PARIS — The French government has announced an unprecedented recall of 2.5 million vehicles equipped with defective Takata airbags that have been linked to dozens of deaths worldwide, including 18 in France.
The move follows the death of a 37-year-old mother earlier this month in Reims, sparking renewed urgency over a decades-old global automotive safety scandal.
The fatal incident occurred when the woman’s Citroën C3 was involved in a minor accident, during which her airbag exploded with deadly force, sending shards of metal into her head.
The tragedy prompted France’s transport ministry to extend a sweeping “do not drive” directive on vehicles containing Takata airbags, especially in regions with hot and humid climates such as Corsica and France’s overseas territories.
Citing the deteriorating stability of ammonium nitrate gas used in the airbags, the ministry said the measure would apply to all vehicles bearing the affected airbags in these areas.
The chemical compound, used for the airbags’ rapid inflation, has been found to degrade in heat and humidity, increasing the risk of an explosive deployment. Of the 18 known French fatalities tied to the airbags, 16 occurred in the overseas territories.
The order affects 1.7 million vehicles under a mandatory no-drive ban, while owners of another 800,000 vehicles—primarily post-2011 models on mainland France—are being urged to visit dealerships to replace their airbags immediately.
The latest step marks a major escalation from an earlier recall that only targeted certain Citroën models, namely the C3 and DS3.
“This decision should send a clear and firm message to the manufacturers, and at the same time encourage owners to have their vehicles checked as soon as possible,” the ministry said in a statement.
Car owners impacted by the recall will be entitled to free replacement vehicles until their airbags are safely changed out, according to officials. However, the timing—just weeks before the summer travel season—has raised concerns over potential disruption to families and holiday plans.
Stellantis, the parent company of Citroën, responded by affirming its commitment to transparency and swift action. “We are committed to acting quickly and with the utmost transparency to provide our customers with a solution,” the automaker said in a statement.
Globally, Takata airbags have been linked to 35 deaths and prompted the recall of around 100 million vehicles across multiple continents.
Although the scandal originally erupted in the United States over a decade ago, its full implications have only recently begun to impact Europe.
Victims’ families and legal representatives gathered in Paris this week to press for more aggressive manufacturer action and possible legal redress.
“Since January 2025, there has been a death every two months,” said lawyer Charles-Henri Coppet. “It is urgent to force manufacturers to issue recalls and make sure they are properly carried out.”
Consumer advocacy group UFC-Que Choisir sharply criticized both the government and carmakers for their delayed and inadequate response.
“No measure has been taken by the manufacturers which reflects the urgency and gravity of the situation,” said Marie-Amandine Stévenin, president of the association.
As pressure mounts, the French government’s sweeping recall signals a long-overdue reckoning with one of the auto industry’s deadliest safety failures.
