Takata Airbag Recall Documentary

[GiveMeABreak]

Given the number of 'After-sales campaign' notices concerning Takarta Airbags I have been made aware of when looking up parts from PSA for members, I thought I would post a link to the following documentary that may be informative concerning the issue with these igniters.

According to Takata, the chemicals in the airbags’ explosive charge can degrade and become more volatile over time, especially in hot and humid conditions. If this happens, the metal charge can disintegrate on detonation, sending shards of sharp metal flying at drivers and passengers.

Although the documentary deals with the USA, Takarta also supplied airbags to a huge number of automotive manufacturers, including Citroen, Peugeot and DS Automobiles, Vauxhall etc.

The documentary focusses on John Keller, a former Takarta Airbag Inflator Engineer and his personal crusade to get these ticking timebombs replaced.

I hope you find it as informative as I did.

I can only suggest that if you have concerns that you try checking with your dealership, or via

DVSA Recall Check (https://www.check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk)
The Motor Ombudsman (https://www.themotorombudsman.org/)

Please note that owners of early Citroen-badged DS vehicles (DS3, DS4 or DS5) should also check under both DS, DS Automobiles and Citroen marques to ensure you check thoroughly as they do not always have these models under the correct categories!

Please also be aware that as I understand it, these recalls are being staggered, so a recall may not be flagged in one year, but suddenly will show up later. I have an example of this where a DS5 from 2012 has a recall dated 17/09/2020, but is also now showing up with another recall via Citroen's site dated February 2025, so this may involve more than one recall! Please also check frequently, as it may take some time for the data to be updated on the websites.



and below, a victim of one of these, Air Force officer Stephanie Erdman:

Warning - Graphic Depiction of Injury - Discretion Advised

[Rhothgar]

Very interesting although I have not watched the video in full as yet. I did watch the discretion advised one though... OUCH!

I'll catch up on the main video when on holiday.

I did call Peugeot but they are currently not aware of it and the Motor Ombudsman have said safety recalls are not in the remit or jurisdiction.

Thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention, Marc.

[GiveMeABreak]

The recalls for these are vehicle and build date specific and won’t have anything to do with the ombudsman, only the DVSA and the manufacturer. So the dealers will not themselves necessarily be aware until flagged up when booked in for some work when they’ll see it on the database. If it’s a major issue, then DVSA will provide manufacturers with current owner details in order to write to them.

[Daibach]

Hi all, I haven't seen the documentary yet, but as far as dates of recall notices is concerned, I have received 2 Safety Recall Notices for my 2013 C4 in the last 2 months...the latest being today...but nothing prior to that. The first one referred to driver's air bag and possibly also passenger airbag ( which would suggest a fairly major strip out of the car to me). The second notice only referred to driver's air bag. Has anybody had this work done? How long does it take at the dealers? Is it really necessary since press reports indicate there has never been an incident in UK, and the problem seems to be mainly associated with high humidity and high temp environments. I would appreciate your thoughts, many thanks.

[Gibbo2286]

Hi all, I haven't seen the documentary yet, but as far as dates of recall notices is concerned, I have received 2 Safety Recall Notices for my 2013 C4 in the last 2 months...the latest being today...but nothing prior to that. The first one referred to driver's air bag and possibly also passenger airbag ( which would suggest a fairly major strip out of the car to me). The second notice only referred to driver's air bag. Has anybody had this work done? How long does it take at the dealers? Is it really necessary since press reports indicate there has never been an incident in UK, and the problem seems to be mainly associated with high humidity and high temp environments. I would appreciate your thoughts, many thanks.

Having watched both the videos I'd say "If you've had the notice get it done." Never in the UK..........yet, do you wan't to take the chance of you or yours being the first?

[frer8833]

Hi all, I haven't seen the documentary yet, but as far as dates of recall notices is concerned, I have received 2 Safety Recall Notices for my 2013 C4 in the last 2 months...the latest being today...but nothing prior to that. The first one referred to driver's air bag and possibly also passenger airbag ( which would suggest a fairly major strip out of the car to me). The second notice only referred to driver's air bag. Has anybody had this work done? How long does it take at the dealers? Is it really necessary since press reports indicate there has never been an incident in UK, and the problem seems to be mainly associated with high humidity and high temp environments. I would appreciate your thoughts, many thanks.

