Defective airbags, the dramatic and never-ending Takata case. The problem for Citroen customers
The Japanese manufacturer is at the centre of one of the biggest crises in the automotive sector. Millions of vehicles worldwide are involved in recall campaigns.
2' min read
2' min read
Airbags manufactured by Takata and supplied to many car manufacturers, from Vw to Seat, Audi to Mercedes, Skoda and Honda, plus Citroen, have had to initiate recall campaigns for the Asian manufacturer's airbags. The defect found is deterioration of the internal propellant especially when exposed to hot and humid weather conditions that can cause the airbag to inflate violently to the point of explosion that could cause injuries if metal fragments are projected towards the occupants of the car.
Japanese manufacturer and debts for recalls
.Takata Corporation, a manufacturer of airbag components, electronics, seatbelts and steering wheels, founded in 1933 with headquarters in Japan and plants in Europe, including nine in Germany, entered bankruptcy proceedings in June 2017. Takata controlled 20 per cent of the airbag market, based on 46,000 employees in 56 factories in 20 countries, with sales of ¥663 billion, but debts of more than ¥1 trillion for costs spent on recall campaigns.
The first recalls in 2008 in the United States
The first cases of malfunctioning Takata airbags materialised in 2008 in the United States. At that point, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the US motorist protection organisation, opened an investigation into Takata airbags. In 2013, Takata was forced to recall 3.6 million cars for accidents involving personal injury caused by the airbags. But even today, recalls of defective Takata airbags continue.
Citroen like other brands involved in the recalls
.The latest is the one involving the Citroen C3 and DS3 produced from 2009 to 2019 that are no longer marketed. The recall also concerns the same defect in the airbags supplied by Takata on models from other manufacturers (Volkswagen). Owners have already received a letter from Citroen recommending that they immediately stop driving their vehicle and access the website dedicated to the recall campaign. After verification, customers will be informed of the necessary procedures for replacing the airbag.
The instructions for replacing airbags
.If necessary, Citroen says it is ready to offer alternative mobility options to meet individual needs, all free of charge. Once the airbag replacement appointment is confirmed, instructions on the steps to follow to take the car to an authorised workshop for the recall phase will be provided. With further advice to customers, given the seriousness of the problem, not to use the vehicle in any destination other than the one where the dangerous airbag will be replaced.
