VDe Vector

Stellantis advises owners of 11,063 cars to stop driving immediately

The stop-drive advice mainly applies to older Opels with a potentially dangerous Takata airbag.

Stellantis has extended a stop-drive measure in the Netherlands to 11,063 vehicles that have not yet taken part in an earlier recall involving Takata airbags. Owners must stop using their car and have the repair carried out free of charge.

The measure applies to specific versions of the Citroën C4, DS 4, Opel Astra H and Opel Vectra/Signum. According to Stellantis, these are vehicles whose owners have still not made an appointment to have the airbag replaced despite repeated calls to do so.

According to RDW data, 10,510 of the 11,063 vehicles involved are Opels. Stellantis says the total also includes 469 Citroëns and 84 vehicles from DS Automobiles. The affected production years and models are listed in Stellantis's recall information; not every Opel from those years is automatically covered by the action.

The problem concerns certain Takata airbag inflators. Stellantis writes that ageing and prolonged exposure to factors including heat and humidity can affect their operation. This creates a risk of serious injury in a collision. The manufacturer says the repair is free of charge.

The extension targets vehicles that were already part of an ongoing recall. Stellantis says some owners have received up to eight letters. The new stop-drive measure is therefore not a general driving ban for all Opels, but a warning for the specific vehicles included in the recall register.

Owners can check whether their vehicle is affected via the manufacturer's information and the RDW recall register. Anyone who has received a letter should contact a dealer and follow the instructions. The measure is safety-focused; it is not yet known how many of the 11,063 vehicles have since been repaired.

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