Citroen expands stop-drive recall to cover C4, DS4 and DS5

Citroen has expanded its urgent stop-drive airbag recall to include some C4, DS4 and DS5 models, with immediate effect. The move adds almost 10,000 more cars to the ‘code red’ list, taking the total number of affected Citroens in the UK to more than 100,000. Owners are being told not to drive their cars until the airbags are replaced.

The recall, already affecting certain C3 and DS3 models, follows the fatal failure of a Takata airbag inflator in France. Citroen parent company Stellantis says the latest additions are a ‘proactive’ decision and not the result of a DVSA order. It has authorised Peugeot dealers, as well as mobile repair teams, to carry out the work in an attempt to speed up the process.

Stellantis says more than 66,000 C3 and DS3 models have already had their replacement airbags fitted with the backlog now expected to be cleared up by the end of September. However, many owners are still facing long waits and cancellations.

Parkers reader Wioletta Williams told us: ‘I had my appointment booked for 11 Aug to have the bag replaced via the local dealer but they called me yesterday to cancel my appointment due to lack of supplies. They couldn’t tell me when the air bag is going to be available or to give a date for potential replacement.’ We’ve forwarded her concerns to Citroen.

Some Parkers readers are reporting delays stretching into 2026 in some cases, but as Stellantis ramps up airbag availability, these are being pulled forward. The company says the Peugeot network is now authorised to help, and that mobile and at-home options are being expanded.

What this means for you

If you own a Citroen C3 (2009–2016), DS3 (2009–2019), C4 (2010–2018, above), DS4 (2010–2018) or DS5 (2010–2018), you should check immediately whether your car is affected. You can do this on the Citroen website by entering your VIN number.

If you receive a stop-drive notice, do not drive your car until the repair has been carried out. This is not a routine recall – there is a serious and documented risk of injury or death if the faulty airbag deploys. Contact your dealer as soon as possible to book the work and keep checking for earlier cancellations.

Peugeot dealers can now also carry out the repairs, which may help you get booked in sooner. You should also check with your insurer whether you are covered to drive if your car is subject to a stop-drive notice – do not assume you are.

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Editor’s view: tough times for Citroen, but the end is in sight

I’ve been living this recall myself with my own DS3, and the reality is that booking a repair has been far from straightforward. However, it’s about to be fixed, and I’ve taken the view that the Citroen-branded airbag cover they’ve offered instead of the DS one already on the car is good enough, because it means I can use my car again.

However, the story elsewhere hasn’t been great. Dealer phone lines are overwhelmed, booking calendars are full, and even the so-called ‘alternative’ routes like mobile repair aren’t always delivering. It’s been a difficult time for Citroen, and although they’re getting on top of things now, many owners have been stuck without their cars.

The expansion to cover C4, DS4 and DS5 is the right move from a safety perspective, but it makes an already huge logistical problem even bigger. The fact Stellantis is now in the Peugeot network tells you just how much pressure the system is under.

My advice? Treat this recall as seriously as a flat tyre on the motorway – get your booking locked in as soon as possible, keep pestering for earlier slots, and don’t take the risk of driving until it’s fixed. An airbag is there to save your life, not take it.

Keith Adams – Editor, Parkers

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