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New safety alert means 120,000 UK drivers can't use their cars
New safety alert means 120,000 UK drivers can't use their cars

Wales Online

time04-07-2025

  • Automotive
  • Wales Online

New safety alert means 120,000 UK drivers can't use their cars

New safety alert means 120,000 UK drivers can't use their cars 'Owners of such vehicles should immediately cease using their vehicle when safe to do so' Affecte drivers should receive letters (Image: Getty Images ) Thousands of UK motorists have been left with undriveable cars due to a serious airbag defect alert. A critical safety recall was made last month for certain models of the Citroen C3 and its counterpart, the DS3. The warning concerns second-generation Citroen C3s produced from 2009 to 2016, as well as first-generation DS3s built from 2016 to 2019. These cars are equipped with potentially defective Takata airbag systems. The situation stems from an incident where a woman suffered fatal injuries from an airbag in a 2014 Citroen C3 in Reims, France, the previous year. Consequently, approximately 82,000 C3 and DS3 units have been withdrawn from circulation throughout France. It is estimated by the BBC that roughly 120,000 UK motorists could be impacted by this alert. ‌ One disheartened motorist in the UK reported to the BBC that her car will not be repairable until next year. ‌ Denise Harris, a 67-year-old blue badge holder from Hull, said January 2026 is her soonest available appointment, reports the Mirror. Denise said: "I've just paid my insurance for the year [and] I've paid my tax for the year for it to go home and stay in the car park and not be driven for six months." Another driver, 69-year-old Lisa Shackleton also from Hull, told the BBC the importance of her vehicle, which she uses to ferry her ill husband to medical appointments and visit her daughter who is undergoing chemotherapy treatment three hours away. Article continues below She said: "I've tried to get the car fixed, but as I didn't get to know about the recall soon enough, the earliest it can be done is the end of July." If you own one of the affected vehicles, you should receive a notification by letter. Alternatively, you can check if your car is part of the recall by using the VIN check tool on Citroen's website. ‌ Stellantis, the parent company of Citroen, stated that there have been no reported incidents of faults in the UK. In a recent statement, the car manufacturer 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." ‌ A recall notice published online by Stellantis reads: "Stellantis UK announces an immediate stop-drive action for all Citroën C3 (second generation) and DS3 (first generation) vehicles manufactured between 2009 and 2019 equipped with Takata airbags. "Owners of such vehicles should immediately cease using their vehicle when safe to do so. Article continues below 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. "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."

120,000 UK motorists unable to drive their cars after safety alert issued
120,000 UK motorists unable to drive their cars after safety alert issued

Daily Mirror

time03-07-2025

  • Automotive
  • Daily Mirror

120,000 UK motorists unable to drive their cars after safety alert issued

The warning relates to second-generation Citroen C3s produced from 2009 to 2016 and first-generation DS3s manufactured from 2016 to 2019 UK drivers have revealed how they've been left with cars that they cannot drive after a major alert was issued over a potentially dangerous airbag fault. An urgent safety recall was issued last month for versions of the Citroen C3 and the related DS3s. The warning relates to second-generation Citroen C3s produced from 2009 to 2016 and first-generation DS3s manufactured from 2016 to 2019. These vehicles use Takata airbag systems, which could be faulty. It comes after 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 BBC estimates that this warning affects around 120,000 drivers in the UK. One frustrated UK driver recently told the BBC that her car cannot be fixed until next year. Blue badge holder Denise Harris, 67, from Hull, said the earliest appointment she has been offered is January 2026. She said: "I've just paid my insurance for the year [and] I've paid my tax for the year for it to go home and stay in the car park and not be driven for six months." Another motorist, Lisa Shackleton, 69, from Hull, told the BBC the she needs her vehicle to take her elderly husband to medical appointments, and to get to her daughter, who is three hours away and having chemotherapy treatment. She said: "I've tried to get the car fixed, but as I didn't get to know about the recall soon enough, the earliest it can be done is the end of July." If you have one of these affected cars, you should be contacted by letter. You can also check if your car is part of the recall by using the VIN check tool on Citroen's website. Stellantis, which owns the Citroen brand, said that there were no reported incidents of faults in the UK. The car manufacturer said in a recent statement: '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.' In a recall notice published online, Stellantis said: "Stellantis UK announces an immediate stop-drive action for all Citroën C3 (second generation) and DS3 (first generation) vehicles manufactured between 2009 and 2019 equipped with Takata airbags. "Owners of such vehicles should immediately cease using their vehicle when safe to do so. 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. "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."

