In the last days, the motor industry has been shaken, again, due to the news of a new death in France linked to Takata airbags. A case that has forced Citroën to order immediate immobilization of the C3 and DS3 models that still feature these faulty devices. With it, the ghosts of the past are reawakened, as Takata and all its "scheming" nearly destroyed the reputation of many brands in the past. And the worst part isn't that; it's that this already happened in 2024...
Confirmation of the second death in France related to this problem, which occurred after the violent activation of the airbag in a 3 Citroën C2014, has set off all the alarms. The incident took place in Reims and the victim, a woman, died as a result of the injuries caused by the projection of metal fragments coming from inside the airbag. His passenger, a 14-year-old boy, was also injured. Take note in case you have one and want to feel safer...
A failure that has jeopardized the safety of the Citroën C3 and DS3…
The origin of this danger is in the airbags manufactured by the Japanese company Takata, responsible for the largest recall in the history of the world's automobile industry. The problem lies in the inflator, which uses ammonium nitrate as propellant for airbag deployment. Over the years, especially in areas of high humidity and heat, the material can deteriorate and cause uncontrolled explosions when activated, launching metal pieces with great violence into the passenger compartment and causing fatal injuries to the occupants.
Following the latest accident, French authorities, and in particular the French Minister of Transport, have demanded explanations and much stricter monitoring from manufacturers. Citroën, under the umbrella of the Stellantis group, reacted immediately by announcing the "Stop Drive" campaign and urging C3 and DS3 owners who have not replaced their airbags. stop using their cars until the repair is complete.
How many vehicles are affected?
It is believed that more than 440.000 units throughout Europe, of which some 82.000 are in circulation in France, remain at risk because they have not yet replaced the defective airbag. The campaign is aimed at C3 and DS3 manufactured between 2009 and 2019, regardless of the year of production, since the measure applies to all models with airbags without changingSo far, Citroën and Stellantis have managed to replace these components in a significant percentage of vehicles, but thousands more are still pending. In Spain, most of the affected models have already been to the workshop, although difficulties persist in locating some owners.
How to identify if your car is part of the campaign
If you own a Citroën C3 or DS3 of the years indicated, you can check if your car needs intervention by entering the chassis number (VIN) in the Citroën official websiteIf so, do you recommend Do not drive the vehicle under any circumstances until the airbag is replaced free of charge at an authorized Citroën service center. Furthermore, Citroën has assured that, in the event of immobilization, will facilitate alternative mobility solutions if required.
The scope of the problem and other brands involved…
The scandal of the Takata airbags transcend to Citroën. Brands like BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz y Toyota They have also been the subject of review campaigns and lawsuits from consumer associations for the use of these components. Takata went bankrupt in 2017 as a consequence of the magnitude of the crisis, but even today there are many vehicles in circulation unrepaired, despite the manufacturers' efforts to locate and contact those affected.
The role of the authorities and the owner-drivers themselves…
The case has highlighted the importance of keeping contact information up to date of vehicle owners and the need to respond quickly to recall notices. In this latest accident, the deceased driver never received the notification of a change of address, a fact that has led the French government to study measures to streamline and strengthen procedures road safety and more rigorously control compliance with the campaigns.
Citroën's own director, Xavier Chardon, has been emphatic in his statements to the French media. “It’s important that customers contact us. We do not shirk our responsibilities." Replacing defective airbags is free and mandatoryOfficial workshops, in collaboration with dealerships and Citroën itself, are authorized to perform the intervention free of charge to the customer and, in some cases, even at home or at mobile locations to facilitate the process.
Contact Citroën as soon as possible to verify the situation and schedule a free repair..
Source - Citroën
Images | Citroen
