Airbags defective result in 2.5 million cars in France recalled
The French government has ordered 2.5 million cars equipped with defective airbags that may explode on impact. The defective safety products have already been linked with a series of deaths.
A fatal accident earlier this month in Reims, near Paris, saw a 37-year-old driver in a Citroen C3 being struck in the head by pieces of flying metal following a minor collision. This follows the 20-year scandal over Japanese car maker Takata whose products were found in many car makers around the world.
The airbags rely on nitrate gas to inflate but in hot and humid conditions, the gas can deteriorate. This could lead to powerful explosions that result in shrapnel being thrown into the face of the driver.
Paris’ transport ministry issued a “do not drive” order on cars that use Takata airbags in Corsica and France’s overseas territories, along with those made before 2011 in mainland France. Hotter climates, such as the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, could cause the airbags to be more unstable. Of the 18 deaths linked to the defective products, 16 were in the overseas territories.
It is estimated that around 1.7 million vehicles are affected, but the ministry said that owners of an additional 800,000 cars made after 2011 on the mainland should report to a dealership to have it changed.
Initially, following the incident in Reims, only certain Citroen vehicles were issued a “do not drive” order by authorities.
“This decision should send a clear and firm message to the manufacturers, and at the same time encourage owners to have their vehicles checked as soon as possible,” the ministry said.
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