An estimated 120,000 motorists across the UK have been left without usable transport following a major safety recall issued by automotive giant Stellantis over potentially deadly airbags in Citroen C3 and DS3 models.
The manufacturer has issued an unprecedented “stop-drive” instruction for vehicles built between 2009 and 2016, and certain DS3s up to 2019, warning owners not to use their cars until repairs have been carried out. The urgent warning follows the death of a 37-year-old woman in Reims, France, who was killed by shrapnel from a faulty airbag during a minor crash.
The airbags in question were produced by the now-defunct Japanese company Takata. The defect lies in the airbag’s inflator, which can become dangerously volatile over time, particularly in humid or warm conditions, causing metal fragments to be propelled into the car cabin during deployment. This issue has led to over 100 million vehicles being recalled worldwide in the past decade.
Among those affected in the UK is 69-year-old Lisa Shackleton from Hull, who owns a 2014 Citroen DS3. She relies on her car to transport her husband to medical appointments and had planned a summer trip to visit her daughter undergoing chemotherapy.
“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,” she told the BBC. “It’s booked in at a dealership in York, and that’s an hour’s drive away.”
Other drivers have reported even longer delays, with one motorist saying her car cannot be booked in for repair until January 2026. Stellantis has acknowledged the disruption, saying it is “inevitable” given the scale of the recall, but it has no plans to offer compensation to affected owners.
The company claims to be ramping up repair efforts, prioritising drivers with urgent needs and investigating options such as mobile repairs at customers’ homes. However, many drivers remain confused and frustrated by what they describe as poor communication and mixed messages from dealerships.
The recall’s scope expanded significantly on 20 June after the fatal incident in France, prompting Stellantis to halt usage of affected vehicles across Europe. The UK’s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has backed the stop-drive directive and is working to raise awareness but has not issued a wider recall itself.
In France, authorities have gone further, ordering all cars with Takata airbags—especially in hot regions like Corsica and overseas territories—not to be driven. Approximately 2.5 million vehicles are affected there.
Meanwhile, Stellantis maintains that it only became aware of the risks associated with European-made airbags in 2019 and had previously relied on assurances from Takata that these units were safe.
Owners can check if their vehicle is affected by visiting the official recall site or contacting their local Citroen dealership. Industry experts advise drivers not to use their vehicles and to consult their insurers if they must move them for repairs.
