Citroën Widens “Stop Driving” Car Recall in Ireland

Citroën Ireland has issued an urgent safety notice to 1,800 car owners after identifying a serious airbag fault linked to the global Takata airbag scandal. The company is warning affected drivers not to use their vehicles until repairs are completed.

Fault Could Be Fatal

The recall concerns vehicles manufactured between 2008 and 2017, fitted with Takata airbags that can deteriorate over time. According to safety regulators, the inflator chemicals may break down in warm or humid conditions, increasing the risk of the airbag deploying with excessive force. In the worst cases, this could cause serious or even fatal injuries.

Citroën is one of many manufacturers forced into large-scale recalls due to Takata airbags, alongside brands such as Toyota and BMW.

Expanding the Recall

The latest recall broadens a campaign first launched in 2024 and now includes DS3, DS4, and DS5 models. Parent company Stellantis says the programme will be conducted in stages, with priority given to older vehicles, where airbags are most at risk of chemical degradation.

Registered Letters Sent to Owners

Citroën Ireland’s head of marketing, Trevor Hunt, confirmed the urgent “Stop Drive” instruction covers 1,800 cars, with around half being private imports.

“We only got the owners’ details from the Department of Transport recently,” he told RTÉ’s Donal Byrne.

Hunt explained that Irish-registered cars had already received two rounds of notifications, some dating back to January 2025, before the formal “Stop Drive” order was introduced. A third round of letters, sent by registered post this week, has now gone to all 1,800 owners warning them of the danger.

How to Check Your Car

Citroën has advised owners to confirm whether their vehicle is affected by visiting www.citroen.ie or by contacting their nearest Citroën dealer.

Models Included in the Recall

The recall covers:

Citroën C3 Phase 2 (24.09.2008 – 21.02.2017)
Citroën C4 (02.02.2010 – 20.05.2018)
Citroën DS3 (05.12.2008 – 30.05.2019)
Citroën DS4 (05.05.2010 – 03.02.2017)
Citroën DS5 (30.06.2010 – 09.02.2018)
Citroën C-Zero (10.2010 – 02.2017)

While recalls on DS4, DS5, and C4 have been ongoing since 2024, the most critical “Stop Driving” order applies specifically to C3 and DS3 models, which carry the highest risk.