Over 45,000 Citroën owners in the Netherlands are required to return their vehicles to the garage due to an airbag defect. This information was reported by ANP, citing a statement from parent company Stellantis.
The issue affects certain models of the Citroën C3 and DS3 manufactured between 2009 and 2019. The defect lies in the airbag inflators produced by Japanese manufacturer Takata, where the chemicals degrade over time, causing the airbags to deploy with excessive force.
According to a Stellantis spokesperson, this could result in severe injury or death in extreme cases. The airbag issue had been previously identified, with the recall initially targeting countries with hot and humid climates, as these conditions exacerbate the problem.
In the Netherlands, there was no precaution to keep the vehicles off the road, according to the car manufacturer. Takata airbags, used in various car brands, have faced multiple issues, including reports of airbags spontaneously exploding and manufacturing defects leading to metal shards being expelled during deployment.
This has resulted in at least sixteen deaths and 184 injuries. The extensive list of recalls led to the largest recall in U.S. history, with 69 million cars affected, and subsequently, Takata’s bankruptcy in 2017.
A lawsuit revealed that Takata’s management had been aware of the airbag defects for years but kept it hidden.
Source: NOS