DVSA has tightened the MOT process around one of the largest active UK safety recalls: the Takata airbag “do not drive” campaign affecting around 120,000 second-generation Citroën C3 and DS DS 3 cars. From 2025 onwards, MOT testers must issue a manual advisory on any affected car presented for test.
Which cars are affected?
- Citroën C3 (second generation, 2009–2016)
- Citroën DS 3 (2009–2016)
- DS Automobiles DS 3 (2016–2019)
What changed at MOT
The cars can still be MOT-tested as normal. The new requirement is that testers must add a manual advisory to the test record:
The advisory applies in England, Scotland and Wales. It does not cause an MOT failure, but it is a written, on-record warning that the airbag campaign is still outstanding on the car.
Owner guidance
- This is a stop-drive notice. Affected owners are told to immediately cease using the vehicle when safe to do so.
- Stellantis is offering courtesy cars and alternative-transport options to keep people on the road while they wait for the fix.
- Repair wait times have been long because of high demand on the Takata airbag stock at dealerships.
Buying a used C3 or DS 3 from this era?
Run a recall check before you commit. The campaign is well-flagged in DVSA data, and a run a £1.99 RecallClear check will return whether it is still outstanding on the specific VRM. The Citroën and DS pages explain how RecallClear reports those statuses.
Originally reported by GB News. RecallClear's coverage is independently written and may include additional context, verification against the DVSA and SMMT registers, and links to manufacturer pages.