14:57 15-09-2025

Stellantis expands Citroën and DS stop-drive recall over Takata airbags

Stellantis has expanded its large-scale recall of Citroën and DS vehicles over defective Takata airbags. Nearly 10,000 more cars have been added, and owners are being urged to stop driving immediately. The concern is the risk of an airbag rupturing on deployment, which can lead to fatal injuries.

Alarm intensified after a fatal crash in France in 2023, when the driver of a 2014 Citroën C3 died following an airbag explosion. In the UK there have been no fatalities so far, but regulators pressed for the programme to be widened.

Back in June, a stop-drive notice covered Citroën C3 and DS3 models, around 120,000 cars. In August, Stellantis added a further 9,968 vehicles, including the C4, DS4 and DS5. The list has now been extended again to include the Citroën C4 (2010–2013), DS4 (2010–2017), DS5 (2010–2018) and the C-Zero electric model (2010–2017).

Owners are being warned that if a vehicle appears on the list, it is unsafe to use. Repairs require booking with an authorised dealer; replacement is free of charge. Stellantis says work on C3 and DS3 cars should be completed by mid-October, with the remaining models done by December. The message leaves little room for hesitation, and the timetable suggests a concerted push to get fixes over the line quickly.