The DVSA has issued new guidance for MOT garages after more than 100,000 vehicles were part of an urgent "stop drive" recall over safety fears.
A new special notice has been announced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) regarding the massive recall of Citroen C3 and DS3 vehicles.
Parent company Stellantis announced the "stop drive recall" of around 120,000 vehicles due to an issue with the airbag system.
It impacts second-generation Citroen C3 models (2009-2016), Citroen DS 3 cars (2009-2016) and DS Automobiles DS 3 models (2016-2019).
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The DVSA has issued special guidance for Takata airbag recalls
DVSA/GETTY
The new special notice applies to England, Scotland and Wales, and has been issued for MOT testers.
The guidance states that garages can test the vehicle as normal, as the impacted vehicles will only cause issues if the airbag deploys in an accident.
According to the DVSA, garages and mechanics should issue a "manual advisory" if an affected vehicle is seen.
This states: "This vehicle has an outstanding recall. Contact Citroen for information and to arrange a free repair."
READ MORE: Major 'do not drive' recall sees motorists forced off roads until 2026 with 120,000 Britons impacted
The Citroen C3 has been hit with a 'stop drive' noticeGETTYStellantis was forced to issue a recall notice for the vehicles, alongisde an immediate stop-drive action since they are equipped with Takata airbags.
Owners of these impacted cars are urged to "immediately cease" using their vehicles when it is safe to do so.
The recall was first issued in Southern Europe, with tens of millions of Takata airbags being recalled in Europe and the United States.
There have not been any reported instances in the UK, with Stellantis saying that the decision for a European-wide recall was to underscore its "unwavering commitment to customer safety".
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In a statement, Stellantis said: "Each and every driver will have different requirements for mobility, from courtesy cars to a variety of alternative transport options.
"We want to help in each case with the specifics of these individual requirements, prioritising the most urgent cases.
"We are investigating options for airbag replacement at other sites, in addition to our Citroen network, including at home. These options will be discussed with customers."
In documents filed with the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 67 million airbags were impacted.
The Stellantis recall was first launched in Southern Europe over a year ago
STELLANTISThe safety organisation warns that vehicles with the Takata airbags are "at a far higher risk for an airbag explosion that could injure or kill vehicle occupants".
If drivers are at risk of having their vehicles included in a recall, they should have received a letter in the post from the manufacturer.
It comes as Citroen dealers warn that some motorists may be forced to wait until 2026 to have their vehicles repaired, as thousands of drivers rush to their nearest dealership.
One dealer manager claimed that staff were working extra shifts to accommodate the rise in additional vehicles needing to be repaired.
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