ASSESSOR SUMMER 2025 FULL MAGAZINE v2 - Flipbook - Page 25
JOURNAL
AIRBAGS INVESTIGATION
RECALL CAMPAIGN
TAKATA AIRBAG
TAKATA AIRBAGS: Stellantis, the parent company of Citroën, has recalled tens of
thousands of Citroën and DS models in the UK due to faulty airbags that, in some
circumstances, can explode in an uncontrolled manner, causing injury or even death.
tellantis UK announced
an immediate
stop-drive action for
all Citroën C3 (second
generation) and DS 3
(昀椀rst 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,
said the VM.
S
The affected models are:
•
Citroën C3 (manufactured from
2009 to 2016)
•
Citroën DS3 (manufactured from
2009 to 2016)
•
DS Automobiles DS3
(manufactured from 2016 to
2019)
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, 昀椀rst in Southern Europe and then
expanded northwards. Recall decisions,
especially stop-drive actions, are based
on multiple factors, including airbag
speci昀椀cations, vehicle age and usage,
climate conditions, and noti昀椀cations
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,” said Stellantis.
The broader Takata airbag crisis
– as previously reported by
The Assessors Journal – has led
to recalls of tens of millions of
vehicles worldwide from numerous
manufacturers.
Approximately 67 million Takata
air bags (priority groups 1-12) have
been recalled because these air bags
can explode when deployed, causing
serious injury or even death, said the
US-based National Highway Traf昀椀c
Safety Administration (NHTSA).
While the risk was previously
considered low in the UK due to
the country’s milder climate, the
seriousness of the fault prompted
action following at least 18 deaths
in France – including 16 in its hotter
overseas territories – all associated with
Takata airbags, it is reported.
Stellantis said all affected customers
will be noti昀椀ed by letter. Customers
can also check if their vehicle is
affected and what actions are advised
by using the VIN (Vehicle Identi昀椀cation
Number) check tool on the Citroën
UK website. If impacted, owners are
advised to register their vehicle to
enable the processing of their repair
as soon as possible.
owners of vehicles who may have
changed either their address or contact
details keep their information updated
with the DVLA (Driver & Vehicle
Licensing Authority) so that they can
be reached in a timely and ef昀椀cient
manner.
“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.”
Consumer group, Which?, asked the
Association of British Insurers (ABI)
what insurance companies can do to
assist.
The ABI said: “in general, recalls don’t
usually result in insurance claims, which
are typically reserved for accidents or
other incidents (such as a tree falling
on your car). The same applies to
courtesy cars: they’re supplied for cars
with accident damage.
“The body also stated that it was
important to follow the manufacturer’s
instructions and to check with your
insurer if you have any questions about
driving a car involved in a recall, as
failing to do so could invalidate your
insurance policy,” said Which?
JOURNAL
A statement from Stellantis reads:
“It is of paramount importance that
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