
Stellantis, Citroën's parent company, is advising owners to get in touch with their selling dealer free of charge to get the heater repaired. The problem is with airbags that were made from 2009 to 2019 and can fail under certain circumstances.
Tragic Deaths Spur Quick Response
While a European recall was already underway, the death of a woman last week in Reims, France, prompted a quicker reaction. She was killed when her 2014 Citroën C3's air bag malfunctioned in a crash. It was the second such death on the French mainland. An additional 16 deaths, including some in France's overseas territories of Guadeloupe and Martinique, are thought to be related to the same air bag malfunction.
Heat and humidity Raise Risk of Airbag Explosion
The airbags in question are Takata models that degrade in hot and humid environments. When deployed during a crash, the inflaters can break apart and send metal fragments into the interior of the vehicle. "In no event does the defect of these vehicles cause the airbags to spontaneously rupture, at any time following the deployment of the airbags," Stellantis said in a statement to Jalopnik.
Because Southern Europe is experiencing higher temperatures and humidity, home to Stellantis, the company initially focused on repairs there. After more research, the manufacturer has now resolved to recall in all of Europe, including in the Netherlands.