Citroën Airbag Crisis: 200,000 Vehicles Immobilized in Northern France
Headline: "I Continue to Drive, But I’m Scared": Thousands of Motorists in Despair After Citroën Immobilizes 200,000 Vehicles in Northern France Due to Defective Airbags
Introduction:
Over 236,900 owners of Citroën C3 and DS 3 vehicles in northern France have been urged to cease driving their cars until their airbags can be replaced. This latest wave of immobilization stems from the ongoing Takata airbag scandal, which has already claimed 12 lives in France, including 11 in overseas territories where the climate accelerates the degradation of a critical airbag component.
Caroline Fond’s Case:
Upon learning of the safety recall via the media, Caroline Fond, whose DS 3 is affected, contacted her local Citroën dealership near Troyes on Tuesday morning. However, she could not secure an appointment to have her airbags replaced before April 10th, nor was she offered a loaner vehicle. As a result, the 30-year-old continues to use her car out of necessity. "I have no choice. I drive from house to house to clean, and if I don’t work, I don’t earn," she explains.
Nevertheless, she acknowledges her unease about driving with this "Sword of Damocles" hanging over her head. "If I had children, I wouldn’t use my car," says Fond, a former Citroën saleswoman. She expresses her disappointment with the brand’s "lack of anticipation," given that the risks associated with the airbags have been known for many years.
Frustrations and Delays:
Many concerned motorists share Caroline Fond’s frustrations regarding the lengthy delays and difficulties in obtaining a loaner vehicle. "I’ve reduced my trips to a minimum: taking my son to school and grocery shopping," says Marianne, a 30-year-old living near Strasbourg. Despite receiving a recall notice during the summer, Marianne refrained from long road trips during the holidays "out of fear." However, she has postponed bringing her car to the dealership until she is certain that her airbag can be replaced immediately. Her appointment is scheduled for Tuesday, and until then, she "prays that the airbag holds up."
In Villeneuve-d’Ascq, on the outskirts of Lille, Kadija is disappointed that she was not notified earlier, as she is currently planning a vacation that involves a long drive. She was forced to arrange childcare on Tuesday to "get things done in a hurry." After failing to reach Citroën’s customer service, she visited a Stellantis dealership and secured an appointment for Wednesday. "They ordered the part and scheduled the replacement for tomorrow," she says, relieved.
Stellantis Response:
Like Kadija, many C3 and DS 3 owners have been visiting local dealerships, where management reports receiving substantial airbag stock and initiating replacements as of Tuesday morning. Annie, a 60-year-old woman driving her red C3, "secured an appointment easily" for next week. Until then, she admits to feeling "a bit stressed" but will continue driving with "a bit more caution."
Stellantis, the parent company of Citroën, has mobilized its network of dealerships and ramped up production of replacement airbags. On Monday, the group assured the public that they have sufficient airbag inventory for immediate installation. Additionally, eight of Stellantis’ French factories (Rennes, Poissy, Sochaux, Mulhouse, Trémery, Charleville-Meizières, Hordain, and Douvrin) are on standby to accommodate customers seeking appointments.
Previous Recalls and Ongoing Crisis:
Volkswagen, Nissan, BMW, and Toyota, among others, have recalled millions of vehicles equipped with these dangerous airbags. Following several fatal accidents, Citroën and DS launched a previous immobilization campaign, known as "stop drive," in early 2024 for vehicles located in southern Europe and the Maghreb region. In France, the initial campaign affected vehicles in the southern part of the country and overseas territories. It was recently extended to vehicles located north of the line running through Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, and registered between 2008 and 2013.
