Urgent 'stop driving' warning for two popular cars as serious fault found

Citroen has urgently told drivers of certain C3 and DS3 models to immediately stop using their vehicles due to an airbag flaw, with fears rising after a fatality in France. The call for action comes following a tragic incident where an airbag reportedly led to a woman's death in Reims, France, last year, aboard a 2014 Citroen C3.

The directive involves second-generation Citroen C3s rolled out from 2009 to 2016, and first-generation DS3s produced between 2016 to 2019, with around 82,000 cars being pulled off the roads in France alone.

Takata airbags, which have been linked to these potential malfunctions, are fitted in the affected models. Despite no reported incidents within the UK, Stellantis UK said it was recalling the models as a precautionary measure regardless.

The company 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."

Vehicle owners should expect to receive an advisory letter, while also having the option to verify if their car is implicated by employing the VIN checking service on the Citroen website.