Police 'to stop cars on streets' as 120,000 of make 'potentially dangerous'

Manufacturer is writing to owners telling them their aidbags could go off at any moment - potentially while driving

A car industry expert has revealed that police are not stopping drivers of certain cars on the streets - and telling them they shouldn’t be driving. More than 120,000 of the cars which have airbags that could go off at any time are on the roads in the UK currently.

Citroen is writing to people with C3s and DS3 because of the potentially dangerous airbag fault. And now it has emerged that police are stopping motorists in the cars - and telling them they need to get their vehicles fixed.

Car valuation experts Parkers said it understood forces around the country were taking direct action and said: “Police are now actively stopping drivers of affected vehicles, and this isn’t scaremongering: there’s a real risk of injury or death if a faulty airbag deploys.”

Drivers of Citroen C3s and DS3s have been ordered to stop driving their cars over a potentially dangerous airbag fault. The vehicles affected are second-generation Citroen C3s produced from 2009 to 2016 and first-generation DS3s manufactured from 2016 to 2019.

The French firm has issued a ‘Stop-Drive’ order after a recent report stated that a 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. 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.

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.

Citroen said: “Stellantis UK announces an immediate stop-drive action for all Citroën C3 (second generation) and DS 3 (first generation) vehicles manufactured between 2009 and 2019 equipped with Takata airbags. Owners of such vehicles should immediately cease using their vehicle when safe to do so.

“Vehicles included in this new stop-drive action in the UK, were already part of an ongoing comprehensive recall campaign that started over one year ago, first in Southern Europe and then expanded northwards. Recall decisions, especially stop-drive actions, are based on multiple factors, including airbag specifications, vehicle age and usage, climate conditions, and notifications from regulatory authorities.

“Whilst there have been no reported instances in the UK, Stellantis has decided to deploy a stop-drive order for all impacted vehicles across Europe including the UK. This decision underscores the Company’s unwavering commitment to customer safety.

“All affected customers will be notified by letter. Customers can also check if their vehicle is affected and what actions are advised by using the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) check tool on the Citroën UK website below. If impacted, they should register their vehicle to enable the processing of their repair as soon as possible.

“If you are unable to register online, owners can contact our Recall Helpline on 0800 917 9285. Citroën Customer Care can also be contacted on 0800 093 9393.“