Faulty airbags: 236,000 Citroen owners in France told to stop using cars

Drivers of nearly a quarter of a million Citroën vehicles in the north of France are being asked to stop driving until they fix a fault with their car’s airbags. 

Manufacturer Stellantis has issued a ‘stop-drive’ campaign, telling car owners to urgently repair the airbags and to not use the vehicle until then. 

Around 236,000 vehicles – registered to owners roughly north of Lyon/Clermont-Ferrand/Limoges/Rochefort – are affected. 

The recall campaign concerns Citroën 3 and DS3 models produced between 2008 and 2013. 

A call for repairs was first launched to drivers in the north of France in January 2025, however it did not include the call to stop driving. 

Read more: Citroën extends its recall of cars due to airbag fault in France

Tests carried out on an affected vehicle in the northern Loire-Atlantique department has led to the demand for drivers to stop using vehicles until replacing the airbags.

A previous recall of cars in the south of France and North Africa – that began in 2024 – also asked drivers to stop using their vehicles until repaired as the issue was seen as more serious in these areas.

Read more: Citroën faces backlash in France over airbag delays

The issues affected airbags face are more likely in hotter and humid conditions (which cause the airbagqs to deteriorate), meaning the recall has taken place gradually, with those situated in warmer climates being asked to repair their vehicles first.

At least 15 vehicle owners have died due to faulty Takata airbags in France according to Radio France. 

Deaths have occurred mostly in the country's overseas departments, but at least one happened in a mainland region.

The staggered recall has led to criticism from a lawyer representing vehicle owners against manufacter Stellantis. 

"Stellantis has known about the problem at least since 2014. It's criminal to have waited so long," said Christophe Lèguevaques (quoted in FranceInfo).

"I think we've done our best to ensure the safety of our customers and cause them as little inconvenience as possible," said Citroën general manager Thierry Koskas.

How to check if your vehicle affected

You can check if your vehicle is affected using your vehicle identification number (VIN) – found on your car’s certificat d’immatriculation (often known as a carte grise). 

Add this information into the official Citroën recall website and follow the instructions to take your vehicle to be repaired.

Unlike the first round of repairs, which saw drivers have to bring their vehicles in waves to prevent an airbag shortage – leaving some drivers unable to use their vehicle for extended periods – the group says they now have sufficient supplies for all drivers to repair their vehicles at once.

In addition, eight major factories owned by the group in the north of France will be temporarily utilised to help with the repairs.

Millions of vehicles impacted 

Airbags from Japanese producer Takata are the root of the problem both for this recall and many others over recent years. 

They are produced with ammonium nitrate, which can deteriorate over time, causing airbags to malfunction. 

The issue is not limited to Citroën – or even Stellantis – vehicles with dozens of manufacturers are affected. 

The French Transport Ministry recently released a list of all vehicles that may have faulty airbags, which you can find below.

Read more: List: Car models with potentially dangerous airbags in France