Drivers of Citroen C3s and DS3s have been ordered to stop driving their cars immediately over a potentially dangerous airbag fault.
The French firm’s manufacturers Stellantis have issued a ‘Stop-Drive’ order after a recent report stated that a 37-year-old woman sustained fatal injuries caused by an airbag in a 2014 Citroen C3 in Reims, France, last year.
As a result, around 82,000 C3 and DS3 models have been removed from the road across France.
It comes after Ford recalled nearly 200,000 vehicles in the US due to a risk of passengers including children getting trapped in the back seat.
The vehicles affected are second-generation Citroen C3s produced from 2009 to 2016 and first-generation DS3s manufactured from 2016 to 2019.
The vehicles use Takata airbag systems, which could be faulty.
However, Stellantis UK said that there were no reported incidents of faults in the UK, but it has decided to take action regardless, saying: ‘This decision underscores the Company’s unwavering commitment to customer safety.’
The car manufacturer in a recent statement said: ‘Stellantis UK is mobilising its full network of suppliers, retailers and manufacturing plant to support this action to 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.’
Owners will be contacted by letter, or they can check whether their car is affected by using the VIN check tool on Citroen’s website.
The fatal crash happened in the French city of Reims on June 11.
The airbag, meant to protect drivers in the event of a collision, exploded, causing ‘very serious injuries’ leading to her death, prosecutor François Schneider is quoted as saying in Le Monde.
A manslaughter investigation has been opened.
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