An estimated 120,000 drivers in the UK are unable to operate their vehicles due to a safety warning about a potentially deadly issue with the airbags. The car manufacturer Stellantis has advised people to stop using certain versions of the popular Citroen C3 and DS3 models until they are repaired. This comes after a fatal accident in France last month raised concerns about the safety of the airbags in these models. Many owners are reporting long wait times for repairs, and Stellantis has acknowledged that customers will face inconvenience. Lisa Shackleton from Hull, who owns a 2014 Citroen DS3, is one of those affected. She relies on her car to take her husband to medical appointments and has a planned trip to be near her daughter, who is undergoing chemotherapy. However, she is unsure of how to get there now that her car cannot be driven until the end of July when it is scheduled for repairs at a dealership an hour away. Another driver was told they would have to wait until January of next year for their repair appointment. Stellantis, the parent company of Citroen, has stated that they are working to repair as many vehicles as possible each day, prioritizing those with the most urgent needs. This recall, which instructs owners not to drive their cars at all due to safety concerns, is uncommon. It affects all C3 and DS3 models made between 2009 and 2016, as well as a small number of DS3s produced from 2016 to 2019. Stellantis has stated that these vehicles should not be driven until the airbags, made by the now-defunct Japanese supplier Takata, are replaced. This is the latest development in a long-running issue that has led to the recall of approximately 100 million cars worldwide over the past decade. The issue was brought to light again last month when a woman driving a Citroen C3 was killed in France after a minor collision, caused by shrapnel from a faulty airbag. Takata, once a major supplier of airbags, began to receive reports in 2013 of people being injured or killed by their products. The chemicals used to inflate the airbags were becoming more unstable over time, particularly in warm and humid conditions, causing them to explode with excessive force and send shrapnel into the car’s cabin. Many car manufacturers were affected and issued recalls, but Stellantis, then known as PSA Group, continued to use Takata airbags in their European factories after being assured by Takata that they were not affected. Takata filed for bankruptcy in 2017, and Stellantis only became aware of incidents involving European-made airbags in 2019. They initially believed that only cars in hot and humid regions were affected and began a recall campaign in those areas. In April 2020, the recall was extended to all of Europe, but owners were still allowed to drive their vehicles while awaiting repairs. However, after the incident in France, Stellantis issued a stop-drive order for all affected vehicles in Europe, including the UK. Since then, numerous car owners have complained about poor communication from Stellantis and conflicting messages from Citroen and DS dealerships. Despite the significant disruption to owners’ daily lives, Stellantis has no plans to offer compensation, stating that they have mobilized their entire company to obtain replacement airbags. They acknowledge that customers will experience inconvenience in the short term due to the large number of affected vehicles. It is unclear how owners should get their cars to dealerships for repairs, as they are not allowed to be driven. The company is exploring options for airbag replacement at other locations, including the owner’s home. In France, the government has advised drivers in certain regions and territories to stop using any vehicle with Takata airbags, and the same instruction applies to all vehicles built before 2011 in the country. In total, around 2.5 million cars are affected. In the UK, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency supports Stellantis’ decision to issue a stop-drive recall and is working with the company to raise awareness. They do not currently have plans for a broader recall. Owners can check if their vehicle is affected by the recall on the company’s website.
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