She buys a Volkswagen Golf from a dealership, only to find out that the Takata airbag recall has not been carried out.

When you earn the minimum wage at 26, buying a car represents months of savings. Sarah thought she made the right choice by going to a multi-brand dealership established for over 30 years in Chambourcy in the Yvelines. A salesman who doesn't hesitate to boast about his reputation on television. "They go on TF1 to warn about private purchases , saying that it's better to trust them ," says Sarah's mother, who contacted us to share her experience.

Yet, something is amiss, judging only by the dealership's customer reviews. "Absolutely avoid," several buyers advise. One of them describes a car " full of hidden defects, which we discovered right after the sale. When we asked for the sale to be canceled and for a refund, the managers started insulting us and telling us to leave." Another describes the dealership as "a rip-off festival ."

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Without yet being aware of these problems, in early July, Sarah set her sights on a Volkswagen Golf registered in 2010. The dealership then displayed a very typical sales pressure. " In the corner of the parking lot, the salesman told us that we had to buy it immediately, that another woman was also interested, " says her mother.

Sarah's entourage remains calm and carries out the usual checks. Her mother's partner, an engineer by training, examines the vehicle meticulously. Condition of the bodywork , documents in the glove compartment, technical inspection history: everything seems in order. One last question remains: " Is this vehicle subject to a recall campaign, particularly for the airbags?" the protagonists ask. "The car is not affected," assures the seller without batting an eyelid. Reassured by this categorical answer and the checks carried out, Sarah pays a deposit of 500 euros. The deal is done.

It was when they went to a Norauto store (selling car accessories) in Chambourcy to buy a simple phone holder that Sarah and her family discovered the extent of the lie. "One of the store staff helped us install the phone holder. Before asking: 'But where did you buy the Golf and how much for?' " Sarah and her mother replied. "We need to have it checked right away ," warned the Norauto salesman.

This is where a thorough inspection comes in: the mechanic at the technical inspection center points out the elements underneath the car that have not been properly repaired and draws up a list of the affected parts. But above all, he informs the public of a danger that is now widely known: the vehicle is affected by the Takata airbag recall.

Sarah's mother called Volkswagen France, which only confirmed the mechanic's statements: the airbag had not been replaced on this registration, the German brand confirmed. The family also learned that the recall letter had been sent at the beginning of April, three months before the sale, to the vehicle's previous registration address.

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Sarah and her family are furious. Since February 2025, car dealerships have been legally required to inform their customers of any ongoing recalls on the vehicles they sell. This information must accompany the technical inspection. " They can't hide such a serious defect," Sarah's mother fumes.

However, the family did not want to get bogged down in lengthy legal proceedings. They preferred to avoid lengthy legal proceedings. "Starting a lawsuit, canceling the sale, or requesting a reduction in the sale price—that's a lot of work. We could have done it, but it wasn't our priority, " says Sarah's mother, who chose to act differently. "We regretted signing too quickly and getting ripped off. To avoid this kind of situation, I strongly advise your readers to be wary and to read online reviews carefully before going to the dealership ."

Sarah finally had the faulty airbag replaced at the Volkswagen dealership in Orgeval on July 30, but the bitterness remains. " My daughter earns a small salary, deprived herself of everything for almost a year, to buy her very first car that could have punctured her brain. And then, for a month we couldn't touch the car because of this hidden defect."

Faced with other scams she has seen at this dealership, another piece of advice comes to her. "For future buyers of used vehicles, I would say to always have a new technical inspection done at your own expense before signing," she concludes. "Honest sellers are happy to do it, while dishonest ones will try to dissuade you. In this case, move on quickly."