About title of thread it is called Takata airbag, not Takarta.

I got a promo code from Citroen for a free replacement of the airbag in C4 II, B7, 2013 which I thought was for the passenger side but after correspondence they said it was for driver side so I think it was about Takata airbag.

They changed it in like 5 minutes. At the desk later I signed a paper that it was done and I saw that the price was 11,000 SEK, about 1,000 EUR. Is this the price that Citroen paid to the certified service center?

[myglaren]

Thread title amended.

[Neilied]

V5 details fully up to date with address changes yet I never received anything from Citroen. Checking the VOSA link I can see it says outstanding recalls. Searching Citroen and found a recall page. https://www.citroen.co.uk/maintain/safe ... check.html

This shows my 2013 DS5 is affected by this recall. Will be making the call Monday morning.

[myglaren]

Finally got ours booked in for next month.
Daughter had booked it in but never received a text or email. When son tried to take it in he was refused as there should have been a confirmation email and there was no possibility of arranging it either in person or on the phone. Only online bookings.

[Neilied]

Posted on other threads. Booked (subject to parts available) for 10th sept. Only car in household so struggling. Contacted Stellantis and pleaded case as priority need due to daughter with autism. Told courtesy cars can be arranged but could take longer than the booking date. Blanket offer of £22 per day to cover travel but couldn’t get a rental for that. Due to go to Cornwall in a few weeks so will have to rent if they can’t come through.

[Manchinga_]

I received my letter today 18th of August but they gave me an appointment for the 16th of September but I need the car to go to work. Have anyone contacted someone to try to fix this (courtesy car or something else)?

[Jonb74]

We got our letter in very early July and we couldn’t get ours changed until 12th August. So we were without a car for 40+ days. We had to hire a car to go on holiday to which we still haven’t received a refund. Citroen/ Stellantis are very firm in their correspondence almost to the point of ignorance. There’s no mention of a compensation scheme or anything. It’s ridiculous. Good luck everyone!

[Neilied]

I was very persistent with Stellantis, I did however call the main service number not airbag line, they created a case and a case handler assigned. I went through a 40 min form to register as a priority need as daughter has autism and only car in household. It took a further week for ball to start rolling with a courtesy car as I declined the £22 per day offer. It took many more calls and then I got a call from free2move. I took more calls to Citroen but after a further week I got a rental delivered.

Persistence and politeness I would say is key. I’m guessing the call centres are at capacity with this.

[wurlycorner]

This story was featured on watchdog on the oneshow last night, quite early on in the programme.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002hzrn

The way Stellantis have handled it seems very poor.
If parts supply wasn’t the major limiting factor but dealer capacity was the issue (or when parts stopped being and dealer capacity became it) then they should have contracted companies like AA or RAC to go out and do mobile repairs - or recruited a few techs themselves on short term contracts, trained up specific for this task and supplied with a vehicle/parts/tools/equipment, to drive round the country going to customers to do the repair. Especially given the ‘stop drive’ notice, which meant even taking it to the dealer was not straightforward.

It’s really not rocket science - I’ve done it and seen it done In my industry - and that could have been set up within a week or so. They just don’t care enough.

And what on earth £22/day is meant to cover and how they came up with the number… who knows.

[Neilied]

Not a great conversation with local dealership (Evan’s Halshaw) Stellantis asked that I call the dealer where I am booked in, a week ahead to confirm part availability and then call them to arrange transport. I called EH on Thursday and was told that they had stock there and then but couldn’t guarantee that they would next week? I mentioned I was booked in on Wednesday and they said best to call back Tuesday. I then mentioned my model was DS5. He then said oh. They will only be fitting Citroen parts. Which I guess is ok. I asked whether the parts for a DS5 are the same as a DS3 but he didn’t know. And said call back Tuesday.

does anyone know if it’s both driver and passenger? And whether the parts are the same irrelevant of model?