Citroën recently notified about 236,900 vehicle owners in northern France, requesting that they interrupt the use of their cars due to a defect in the airbags provided by the Japanese company Takata. This measure arises following a “accelerated degradation” identified in one of the airbags, which led the brand to intensify the collection campaign started earlier this year. Affected models include Citroën C3 and DS3, marketed between 2008 and 2013.
The problem with Takata’s airbags is not recent. Since 2013, several car brands have faced challenges related to these safety devices. Takata, which provided airbags to several manufacturers, declared bankruptcy in 2017 after the discovery of defects in its products that affected millions of vehicles globally. These defects were associated with at least 12 deaths in France and several others internationally.
Stellantis, Citroën’s mother company, has already allocated about 940 million euros to manage the collection campaigns related to defective airbags. To date, approximately 10,000 airbags have been replaced. The company expressed concern about about 80,000 owners who have not yet responded to collection notifications.
In parallel, the UFC-Choisir Consumer Protection Organization filed a complaint against Stellantis, accusing her of “endangering the life of others” and “deceptive business practices”. This action aims to obtain financial compensations for owners affected by the manufacture defect and hold the company responsible for failure on security devices.
The decision to immobilize vehicles in northern France was taken after identifying accelerated degradation in an airbag in a car located in Loire-Atlantique, reveals the. Initially, it was believed that only regions with hot and humid climates were at risk, but this incident led to the expansion of the collection campaign to northern areas.
The scandal in relation to the defect of Takata airbags had a significant impact on the global automotive industry. Brands such as Volkswagen, Nissan, BMW and Toyota have already collected millions of vehicles equipped with these defective airbags. Takata’s bankruptcy in 2017 was a direct consequence of the huge financial responsibilities arising from these defects.
For the owners of the affected vehicles, Citroën has provided replacement vehicles while repairs are made. However, the logistics involved in replacing hundreds of thousands of airbags has considerable challenges, leading to delays and frustrations between customers.
Driver and passenger safety remains the main priority. Takata defective airbags may, in case of an accident, release dangerous metal fragments, causing serious or fatal injuries. Therefore, it is imperative that the owners of the affected vehicles meet the notifications of collection and proceed to the necessary repairs as soon as possible.
This incident highlights the importance of rigorous quality controls in the production of automotive safety components. Collaboration between manufacturers, suppliers and regulatory authorities is essential to ensure consumer safety and prevent similar future incidents.
This recent Citroën action in northern France is a necessary response to a serious security problem. Although it causes significant inconvenience to the owners of affected vehicles, the measure aims to protect the health and life of drivers and passengers, reinforcing the importance of safety in the automotive sector.
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