DUBLIN, Ireland: Citroën Ireland says it is "well over halfway through" the urgent process of repairing vehicles fitted with potentially lethal Takata airbags, but a considerable number of affected owners have yet to respond to repeated warnings, according to distributor Gowan Auto.

Colin Sheridan, representing Gowan Auto — the privately-owned distributor of Citroën in Ireland — told BreakingNews.ie that some drivers are now receiving their third or fourth letters, many of them sent by registered post. "We know someone is receiving them," he said, "but there's still a sizeable group that hasn't acted."

The recall focuses on Citroën C3, DS3, and DS 3 models manufactured between 2009 and 2019. These vehicles are fitted with airbags produced by Takata, a Japanese supplier whose faulty inflators have been linked to at least 35 deaths and over 400 injuries worldwide. Takata filed for bankruptcy in 2017 after investigations revealed it had compromised safety by using ammonium nitrate-based propellants, which can degrade in hot or humid conditions. In a crash, the airbags may explode violently, shooting metal fragments at the driver or passengers.

The global scandal has prompted the recall of more than 100 million vehicles across 35 automotive brands. Citroën's response gained urgency after a fatal incident in June, when a woman in Reims, France, died in a minor collision after her Citroën C3's airbag exploded.

In Ireland, 1,869 vehicles are affected by the stop-drive order. Gowan Auto is actively reaching out to owners, advising them not to drive the affected cars under any circumstances. To support compliance, Citroën dealers are offering rapid appointments — often on a same-day or next-day basis — and will arrange vehicle collection by tow truck or flat-bed to avoid any risk during transit.

Sheridan said the recall process here has been streamlined and that technicians can often complete the replacement in under two hours, sometimes in just minutes. "We've refined the art of airbag replacement," he said, noting that in some cases, the work can even be done at the owner's home.

This contrasts sharply with delays seen in the UK and France. In the UK alone, over 120,000 cars are affected, and Citroën has been criticized for long appointment waits and unclear communication around the availability of courtesy cars. In France, consumer groups have condemned Stellantis — Citroën's parent company for acting too slowly.

Despite the grave warnings, some Irish drivers are continuing to use their cars. Sheridan acknowledged that some individuals ignore the stop-drive notice and drive to service appointments themselves. This raises serious legal and insurance concerns.

Under EU law, a manufacturer-issued stop-drive notice renders a car unroadworthy. Continuing to drive such a vehicle could invalidate insurance coverage and potentially result in fines. Gowan Auto has said it is "unaware of any insurance issues" to date, but urges affected drivers to consult their insurers immediately.

To determine whether your vehicle is included in the recall, Citroën Ireland has created a dedicated webpage where owners can input their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN is typically located on the dashboard beneath the windshield on the passenger side. The tool is available at:
www.citroen.ie/maintain/recall-campaigns.html

Despite Gowan Auto's progress, a fourth wave of letters — again likely sent via registered mail — will soon be issued to those who have not yet responded. Sheridan emphasized the scale of the operation: "This is a massive task. There are 65 million affected vehicles globally, 35 car brands, and we're ahead of our targets here in Ireland. But we need the remaining owners to take action now."

With lives at stake and the work nearly complete, Citroën Ireland is urging the final holdouts to prioritize their safety and comply without delay.