At least an additional 10,000 vehicles have been recalled in the UK due to serious safety concerns, prompting a “do not drive” warning for drivers. The initial “stop drive” order issued in June for specific Citroen and DS vehicles has now been expanded by parent company Stellantis to include more cars deemed unsafe for driving.
The safety advisory pertains to the Takata airbag systems in these vehicles, which may be defective. This caution follows a tragic incident in Reims, France, where a woman lost her life due to an airbag malfunction in a 2014 Citroen C3. Fortunately, no injuries related to the airbags have been reported in the UK.
Affected vehicle owners can expect to be contacted by Stellantis via letter to arrange free repairs. The company aims to have most impacted vehicles fixed by early October. To determine if your car is subject to the recall, you can utilize the VIN check tool on the Citroen website.
Stellantis assured customers of its commitment to swiftly and responsibly address the issue, leveraging its network of suppliers, retailers, and manufacturing facilities for support. A recall notice emphasized that the decision to issue a stop-drive order across Europe, including the UK, was made in the interest of customer safety, despite no incidents being reported in the UK.
All impacted customers will receive notification by mail, and they can also verify the status of their vehicle and recommended actions using the VIN check tool on the Citroën UK website. Owners are encouraged to register their affected vehicles promptly for repair processing. For assistance with registration or inquiries, owners can contact the Recall Helpline at 0800 917 9285.