Takata airbags: C3 and DS3 cars produced until 2019 immobilized, Citroën and DS executives summoned to the ministry

Confusion is at its peak. And so is concern. The Stellantis group, on Tuesday, June 17 at 5 p.m., could not explain why a Takata airbag on a 2014 Citroën C3 caused the death of its 37-year-old driver on the highway in Reims on June 11. The explosion of the airbag, which was supposed to protect the driver in the event of an accident, caused "very serious injuries" leading to her death, Reims prosecutor François Schneider said Tuesday, confirming information from Radio France published Monday, June 16. The public prosecutor's office opened an investigation for involuntary manslaughter and then relinquished jurisdiction to the Paris prosecutor's office (social, consumption and environment division), which has been handling proceedings in the Takata case at the national level since April. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot subsequently requested the immobilization of all Citroën C3s and DS3s requiring airbag replacement .

The confusion stems from the recall procedure. Initially, it focused on vehicles equipped with defective airbags in the overseas departments, as the airbag gas degrades over time, becoming dangerous due to heat and humidity. In May 2024, this procedure was extended to the southern half of France, with a provision never before used: a request to immobilize the affected vehicles, known as "stop drive." Then, in February 2025, this recall measure with "stop drive" was extended to northern France, but immobilization of vehicles was only required for cars before 2014. For other C3s or DS3s, a simple recall was recommended. The letters went out in May.

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