Thousands of motorists across France have been issued with a "stop drive" order in response to concerns from a popular car brand that internal components could be faulty.
Global manufacturer Stellantis has called for 82,000 Citroen C3 and DS3 vehicles in France to be removed from the roads.
The issue stems from issues with Takata airbags and follows the tragic death of a woman in Reims last week.
Reuters reports that the female driver died from injuries sustained by one of the airbags in a 2014 Citroen C3, prompting the recall.
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The Citroen C3 has been slapped with a 'stop drive' notice
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All Citroen C3 and DS3 vehicles produced between 2014 and 2019 are subject to a "stop drive" recall notice, according to a spokesperson from Stellantis.
It follows a request from the French transport ministry which called for C3 and DS3 vehicles with a Takata airbag to be recalled.
According to data from Stellantis, it had repaired 481,000 cars in France, out of a total of 690,000 with the faulty Takata airbag.
A spokesperson for Stellantis added: "Tonight we have decided to extend the stop drive order to all C3 and DS3 models affected by this recall campaign in France and Europe and produced between 2014 and 2019," Le Monde reported.
Millions of faulty Takata airbags have been identified around the world
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It had previously told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Tuesday that it was assessing the situation to "take the necessary measures".
In a statement, the French transport ministry questioned Stellantis, saying: "This accident raises questions about the risk analyses carried out by the manufacturer."
The Connexion claimed that the manufacturer sent a letter to the driver informing them of the need to change the airbags, although the driver no longer lived at the address.
The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recalled around 67 million airbags in recent years.
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The transport authority warns that they have been recalled because the airbags can "explode when deployed, causing serious injury or even death".
The NHTSA has issued "do not drive" warnings to several popular models, including certain BMW 3 Series (2000-2006), Ford Mustang (2005-2014), Honda Civic (2001-2002) and the Toyota Corollas (2003-2004).
Similarly, the French Ministry of Ecological Transition highlighted how many vehicles built between 1998 and 2019 are equipped with Takata airbags which can cause issues.
An online checking tool is available for drivers who may be at risk of owning a vehicle with a faulty airbag.
Repairs will be free, with the cost covered by the manufacturer
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Drivers who may be at risk are encouraged to contact a specialist garage as soon as possible for a "free and quick" repair, which takes less than half a day.
In most vehicles, both front airbags will require a replacement, with the cost of the repair being covered by the manufacturer.
The French Ministry for Ecology warns: "Defective airbags can burst upon deployment, propelling metal fragments into the passenger compartment.
"This can cause serious or even fatal injuries. Affected vehicles must be repaired as soon as possible."
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