBAGS"
Following the court's decision, Fırat Soncul stated that they survived the accident with minor injuries, but the non-deployment of the airbags was a serious issue. Soncul, who has been fighting a legal battle for about a year, said, "The fact that none of the airbags deployed despite a serious accident in a vehicle sold as being so well-equipped shocked us. When purchasing the vehicle, it was specifically stated that it had 12 different airbags. However, the fact that none of them activated at the time of the accident raised serious questions. After the incident, the manufacturer did not admit fault. But the court and expert reports proved we were right and that the manufacturer was at fault."
While the reasoned decision of the court, which concluded today, is expected to be announced in the coming days, it was noted that the ruling is also of a precedent-setting nature regarding such issues.