Defective Takata Airbags: Makes, Models... Which Vehicles Are Affected by the New Recall?

Faulty Takata airbags claimed a second victim in mainland France on June 11: a 37-year-old woman in a motorway accident in Reims. The driver was driving a 2014 Citroën C3. The tragedy led Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot to request on Tuesday, June 17 , that all Citroën C3s and DS3s be grounded in order to replace their airbags. Until now, some drivers of newer models had been asked to have the system replaced, but not to stop using their vehicles.

Citroën decided on Tuesday, June 17, to request the immediate grounding across Europe of all C3 and DS3 vehicles still equipped with this type of dangerous equipment. The problem isn't limited to Citroën, as some thirty car brands own vehicles equipped with Takata airbags. Libération reports.

Citroën launched a grounding of some 236,900 C3 and DS3 models in the north of the country at the beginning of 2025, following an initial campaign in the spring of 2024 in southern Europe for certain models. The measure had so far only affected cars manufactured before 2013. For models manufactured from 2014 onwards, only a dealership recall by simple letter, without a "stop drive" where the driver is asked to stop driving immediately, had been launched in May 2025. "Our analyses did not show any risk of deterioration beyond 2013," explained a Stellantis spokesperson.

But the death of this driver in northern France with a newer vehicle prompted the French manufacturer to extend its recall policy to all cars of these two models and throughout metropolitan France. As a result, 441,000 Citroën C3 and DS3 vehicles manufactured up to 2019 are affected in Europe, including 82,000 in France, in addition to those that had already been immobilized. Of the more than 690,000 Citroën C3 and DS3 equipped with these faulty airbags in France, 481,000 have been treated, Stellantis assured, or 69.7% of the vehicles concerned.

Nearly every group has been affected by the scandal. Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, Stellantis, Nissan, Tesla, Ford, BMW, General Motors, and Ferrari have recalled tens of millions of vehicles worldwide to replace their airbags. More than two million vehicles built between 1998 and 2019 are still awaiting repair, according to French government data.

To find out if you are affected, you need to find your vehicle identification number (VIN). The VIN is a unique 17-character number found on your registration document next to the letter E, on the driver's side dashboard, in your service/warranty booklet, or on the manufacturer's plate on the windshield. You then need to visit your car manufacturer's website. All brands offer dedicated platforms where you can enter your VIN number and find out if you are affected by a recall. The Ministry of Transport has also set up a website to list all makes and models that are subject to a recall. If you are one of the affected vehicles, the government advises contacting a garage as soon as possible to make an appointment and have the recall made.

In the meantime, you must follow the manufacturer's recommendations. It is sometimes indicated that you should absolutely not drive before having made the repair. Garages and some manufacturers offer courtesy cars while the update is being carried out. The Ministry of Transport reminds you that " if you do not replace [the airbag], you are taking a risk to your safety, that of your passengers, and that of other road users ." Takata airbags can project "metal fragments that could cause serious injuries or even death."