Millions of cars in France still require defective airbag replacement

More than two million cars in France still have defective airbags that need replacing, the government has said, as the brands Citroën and Volkswagen launch new appeals to drivers to address the issue.

The government confirmed on Friday, February 21, that more than 2.3 million vehicles still had the airbags installed, and need to have them replaced.

The airbags are from the brand Takata.

“In order to inform owners as fully as possible, a note will be made on the technical inspection report for vehicles targeted by a recall campaign from the beginning of March,” said the Ministry of Transport in a press release.

Which vehicle brands are affected?

Brands to have recalled their vehicles due to the airbag issue include:

• Nissan

• BMW

• Chevrolet

• Toyota

• Mercedes

• Ford

• Honda

• Jaguar

• Land Rover

• Mitsubishi

• Peugeot

• Seat

• Skoda

• Citroën, which reissued a recall for some 237,000 vehicles in northern France today (February 24), after its initial recall in spring 2024. C3 and DS3 models produced between 2008 and 2013 in the north of France are subject to a “stop drive” order, while those produced between 2014 and 2019 are only subject to a recall. 

• Volkswagen, which launched a recall on February 14, and is asking more than 250,000 French customers to stop driving their vehicles due to the problem.

Overall, the vehicles affected were manufactured between the years 1998 and 2019.

A full list of the models concerned by brand and year, and the details of their recalls, can be found on the dedicated government website here.

Read also: Mass car recalls in France: which brands and models are impacted and why
Read more: Citroën extends its recall of cars due to airbag fault in France
Read also: Faulty airbags: 236,000 Citroen owners in France told to stop using cars 

What is the problem with the airbags? 

The airbags have been found to degrade more quickly than they should, particularly in overseas climates where temperatures and humidity are higher.

They are Takata-branded airbags, with an ammonium nitrate gas generator that was subject to recall more than a year ago.

This causes the airbags to malfunction if they are deployed in a collision, which can cause metallic fragments to detach and cause severe injury. The airbags have already been linked to 17 deaths since 2016 in France.

What should I do if my vehicle has one of these airbags?

Manufacturers are required by law to inform drivers that their vehicles may be at risk (and the companies may face financial penalties if they do not do this). However, you can also check yourself.

The government advises:

• If your vehicle was built between 1998 and 2019, check your letters or contact the manufacturer to see if you are affected

• If so, contact a repairer/garage of the make of your vehicle as soon as possible to change the airbags

The repair is free and quick (the vehicle should be out of action for less than half a day), the ministry states.

You can also check if your vehicle is affected by finding the 17-character ID number (numéro d'identification du véhicule, VIN), which is found on the carte grise, the manufacturer’s manual, or the windscreen. 

Once you have this number, you can use your car brand’s own website to double check if your vehicle requires the change. All of the vehicle manufacturers affected have made this information available on their websites (for example, this is the page for Volkswagen).

If you do not have your airbags replaced the ministry states “you are putting yourself, your passengers and other road users at risk”. 

If the manufacturer of your vehicle has launched a “stop drive” campaign for the model in question, you are strongly advised to stop using your vehicle and have the airbags replaced.