Slipped into a Citroën press release, the sentence is surprising. While the manufacturer is organizing a major recall campaign to replace the defective airbags of C3 and DS 3 manufactured between 2009 and 2019, the models concerned are mainly circulating in the south of France. “Customers are located in the regions south of Clermont-Ferrand and Lyon“, indicates the firm in chevrons. Provence is therefore directly affected.
In France, 181,764 Citroën C3s are affected by the recall, and 65,149 DS 3. The recalled cars are mainly located in the south of the country, because the airbags – manufactured by the equipment manufacturer Takata – contain a gas which, under the effect of “heat and humidity“, is even more likely to deteriorate. According to the car manufacturer, there is thus “a risk associated with geographic areas, duration of service and climatic conditions“.
Parts thrown when the airbag is triggered
This risk is that of injury. The gas, propellant, can alter the triggering of the airbag in the event of an accident. Particles or small parts may be thrown from the airbag. With deployment speeds reaching 300 km/h, injuries can be serious or even fatal.
It is for this reason that Stellantis asks owners of the affected cars to “stop immediately“to drive their vehicle, then”to contact the Citroën network for detailed information on necessary repairs and alternative mobility solutions available free of charge“. In other words, loaner cars. 17,800 of them have already been deployed, and Citroën assures that 32,000 vehicles will be available to its customers in June.
“It’s very nice, this story of heat and humidity, but a vehicle is made to drivefor his part, calls out lawyer Christophe Lèguevaques, who will launch collective action to try to have the damage suffered by the motorists concerned recognized. Does a vehicle become dangerous by going south, by a simple trip? We have the impression that Citroën is trying to limit the damage, but in reality, it is unfounded discrimination.“
Elsewhere in the world, Stellantis is recalling C3s and DS 3s in Southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Other regions of the globe that may experience heat and humidity.
Deaths attributed to defects in Takata airbags
Citroën is not the only manufacturer to launch a recall of vehicles equipped with Takata airbags. In the past, Audi, Skoda and BMW have already recalled vehicles. Thursday May 30, Nissan did the same. the Japanese automaker has issued an alert regarding several models manufactured between 2002 and 2006. These are the Sentra, Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4. The alert concerns 83,920 vehicles, which are also recommended “not to drive“. But it only concerns cars circulating in the United States.
According to the US Highway Safety Agency, 27 deaths and at least 400 injuries have so far been officially attributed in the United States to defective airbags from the Japanese company Takata.
