A new scandal for the automobile industry? In May 2024, the Citroën brand prohibited certain C3 and DS3 drivers from driving their cars because of defective Takata brand airbags present in the steering wheel of the cars which could injure or even kill drivers in the event of an impact.
Indeed, the airbags of the Japanese company Takata have caused several deaths by projecting dangerous parts into the driver's face, due to a gas that ages poorly in hot and humid climates. After having repaired more than hundreds of thousands of Citroëns in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal last year, the French brand extended its recall to all of Europe and all of France this Tuesday, January 21.
In its program this Thursday, “Special Envoy” conducted an investigation into these Takata airbags and revealed that no less than 26 brands are equipped with potentially fatal airbags from the Japanese brand which went bankrupt in 2017.
The Ministry of Regional Planning and Ecological Transition, which explains that vehicles circulating in overseas departments and regions “are more exposed to this risk”, due to humidity and heat, has also drew up a list of 26 manufacturers concerned, citing “many vehicles built between 1998 and 2019”.
-Among them, we find Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Citroën, Cupra, Dodge, DS, Ferrari, Ford, Honda, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Seat, Skoda, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota and Volkswagen.
To find out if your vehicle is affected, the government site brings together links to forms from automobile brands on which it is possible to check directly by typing the VIN (vehicle identification number), the chassis number which has 17 characters and is located at mark E on the vehicle registration document. This number can also be found on the manufacturer's plate located on the windshield of your car.
If, after checking, your vehicle is affected, it is imperative to make an appointment with a brand mechanic “without delay” to replace the airbags. The ministry also specifies that the repair is quick and free, with “vehicle immobilization of less than half a day”.
