120,000 UK motorists unable to drive their cars after safety alert issued

UK drivers have revealed how they've been left with cars that they cannot drive after a major alert was issued over a potentially dangerous airbag fault.

An urgent safety recall was issued last month for versions of the Citroen C3 and the related DS3s. The warning relates to second-generation Citroen C3s produced from 2009 to 2016 and first-generation DS3s manufactured from 2016 to 2019.

These vehicles use Takata airbag systems, which could be faulty. It comes after a woman sustained fatal injuries caused by an airbag in a 2014 Citroen C3 in Reims, France, last year.

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As a result, around 82,000 C3 and DS3 models have been removed from the road across France. The BBC estimates that this warning affects around 120,000 drivers in the UK.

One frustrated UK driver recently told the BBC that her car cannot be fixed until next year. Blue badge holder Denise Harris, 67, from Hull, said the earliest appointment she has been offered is January 2026.

She said: "I've just paid my insurance for the year [and] I've paid my tax for the year for it to go home and stay in the car park and not be driven for six months."

Another motorist, Lisa Shackleton, 69, from Hull, told the BBC the she needs her vehicle to take her elderly husband to medical appointments, and to get to her daughter, who is three hours away and having chemotherapy treatment.

She said: "I've tried to get the car fixed, but as I didn't get to know about the recall soon enough, the earliest it can be done is the end of July."

If you have one of these affected cars, you should be contacted by letter. You can also check if your car is part of the recall by using the VIN check tool on Citroen’s website.

Stellantis, which owns the Citroen brand, said that there were no reported incidents of faults in the UK.

The car manufacturer said in a recent statement: “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.”

In a recall notice published online, Stellantis said: "Stellantis UK announces an immediate stop-drive action for all Citroën C3 (second generation) and DS3 (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."