Airbag Crisis: Who’s Next After Citroën?

While Citroën recalls all C3 and DS 3 models manufactured between 2009 and 2019, other manufacturers using the same airbags are also affected.

The situation that manufacturers must face following the identified failure of Takata airbags is serious and relatively unprecedented. The situation is complex because beyond the terribly negative image that this operation conveys and the lawsuits that will inevitably follow, the Takata company went bankrupt in 2017! Brands must therefore source at their own expense from another supplier to replace all potentially defective parts.

Citroën in all honesty

If Citroën has chosen to manage this crisis with total transparency, its models are certainly not the only ones equipped with Takata airbags. We’re talking about at least 100 million cars equipped worldwide. For reference, the safety of the airbags is being questioned due to certain chemicals present in the inflators that can deteriorate over time, especially when exposed to hot and humid climate conditions. Of course, not all 100 million airbags produced are affected, and some are no longer in circulation, but there are still a large number in our vehicles.

To be continued…

From March to April, BMW and SEAT had quietly conducted recall campaigns. Since then, the scandal has exploded in the media, and it is no longer possible to hide behind a finger. Last week, Nissan announced the recall of more than 80,000 vehicles, while Honda implemented a follow-up service for its customers. The question now is who will be next, but in its latest communications, Takata boasted about equipping more than 15 major global manufacturers.