Latest news with #DS3
The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Irish car owners of popular motor brand warned to ‘stop driving their vehicle' as major recall issued over airbag risk
IRISH car owners of a popular motor brand have been warned to "stop driving their vehicle" - as a major recall has been issued. Citroen C3 and DS 3 3 Citroën has issued a recall notice of its C3 and DS 3 models Credit: Citroën 3 Both models have safety issues surrounding their air bags Credit: Citroën The Road Safety Authority shared the warning on The recall affects certain Citroen C3, C-Zero and DS 3 models as their Takata airbags could burst with excessive force if they deploy in a crash. The RSA said: 'Important notice for owners of a Citroen C3 and DS 3. 'Citroen/DS Ireland have asked vehicle owners of certain Citroen C3 and DS 3 models to stop driving their vehicle until the airbags have been replaced by a dealership.' READ MORE IN MOTORS This deterioration could make the inflator explode more violently than intended, leading to pieces of metal striking the driver or passengers. The RSA said this fault can cause serious or even They said: 'Takata airbags may deteriorate over time, particularly in warm, humid climates. Most read in The Irish Sun 'This could cause the airbag to burst with too much force in the event of an accident, which could lead to serious or even fatal injuries in the worst-case scenario.' Citroen Ireland confirmed that all 1,162 Citroen vehicles produced between 2008 and 2017 are impacted by this I'm an Irish driving instructor and here's how to avoid getting marked for incorrect positioning during the test DS Ireland also said there are 707 DS 3 cars affected, which were built between 2016 and 2019. Both companies have requested that all owners stop driving these vehicles immediately and arrange for the airbags to be replaced by an authorised dealership. The recall applies only to specific models and years, so drivers should check carefully using their Vehicle Identification Number. Anyone who has already replaced their airbags in the past should still confirm that their car is safe to drive as the RSA said it should not be ignored under any circumstances. Safety bosses have warned that even if a car seems to be working fine, the airbags could fail unpredictably if there is an impact. Citroen and DS owners are now advising Anyone who thinks their car might be included in the recall can phone DS Automobiles Ireland on Gowan Distributors will also be sending letters directly to owners with details on how to book a free repair appointment. The RSA added: 'Gowan Distributors Limited (DS Automobiles Ireland) will be writing directly to those consumers affected by this recall. 'If you believe your vehicle may be affected by this recall, you can contact DS Automobiles Ireland on 3 An urgent recall alert has been issued to Irish drivers Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
France mandates recall of vehicles with Takata airbags, post-fatality
The French government has mandated the recall of an additional 800,000 vehicles equipped with Takata airbags in response to a recent fatality linked to a defective airbag. This is the 'biggest-ever product recall' in automotive history, which began eight years ago when Takata filed for bankruptcy protection, reported Reuters. The tragic incident in Reims has prompted French transport minister Philippe Tabarot to reassess risk analyses conducted by manufacturers and to implement immediate recall procedures with a stop-drive ban for all affected Citroën C3 and DS3 models. Tabarot announced that all vehicles with the Takata airbag technology must be recalled, regardless of their age. He further directed all manufacturers to instruct drivers in Corsica and other overseas departments to cease driving any vehicles with Takata airbags until they are fixed. This directive also applies to all vehicles produced up to 2011 in mainland France. Earlier, the government had indicated that vehicles manufactured between 1998 and 2019 from 30 different brands could be subject to recall. According to French government spokesperson Sophie Primas, the decision for an expanded recall was made as a precautionary measure. The representatives for Takata's current owner have not provided a statement regarding the expanded recall in France. Takata had previously announced that it anticipated recalling approximately 125 million vehicles globally by 2019. Earlier in the month, Stellantis enforced an immediate stop-drive action across Europe for certain Citroën C3 and DS3 vehicle models, citing concerns over Takata airbags. "France mandates recall of vehicles with Takata airbags, post-fatality" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Saudi Gazette
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Saudi Gazette
Deadly airbag fault sees 2.5m cars recalled in France
PARIS — France has ordered the recall of 2.5 million cars equipped with defective airbags that can explode on impact and have caused a series of deaths. It follows a fatal accident earlier this month in Reims, east of Paris, in which a 37-year-old mother driving a Citroen C3 was struck in the head by pieces of flying metal after a minor collision. It is the latest drama in the 20-year scandal over now-defunct Japanese manufacturer Takata, whose airbags were installed by nearly all the world's leading car-makers. The airbags use ammonium nitrate gas for instant inflation. But the gas can deteriorate in hot and humid conditions, leading to powerful explosions which throw shrapnel into the driver's face. The transport ministry in Paris on Tuesday issued a "do not drive" order on cars of all brands bearing Takata airbags in Corsica and in France's overseas territories, as well as on pre-2011 cars in mainland France. The difference is because hotter climates, such as in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, make the airbags more unstable. Of the 18 French deaths attributed to the airbags, 16 have been in the overseas territories. The number of affected vehicles is put at 1.7 million. The ministry said owners of a further 800,000 post-2011 