ORDER to ALL.....STOP driving 2009-2019 Citroën C3 and DS 3

[Stickyfinger]

Wooops !...B-B-B-B BANG !

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/cons ... 3-and-ds-3

Stellantis has told all UK owners of Mk1 DS 3s and Mk2 Citroën C3s built between 2009 and 2019 to stop driving their cars immediately.

The order affects both the Citroën DS 3 and later examples of the supermini that were sold solely under the DS brand.

It comes a week after a woman in Reims, France, was killed after the Takata airbag in her 2014 C3 exploded.

[PaulC5]

Just checked our previous 2010 C3 and after checking on the Citroen site with the vin it came back saying to stop using it as follows:
As previously indicated in the letter sent to you, Citroën/DS asks you to stop driving your vehicle fitted with Takata airbags. The chemicals contained in these Takata airbag inflators can degrade over time and, in the event of an accident, may rupture with excessive force. This can cause severe injuries or even death. Please click on the red ‘register’ button. By completing the registration, the repair of your Citroën/DS vehicle will be organised as quickly as possible. We will replace both driver and passenger airbags. An alternative solution for your mobility needs will also be considered. In the meantime, please ensure that your vehicle is not used and that all persons with access to the vehicle are informed accordingly

[Richard_C]

Perplexing, we had one but no longer. The dates and model criteria are worrying, we have a 2017 C3 Mk 3 which isn't in that model definition, but were they still building Mk 2s up to 2019? I'm assuming we are OK, unless anyone knows better. I will go check the Citroen UK website.

[Richard_C]

Looks like we are OK, but in 'surfing the web' if that's still the right phrase, I came upon the NHTSA website in the USA which refers to the same Takata airbags but lists many Honda/Acura, a Mazda and one big selling Ford model going back to 2001. The document originated in 2018. This might be a 'big thing' especially if PSA ignored the issue until the Reims incident.

https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/f ... 7b-tag.pdf

It looks like there are UK recalls in hand for various VW, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, maybe more, all saying that its only cars up to 2018 affected.

This from Ford UK made sense to me:

The propellant degradation varies in different climate zones, in different vehicle makes and models, and in different inflator and propellant configurations. If the propellant in the airbag inflator has degraded, a rupture in the inflator may occur if the airbag is deployed due to a crash. A ruptured inflator can send inflator parts toward vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

It is important to note that for vehicles that are part of the Takata recalls, the issue is the airbag inflator and not the actual airbag. The supplier for the airbag and airbag inflator can be different for the same vehicle; it’s also possible to have different suppliers for the driver– and passenger–side airbag inflators in your vehicle.

If your vehicle is affected, you will receive a letter from Ford notifying you of the recall. When parts become available, Ford will notify you by mail that you should schedule an appointment with your dealer to have your vehicle serviced for the recall. If your vehicle experiences an issue in the meantime, you should contact your local dealership.

So if you have a pre 2018 car of any manufacture in the family maybe its worth a check on that company's website.

[PaulC5]

It looks as if these recalls are on the gov website if you do a MOT check. Our previous C3 shows there is an outstanding recall but does not say what it is. I wonder if this one would be a MOT fail ? https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

[myglaren]

Mentioned this to my daughter as I took her to work, her C3 is in for MOT/service and she said that she had had a letter to take it in for repair.

[the-termin8r]

I wonder how many models actually use Takata, surely it can't just be the C3 and DS3. I wonder if any of my C5s run them? Might take one off for a gander at some point.

[Paul-R]

I wonder how many models actually use Takata, surely it can't just be the C3 and DS3. I wonder if any of my C5s run them? Might take one off for a gander at some point.

I put the VIN for my 2013 X7 in and it came back as no recall.

[the-termin8r]

Same with mine, but I've also read that historically the recalls were done in hot and / or humid climates where the problematic parts have accelerated degradation due to corrosion. Because from my understanding the issue is the housing that holds the explosive shatters due to the corrosion when it shouldn't and all the airbags effectively become claymore mines pointed at your head.

[Stickyfinger]

[Callows]

Mine and my partners DS3's have been recalled due to the airbag issue but can't be fixed for nearly a month and this leaves us with no car as it's a do not use recall.

So far Citroen are refusing to provide a curtesy car, has anyone else had any luck?

[CitroJim]

So far Citroen are refusing to provide a curtesy car, has anyone else had any luck?

That's not good, especially as they are so strongly advising not to drive the car until this recall is complete.

I checked my C3 Picasso and it is not part of the recall. I don't know if that applies to all C3 Picassos even though they are not specifically mentioned. Best to use the Citroen on-line checker to be sure.

https://www.citroen.co.uk/maintain/safe ... check.html

You'll need your VIN for this...

[KennyW]

My wife had letter and contacted our local dealership and she was told to phone back in a fortnight as they didn't have the replacement parts in stock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kenny

[PaulC5]

If the risk is so dangerous maybe they should be removing the faulty parts asap and then fit new ones as soon as they get them. Also how do they expect people to get their cars to the dealers to be fixed or are they going to use a mobile service or recovery service but as an employer they might not be insured if their staff drive them with a known dangerous fault. Car insurance might also not be fully valid if driving when advised not to. There might be a no win no fee solicitor rubbing their hands together soon thinking of suing Stellantis.

[Richard_C]

Some very quick sums based on their now eviscerated dealer network and C3s on the road, I reckon each dealer might need to fix 1000 cars on top of their already full workload. It's not going to be quick and there's not going to be much chance of alternative provision even if they repurpose every used car on the forecourt as a courtesy car. I wonder if they can sub contract some of it to a mobile fitting style service. If I still had my 2015 C3 I would be proper worried and proper cross.