We have reported several times on our website about recalls for Citroën C3 and Citroën DS3 vehicles due to Takata airbags. The situation is apparently more serious, as Stellantis has issued a press release recommending that owners stop using their vehicles.
Stellantis announces an immediate stop-drive action for all Citroën C3 (second generation) and DS3 (first generation) vehicles manufactured between 2009 and 2019 equipped with Takata airbags. Owners of such vehicles should immediately cease using their vehicle when safe to do so.
Vehicles included in this new stop-drive action, were already part of an ongoing comprehensive recall campaign that started over one year ago, first in Southern Europe and then expanded northwards. Recall decisions, especially stop-drive actions, are based on multiple factors, including airbag specifications, vehicle age and usage, climate conditions, and notifications from regulatory authorities.
Following the tragic accident in France, Stellantis has decided to deploy a stop-drive order for all impacted vehicles across Europe. All affected customers will be notified by letter. Owners can also check if their vehicle is affected and what actions are advised by using the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) check tool on the following Citroën websites:
- Citroen UK
- Citroen Germany
- Citroen France
- Citroen Italia
- Citroen Poland
- Citroen Romania
- Citroen Austria
If impacted, they should register their vehicle to enable the processing of their repair as soon as possible.
It is of paramount importance that owners of vehicles who may have changed either their address or contact details keep their information updated with the Vehicle Licensing Authority so that they can be reached in a timely and efficient manner.
Fatal accident in Reims
After a brief investigation, we discovered that the reason for the stop-drive recall was a fatal accident that occurred just a week earlier, on 11 June 2025, in Reims (Marne), in which a 37-year-old woman died. According to initial findings, her death was caused by a Takata airbag in her 2014 Citroën C3. “The victim was very seriously injured, suffering extensive damage to her face and jaw,” explains Reims public prosecutor François Schneider to the French public service website Franceinfo.fr.
Do not underestimate the importance of recalls. By law, they are only announced in the most serious cases that threaten the health, life or safety of drivers, crew members and other road users. Find out which other models are being recalled due to airbag issues, or search for your car by make and model.
Countries affected: France, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Poland, Austria, Sweden, Czech Republic, Norway, Slovakia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia, Iceland, Belarus, Latvia, Moldova, Romania.