Owners of these vehicles told to 'stop driving' in urgent recall notice

Motorists with the keys to one type of vehicle may be caught out by a fresh safety recall warning. Major car firm Stellantis has warned "immediate" action is being taken over Citroen C3 models over safety concerns.

According to the brand, the recall affects any owners with a Takata airbag installed between certain years. Officials have stressed they will write to owners to inform them of the recall, with any upgrades set to be conducted free of charge. The news comes a week after a woman in France died after an airbag in her 2014 Citroen C3 exploded.

Citroen posted on Facebook: "Stellantis UK announces an immediate stop-drive action for all Citroen C3 (second generation) vehicles manufactured between 2009 and 2016 equipped with Takata airbags. Owners of such vehicles should immediately stop driving their vehicle.

"All affected customers will be notified by letter. Customers can also check if their vehicle is affected and what actions are advised by using the VIN check tool on the Citroen UK website."

The 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number can be found on motorists' V5C registration certificates.

Citroen's official site claims road users' VIN codes will usually begin with VR7 or VF7.

Road users unable to check whether they are affected by the recall online can get in touch with Stellentis' dedicated helpline on 0800 917 9285.

Stellantis has confirmed there have been no reported instances in the UK which has led up to the recall.

Instead, the company explained they had decided to deploy a stop-drive order for all impacted vehicles across Europe including the UK, underscoring an unwavering commitment to customer safety.

Meanwhile, Stellantis suggested that vehicles included in the new action in the UK were already part of a comprehensive recall campaign.

Citroen's social media post added: "Vehicles included in this action are the second-generation Citroen C3, manufactured between 2009 and 2016, Citroen DS 3 manufactured between 2009 and 2016.

"It is of paramount importance that owners of vehicles who may have changed either their address or contact details keep their information updated with the DVLA (Driver & Vehicle Licensing Authority) so that they can be reached in a timely and efficient manner.

"Stellantis remains fully committed to acting swiftly, transparently, and responsibly in addressing this issue."