cars on the mainland should report to their dealers and have their airbags changed. The measure is a major step-up from the initial reaction to the Reims tragedy, which was to immobilise only certain Citroën vehicles – the CS3 and DS3. "This decision should send a clear and firm message to the manufacturers, and at the same time encourage owners to have their vehicles checked as soon as possible," the ministry said. The move risks causing serious disruption to families, a few weeks ahead of summer holidays. The ministry said all drivers affected by order should be able to access free replacement vehicles until their airbags are changed. In a statement last week, car-maker Stellantis — which produces the C3 and DS3 — said it was "committed to acting quickly and with the utmost transparency" to provide its customers with a solution. It is thought that 35 people have been killed by Takata airbags around the world, and some 100 million vehicles have been recalled in various countries. The scandal was mainly focused in the US and has belatedly hit Europe over the last two years. The UK arm of Stellantis also issued a stop drive notice for its Citroen C3 and DS3 cars this week. Lawyers and victims' families met in Paris to discuss the possibilities of legal redress on Tuesday. "The rhythm of accidents is accelerating. Since January 2025 there has been a death every two months," lawyer Charles-Henri Coppet said. "It is urgent to force manufacturers to issue recalls and make sure they are properly carried out, otherwise there will be more deaths." "If my father had not had a Takata airbag, he would be alive today," Vicky – a woman from the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe – told Le Figaro newspaper. Her father was killed in July 2024 when his airbag exploded. "There was no recall order out on his car. He had no idea he was driving a time-bomb." France's main consumers' association UFC-Que Choisir accused the government and manufacturers of complacency. "No measure has been taken by the manufacturers which reflects the urgency and gravity of the situation," said the association's president Marie-Amandine Stévenin. "Their risk analyses were obviously not reliable, because we are continuing to have accidents." — BBC
Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Stellantis issues 'stop drive' action following fatal incident
The parent group of Citroen has issued a 'stop drive' action for two popular older models that went off sale more than half a decade ago, after a well-documented fault killed a driver in France. Stellantis has told affected UK owners of the second-generation Citroen C3 and Mk1 DS3 hot hatches produced between 2009 and 2019 to immediately stop using their cars to check they do not have an outstanding recall notice. The Europe-wide alert has been issued over potentially lethal airbags fitted to the cars, which were supplied by Takata - the company that's now linked to 36 deaths, hundreds of injuries, and safety recalls for tens of millions of vehicles around the world for the same issue. One of the defective airbags is said to have led to the death of woman in Reims earlier this month after she swerved in her C3 to avoid hitting an HGV but collided with a safety barrier. It is said to be the second fatal incident recorded in France linked to the deadly airbags. Following the incident, French officials increased pressure on Stellantis to remove remaining affected models from the road, with around 30 per cent of C3s and DS3s in the country believed to still have the defective devices in place. Stellantis UK says it is of 'paramount importance' that owners of Citroen C3s and DS3 in Britain who may have changed either their address or contact details update this information with the DVLA to ensure the car maker can make contact to have their cars rectified as soon as possible. Last week, French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot called for all C3 and DS3 models with Takata airbags to be pulled off the road in the country with immediate effect following the fatal incident, which took place on 11 June. According to Radio France Internationale (RFI), the 37-year-old woman died after the airbag in her 2014 Citroen C3 exploded when the car scraped a motorway barrier after she had taken evasive action to try to avoid a lorry. Metal fragments from the exploding airbag struck her in the face. A teenage passenger was also injured, according to the report. Stellantis said it had sent the woman a registered letter on 20 May warning her about the airbag, but the address was incorrect, and the letter was returned. Some 70 per cent of these cars registered in France are yet to have the faulty airbags replaced, with Citroen finding it difficult to contact some owners. This is a common problem when older cars are recalled. These motors are likely to have changed hands at least once over the years. As a result, manufacturers are unable to source the existing keeper's details, especially if they no longer use an authorised Citroen dealer for servicing and maintenance of their vehicles. Yet Tabarot dubbed the existing recall rate in France 'unacceptable and scandalous', saying the company's response had 'not matched the scale of the risk'. Shortly after his comments on Tuesday, Citroen announced it was placing all affected vehicles under a stop-drive order across Europe, with Stellantis UK submitting its official statement on Friday. The order relates to all second-generation Citroen C3s, which were manufactured between 2009 and 2016, first-generation Citroen DS3s produced between 2009 and 2016, and DS3s later sold under the DS Automobiles brand - simply called DS3 - up to 2019. There are reportedly 441,000 examples of these affected cars being driven in Europe with Takata airbags in situ, of which 82,000 are in France. The Takata airbag recall is by far the world's biggest vehicle call back of all time, as well as the largest scale safety recall the automotive sector has ever seen. Potential faults were first raised in 2006, when Takata officials said some of its airbag inflators expanded with too much force, sending metal shrapnel into cars, posing massive risk to the health of the driver and occupants. More than 100 million cars sold by a variety of brands were affected globally, which impacts cars dating back as early as the mid-1990s. All C3 and DS3 owners with outstanding recall notices will be contacted by letter, Stellantis UK said last week. However, owners of these particular models are urged to check whether their motor has an outstanding recall notice. They can do so by entering the vehicle identification number (VIN) on the recall page of the Citroen UK website . The VIN can be found on the V5 registration document for the car. Owners of Citroens with an outstanding recall alert must register their vehicle for a repair as soon as possible either online or by calling the company's recall helpline on 0800 917 9285, or by phoning Citroen customer care on 0800 093 9393. 