'Stop driving': Thousands of Irish motorists warned as safety issue sparks major recall

Citrëon Ireland has issued a stark warning that many Irish motorists may be in danger after a 'serious airbag safety issue' was identified in thousands of cars sold in Ireland.

The car manufacturer says it is currently through over half of the 1,800 cars affected with the issue but says hundreds more cars need to be attended to in order to eradicate the problem completely. 

The safety issue, which could have fatal consequences, relates to the airbags installed in certain models which were manufactured by the now defunct Japanese company 'Takata'. That company has been at the centre of a global scandal since 2013 as a result of their airbags.

In a recall notice, Citrëon, says the defective airbags contain ammonium nitrate which can deteriorate over time especially in warm and humid conditions leading to an explosion of severe force if the airbags are triggered during an accident.

"The chemicals in these Takata airbag inflators may deteriorate over time, especially when exposed to hot and humid climatic conditions. Which may cause some inflators to rupture in case of a crash leading to airbag deployment, capable of causing serious injury or even fatality, in a worst-case scenario,"states the notice.

READ NEXT: Late Late Show's Patrick Kielty announces separation from wife of 12 years Cat Deeley

The mass recall of vehicles has impacted over thirty car brands including the likes of BMW, Ford, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota over the last twelve years. 

The issue has become the largest recall in Automotive history with over sixty-five million vehicles affected  It's estimated that 35 people have died as a result of the problem with a further 400 injured. 

The issue was first flagged in late 2023 for Citrëon as drivers were asked to check for the presence of Takata airbags. On June 19 2025, an urgent "stop drive notice" was issued for certain models as the plea for motorists to check their cars intensify.

Citrëon's parent company Stellantis are recalling all affected vehicles with a staggered approach prioritizing the older cars because of the unpredictable nature of the chemical components over a long period of time in the Takata airbags. 

The following Citrëon models are impacted by the recall. 

Citrëon C3 Phase 2 ( From 24/09/2009 to 21/02/2017)

Citrëon C4 (From 02/02/2010 to 20/05/2018)

Citrëon DS3 (From 05/12/2008 to 30/05/2019)

Citrëon DS4 (From 05/05/2010 to 03/02/2017)

Citrëon DS5 (From 30/06/2010 to 09/02/2018)

Citrëon C Zero ( From October 2010 to February 2017)

Any motorists who own one of these models, are advised to contact their nearest Citrëon dealership. You can also check if your vehicle is affected by visiting the Citrëon website and entering your VIN number.

Citrëon has stressed that the models Citrëon C3, Citrëon DS3 and Citrëon C-Zero have been issued with 'stop drive' notice which emphasizes the magnitude of the ongoing issue.