My recalled car can't be fixed until next year, says Hull driver
My recalled car can't be fixed until next year, says Hull driver

BBC News

time28-06-2025

  • Automotive
  • BBC News

My recalled car can't be fixed until next year, says Hull driver

A motorist says she has been left unable to drive her car after it was recalled by the manufacturer – and says her local dealership is unable to book it in for a repair until next has issued a recall for C3 and DS3 models manufactured in Europe at various times between 2009 and 2019 following the deaths of 35 people worldwide from defective Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) says motorists should not drive a recalled car until repairs have been means blue badge holder Denise Harris, 67, from Hull, could be left without a roadworthy vehicle for the next six months. She is one of possibly tens of thousands of Citroen owners in the UK who have been told their cars are unsafe to Harris had already received an urgent safety recall letter telling her the airbags "can degrade over time... and in the event of a collision cause serious injuries or even a fatality in the worst-case scenario".The letter added: "As a precautionary measure, the airbag in your vehicle must be replaced. The procedure takes less than two hours and is completely free." But that was followed last week by a "stop-drive" notice issued by Citroen's parent company, Stellantis."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," the company said."This decision underscores the company's unwavering commitment to customer safety."But Mrs Harris told the BBC the earliest appointment she had been offered by her local Citroen main dealer was in January 2026, and she had not been offered a courtesy car. David Bosworth and his wife Anne, from Scunthorpe, were also issued an urgent safety recall letter and a stop-drive notice for their Bosworth said: "It's left us in a pretty unusual position. My wife needs a car to get around and can drive only an automatic."A DVSA spokesman said a stop-drive order meant exactly that – "the vehicle must not be driven".Anyone driving a car deemed unsafe could potentially face prosecution and a fine of up to £2, is also the risk that their insurer could deem the cover to be invalid. Hojol Uddin, head of motoring at JMW Solicitors, said it was rare for stop-drive notices to be issued, and it happened mainly when there was an "imminent threat to someone's safety".He said: "To avoid any ambiguity which may be out there for drivers, my advice to them would be stop driving, get that vehicle fixed."You are risking the safety of yourself and other people." Why has the recall been issued? The decision to issue a stop-drive notice follows a fatal incident earlier this month in France, 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. 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 airbag causing concern was made by Japanese manufacturer Takata, whose product was installed by many car-makers. Stellantis said: "Customers affected by this stop-drive action will receive additional notifications shortly."Customers can also check if their cars are concerned by this action using the VIN check tool on the Citroen website, contacting their local dealer or calling the customer care hotline." Affected models Vehicles included under the stop-drive order are:Second-generation Citroen C3, manufactured between 2009 and 2016Citroën DS 3 manufactured between 2009 and 2016 DS Automobiles DS 3 manufactured between 2016 and 2019 Citizens Advice Citizens Advice said people should use the vehicle identification number (VIN) checker tool on the Citroen UK website to confirm if their car was affected. It said people can find their VIN on their car's MOT certificate or in their log book (V5C).Drivers can register it to enable the processing of a free repair."Driver safety is the priority. We advise all drivers to please act on this recall immediately," a spokesperson said. Mrs Harris said Evans Halshaw had told her it had "stopped taking calls on it because there were far too many people to deal with".A spokesperson for Evans Halshaw said dealerships had been inundated with calls, and that they were "doing the best they could" to book people Harris said: "I've just paid my insurance for the year [and] I've paid my tax for the year for it to go home and stay in the car park and not be driven for six months." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

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