'Vehicles included in this new stop-drive action in the UK, were already part of an ongoing comprehensive recall campaign that started over one year ago, first in Southern Europe and then expanded northwards,' Stellantis UK said. 'Recall decisions, especially stop-drive actions, are based on multiple factors, including airbag specifications, vehicle age and usage, climate conditions, and notifications from regulatory authorities. 'Whilst there have been no reported instances in the UK, Stellantis has decided to deploy a stop-drive order for all impacted vehicles across Europe including the UK. 'This decision underscores the company's unwavering commitment to customer safety.' It added: 'Stellantis UK is mobilising its full network of suppliers, retailers and manufacturing plant to support this action and ensure the fastest, safest and most convenient solution for each customer. 'Stellantis remains fully committed to acting swiftly, transparently, and responsibly in addressing this issue.' Earlier this year, experts suggested there are over 3.2million potentially faulty and unsafe cars and vans on Britain's roads with outstanding recall notices not checked by the manufacturers. Data experts Auto Data Solutions (ADS) warned that dealers are failing to maintain customer relationships, which leaves many drivers unaware that their car is subject to a recall, despite manufactures issuing an official notice via the DVSA. These 2.3million car are only those produced between 2018 and 2023 - meaning even more drivers could be at the wheel of older defective vehicles. Calling it 'the biggest wake-up call yet for dealers to begin taking the maintenance of customer databases more seriously', Jon Sheard, operations director at ADS, told This is Money: 'Failure to keep track of customers not only lets down the manufacturers who are fulfilling their duty of care by notifying authorities and drivers to potential issues but also motorists who have a right to know that their vehicle should be professionally checked.' An outstanding recall notice also threatens to put drivers in hot water with insurers. This is because it is the responsibility of the car owner to check if a recall notice has been issued. A collision found to have been caused by a mechanical fault that a driver has failed to have remedied despite a recall notice could invalidate their policy, the RAC says. BBC consumer champion Matt Allwright told Morning Live in March that 'particularly if it's a serious safety defect and it results in someone being injured or worse, then it could be on you'. He added: 'If it turns out that you didn't take the car in for a recall when you were made aware of it, then your insurance company could say you weren't entirely doing your due diligence on that car to make sure you knew everything about that car.' The DVSA also points out that if police find you at the wheel of a car with a major safety recall you can be 'fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get three penalty points for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition'.
North Wales Chronicle
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- North Wales Chronicle
Citroen C3 drivers told ‘stop driving' due to airbag fault
The vehicles affected are second-generation Citroen C3s produced from 2009 to 2016 and first-generation DS3s manufactured from 2016 to 2019. The French firm has issued a 'Stop-Drive' order after a recent report stated that a woman sustained fatal injuries caused by an airbag in a 2014 Citroen C3 in Reims, France, last year. As a result, around 82,000 C3 and DS3 models have been removed from the road across France. The vehicles use Takata airbag systems, which could be faulty. However, Stellantis UK said that there were no reported incidents of faults in the UK, but it has decided to take action regardless. The car manufacturer in a recent statement said: 'Stellantis UK is mobilising its full network of suppliers, retailers and manufacturing plant to support this action to ensure the fastest, safest and most convenient solution for each customer. 'Stellantis remains fully committed to acting swiftly, transparently, and responsibly in addressing this issue.' Owners will be contacted by letter, or they can check whether their car is affected by using the VIN check tool on Citroen's website. You will need the vehicle identification number (VIN). You can find this: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) said on Friday (June 20) that learner drivers can 'claim a refund if they have to change or cancel their driving test at short notice' because of the recall of Citroën C3 and DS3 cars. If you intend to take the test in a Citroën C3 or DS3, check if it's affected on the Citroën website. Recommended reading: How you could get a roadside fine amid new DVSA changes HMRC How is car tax changing on April 1 2025 for drivers? DVLA issues warning to anyone who passed their driving test before 2015 'Do not drive your car until it has been repaired if it's affected,' the DVSA states. 'You will need to get your car repaired before you can drive it again. This includes using it for your driving test.' Those affected can apply for a refund for their driving test by 11.59pm on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
