240,000 Citroën cars recalled in France over airbag fault

Almost a quarter of a million Citroën cars are being recalled in France after an airbag fault was identified in two models.

The fault affects the C3 and DS3 models. These models first came out in 2009 and 2019 respectively, and are no longer being produced.

The recall applies to 181,764 Citroën C3 vehicles, and 65,049 DS3 vehicles, all delivered to the south of Clermont-Ferrand and the city of Lyon (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes).

What is the fault?

Citroën issued the recall after discovering that airbags in the models could be defective, due to “deterioration” of the gas that launches the airbags. The company has written to owners affected.

Over time, in a hot, humid climate, this gas can break down, the company said.

“This can cause small parts contained in the airbag to be thrown out”, and can stop the airbag from working properly in the event of an accident, it said.

France’s official recall website Rappel Conso has explained that “the propellant in the driver and passenger airbags can deteriorate over time. In the event of an accident in which the airbags deploy, it could launch with too much force, injuring the vehicle's occupants”.

A Citroën spokesperson added that “some of these vehicles are quite old, and ageing can cause this type of defect”.

What should owners of these vehicles do?

Owners of the vehicles should “immediately stop” driving their vehicles, and contact Citroën directly, Citroën has said.

“The safety of our clients is our priority. We will provide solutions for our clients’ mobility in the meantime,” said a spokesperson from Citroën, to Le Figaro. The company has also said that it will pay for the necessary repairs and changes to the recalled vehicles.

The faulty airbags will need to be replaced.

The recall has not only affected France; overall, 605,777 vehicles have been recalled across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Read also: Citroën C3 V4 car recall in France over fuel tank issue 

It comes less than four months after Citroën issued a recall for the Citroën C3 V4 (the fourth-generation of the C3 model, which was sold from November 6, 2023 at dealerships across France), due to a problem with the fuel tank.