Danger of death in a Citroën: all the information on the Takata affair

A person has been killed near Reims in France following the abnormal deployment of the airbag in his Citroën C3. This is the latest in a long line of tragic deaths. The brand has decided to impose ‘stop drive’ on more than 400,000 vehicles in Europe.

Citroën, part of the Stellantis Group, has requested the immediate halt of all C3 and DS3 models manufactured before 2019 in circulation in Europe. This ‘stop drive’ immobilisation requested by the car manufacturer follows a fatal accident in France on 11 June 2025. It's the first in a northern region, following around fifteen deaths linked to Takata airbag failures in French overseas territories and another in mainland France, in the south. An explosive component used by the Japanese manufacturer deteriorates over time, especially in humid and hot climates. When the airbag is deployed, pieces of metal are thrown out, causing serious or even fatal injuries to the face and upper body. Such fatal accidents have been reported around the world for over 15 years (see below).

Recall ignored?

The car belonging to the victim in Reims should have been recalled in February 2025 during a major wave of replacements for 236,000 C3 and DS3 vehicles in the north of France, following a similar campaign in “hot” regions in 2024. However, the 37-year-old woman reportedly didn't receive the letter and didn't react on her own initiative, despite calls for her to visit the dealership in the press and on social networks. Citroën had also sent a reminder by registered letter to the owners concerned on 20 May 2025 for models produced from 2014 onwards and not yet checked. This raises questions about the follow-up of owners, particularly after a move or a sale between private individuals. Citroën has set up websites to provide information. This is an international template, regardless of the origin of the url, for models from the brand with the chevrons. Here is the link for the UK, for Belgium, for France and for Switzerland.

Driving despite a stop drive

It's not a road traffic offence to drive a car affected by the stop drive. But you should contact the dealership as a matter of urgency to make an appointment. Unfortunately, it's not always possible to obtain a replacement vehicle or to do without your car altogether. Take extra care at the wheel, for your own safety and that of other road users, and recommend another vehicle or other means of transport as soon as possible. You should also check with your insurance company whether a vehicle subject to a stop drive is covered. Logically, the insurer is obliged to compensate damage under civil liability. However, injuries and damage caused by the irregular explosion of the airbag may not be fully covered.

A look back at the case

The Takata affair began in 2008. That year, Honda discovered that the airbags produced by its equipment manufacturer could malfunction. It turned out that the manufacturer had used a component, ammonium nitrate, which didn't age well. A problem hidden by Takata of Japan. In fact, it did not reveal the results of tests on its explosive metal capsules. As a result, there would have been 200 million dangerous airbags installed in vehicles produced between 1998 and 2019 and sold all over the world. Several other manufacturers made the same observation. They all launched vast recall campaigns, but in a scattered fashion.

Several deaths

The scandal became dramatic after the first fatal accident reported in 2009 in Oklahoma (United States), involving a 2001 Honda Accord. The scandal then began to unfold, with the first warnings to the public. It is estimated that nearly forty people died and hundreds were injured by their faulty airbags in 15 years. This failure and its consequences led Takata to go bankrupt in 2017 after it was convicted of fraud and conspiracy in the United States.

Why this choice?

Millions of vehicles from BMW, Ferrari, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Stellantis, Subaru, Suzuki, Tesla, Toyota and Volkswagen have already been recalled or will be shortly. It's a titanic programme that's still under way, and it looks like it's going to be sprawling. Especially as the operation is free for customers. For Citroën, after several campaigns, the airbags now need to be replaced as quickly as possible throughout Europe. These manufacturers are facing a serious problem, having killed several people after placing their trust in a former car parts giant. How badly were they cheated by Takata? It's hard to know, but suspicions about this equipment manufacturer began to surface more than 15 years ago. So now they have to face up to their choices, with costly recalls and no way of turning against a company that is now out of the game.

(MH with Olivier Duquesne – Sources : Stellantis, Le Soir, RTBF, Radio France, AFP, Wikipédia, Ministère chargé des Transports de la République française – Photos : © picture alliance / PHOTOPQR/VOIX DU NORD/MAXPPP | Thierry Thorel & picture alliance/dpa/ PHOTOPQR/L'EST REPUBLICAIN/MAXPPP | Lionel Vadam & Stellantis)