Tens of thousands of drivers across France have been urgently instructed to stop using their vehicles following a safety alert issued by Stellantis, the global automotive group behind Citroën and DS brands. The recall affects 82,000 Citroën C3 and DS3 vehicles produced between 2014 and 2019 due to the risk posed by faulty Takata airbags.
The directive follows the death of a female driver in Reims last week. According to Reuters, the woman died after sustaining injuries caused by an airbag explosion in her 2014 Citroën C3. In response, French authorities and Stellantis have issued a ‘stop drive’ order, advising immediate removal of the affected models from the roads.
Stellantis confirmed that the stop-drive notice applies to all affected C3 and DS3 vehicles in France and Europe, and the company has already repaired 481,000 of the 690,000 vehicles fitted with the defective airbags.
The French transport ministry raised concerns about the automaker’s prior risk assessments, stating the recent fatality “raises questions about the risk analyses carried out by the manufacturer.” Reports also indicate that although the vehicle owner had received a recall notification, the letter was sent to an outdated address.
The airbags in question are part of a broader global issue involving the Japanese supplier Takata, whose products have led to widespread recalls across various brands. In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recalled around 67 million Takata airbags, warning they can explode upon deployment, releasing metal fragments that may cause serious injury or death.
Similar advisories have been issued for models including the BMW 3 Series (2000–2006), Ford Mustang (2005–2014), Honda Civic (2001–2002), and Toyota Corolla (2003–2004).
In France, the Ministry for Ecological Transition noted that numerous vehicles produced between 1998 and 2019 may contain dangerous airbags. An online verification tool is available for concerned drivers, and repairs, typically requiring under half a day, are offered free of charge at authorized garages.
The ministry urged swift action: “Defective airbags can burst upon deployment, propelling metal fragments into the passenger compartment. This can cause serious or even fatal injuries. Affected vehicles must be repaired as soon as possible.”
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