The Takata airbag saga has returned to haunt Citroen and DS owners in a big way, with as many as 120,000 cars across the UK now caught up in a recall so serious that drivers are being told not to drive them at all. And because we don’t believe in writing these stories from behind a desk, we’re living the recall experience ourselves with our own Citroen DS3.
So far, it’s not exactly confidence-inspiring. We tried three local dealers, and while they were polite enough on the phone, the best any of them could offer was a booking at the end of October, more than three months away. One dealer explicitly told us that driving the car before then would be ‘at your own risk.’ Meanwhile, Citroen’s dedicated recall phone line is jammed solid. We spent 45 minutes on hold and never got through.
So, we’re going through it here, and we’ll keep you updated on how our own experience unfolds, and whether there are any tips for getting your car fixed sooner.
Why the recall and what’s affected?
This all follows a tragic accident in Reims, France, where a woman driving a 2014 C3 was fatally injured when the ammonium nitrate inflator inside the airbag exploded, firing shards of metal into the cabin. It’s the same defect that has triggered millions of recalls worldwide, with Takata airbags becoming notorious for growing unstable as they age, especially in regions with humidity and heat cycles.
The affected models include the second-generation Citroen C3 (2009-2016), as well as the Citroen DS3 and DS 3 models built up to 2019. Owners are being sent letters instructing them to stop driving their cars immediately. And while Stellantis, parent company of Citroen and DS Automobiles, insists this recall reflects its ‘unwavering commitment to customer safety,’ the system is clearly under strain.
Speaking to Parkers, Jeremy Townsend, Head of Communications for Stellantis UK, said the UK stop-drive notice follows a recall campaign launched over a year ago in Southern Europe. Decisions on stop-drive notices, he explained, are ‘based on multiple factors, including airbag specifications, vehicle age and usage, climate conditions, and notifications from regulatory authorities.’
There’s going to be a wait
He added: ‘Our focus is on completing the replacement of airbags in affected vehicles as swiftly as possible. Working hand in hand with our Citroen Retailer Network, we’re maximising the number of vehicles we can repair every day. To increase our repair capacity further, work is ongoing on introducing additional airbag replacement sites at convenient locations as well as repair-at-home options.
‘It’s inevitable, with such a large number of vehicles affected, that customers will be inconvenienced in the short term. However, we are deploying a variety of options to support mobility, recognising that every driver will have individual requirements, and that priority needs to be given to customers with the most urgent needs.’
In our case, one dealer mentioned that the RAC is offering a mobile repair service (via citroenrecall.rac.co.uk), but we’ve yet to hear back on how or when that might actually happen. And we’re far from alone: some owners have told the BBC they’ve been given dates as far away as January 2026, which makes the two-hour repair time quoted in official statements feel faintly academic.
Stellantis isn’t the only carmaker caught up in this crisis. The French Transport Ministry has issued recall notices for vehicles from Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, and Nissan as part of the same safety campaign.
What this means for you
If you own one of the affected Citroen or DS models, here’s what you need to know:
Don’t drive the car if advised not to. Letters have gone out to affected owners telling them to stop driving immediately. This isn’t scaremongering: there’s a real risk of injury or death if a faulty airbag deploys.
Check if your car is affected. Visit the recall page on the Citoen website or call the Citroen recall helpline on 0800 917 9285, although be prepared for long wait times on the phone.
Book a repair as soon as possible. We’ve found dealer capacity severely stretched. In our own case, the earliest repair slot offered was October, more than three months away, and some owners report dates stretching into 2026.
Keep the pressure on. If you’re affected, stay persistent with your dealer or Stellantis customer service. While Stellantis insists it’s prioritising urgent cases, the scale of the recall means there will inevitably be delays.
We’re keeping our own DS3 off the road for now. Until the airbag is replaced, we’re not prepared to take the risk, and if you’re affected, we’d strongly advise you do the same.
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FAQs: Important stop-drive insurance questions answered
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Is your car insured if it’s subject to a stop-drive notice?
This is a really important point if you own a car affected by the Takata airbag recall or any stop-drive order. The short answer is: it depends on your insurer, and you must tell them.
You’re still insured by default. Your policy doesn’t automatically become void just because your car is recalled. However, if you ignore a manufacturer’s instruction not to drive your car, your insurer could refuse to pay out if you’re involved in an accident. They could argue you were knowingly driving an unsafe vehicle.
Contact your insurer immediately. Tell them your car is under a stop-drive recall and that you’re following the advice not to drive it. They’ll note it on your policy and advise you what cover remains in place while your car is off the road. Most will still insure your car for fire, theft, and damage while it’s parked.
Check for courtesy car cover. Some insurers might help with a courtesy car if your vehicle is undriveable due to a safety recall. But this varies a lot between policies, so ask your insurer what help they can offer.
Our advice: don’t assume you’re automatically covered to drive a recalled car. If you’ve received a stop-drive notice, park it up safely, call your insurer, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter. It could save you a huge headache if something goes wrong.
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