Takata Airbags: after Citroën and Volkswagen, Toyota and Mercedes join the vehicle recall, here are the affected models

Ah, the Takata airbags, that old enduring issue in the automotive world, which continues to awaken the deep fears of French drivers like a bad remake of a disaster movie. After Citroën and Volkswagen have already done their grand repentance number with recalls both welcomed and dreaded, here come Toyota and Mercedes joining the fray. Surprise! In 2025, it's a real parade of automotive stars that are forced to immobilize hundreds of thousands of vehicles, all against a backdrop of unstable gas that turns the airbag into an explosive frog. And of course, it’s always the same models knocking at the garage doors, with owners urged to stop driving if they care about their faces. Get ready to find out which rolling monsters are concerned and why this scandal still has a bright future ahead.

Takata Airbags: Toyota and Mercedes Forced to Mass Recall Their Models in France

The French Ministry of Transport raised the alarm this Thursday, April 10: Toyota and Mercedes must, in turn, massively immobilize several of their models to replace Takata airbags that have become too risky. Nothing new under the sun for those following the matter since 2014, but the severity of the problem does not weaken. More than 370,000 vehicles in the metropolitan area are concerned, adding to the countless cars already recalled by Citroën, Volkswagen, and others. Toyota, with 154,900 models, and Mercedes, with 214,700 vehicles, are among the leaders of this little macabre waltz.

The Takata Scandal: A Capricious Gas and Airbags Turned into Deadly Traps

To understand why these recalls are multiplying, one must grasp what lurks under that piece of fabric meant to save lives. The culprit: an inflation gas, supposed to deploy in milliseconds, but that had developed the bad habit of degrading over time. The result? Airbags can explode like failed fireworks, projecting metallic shards into the heads of passengers – not exactly a reassuring thought.

In France, this scourge has already caused 29 accidents, resulting in 12 deaths, a tragic toll that is dizzying when you think that Toyota and Mercedes are now joining the long list of affected brands. Imagine a detective tracing a lead over a decade old, where every model produced between 2001 and 2018 could, at any moment, become a rolling trap.

Affected Toyota and Mercedes Models: When Japanese and German Reliability Takes a Hit

We’re not talking about just one or two isolated vehicles; no, it’s a true inventory à la Prévert that emerges. At Toyota, the famous Yaris (produced between 2001 and 2017) and Corolla (2001-2010) are in the crosshairs, while at Mercedes, the serious class A II (2004-2016) and C II and III (2004-2016) are concerned. Suffice it to say you're more likely to encounter one of these cars while out and about than a pigeon in a Parisian square on a strike day.

To complicate matters, despite repeated recall and "stop drive" campaigns, a good portion of these vehicles has still not undergone repairs. Mercedes claims to have already resolved 53% of cases, but that still leaves hundreds of thousands of cars that could explode unexpectedly.

Recalls and Immobilizations: Logistics Worthy of a Kafkaesque Novel

You think recalling your car is simple? Think again. Between manufacturers sometimes reluctant to acknowledge the extent of the problem, furious or invisible owners, and a government cracking down on financial penalties – a million euros per day of delay, mind you, it's no joke – the scenario resembles a dark comedy where no one comes out ahead.

France still counts nearly 2.3 million vehicles to be equipped elsewhere in the metropolitan area. Citroën kicked off hostilities in early 2025 with its C3 and DS3, and now Toyota and Mercedes are joining in with campaigns that promise to be as cheerful as a family dinner during a diplomatic crisis.

Overseas, the situation is even more critical, with a climate that accelerates the degradation of airbags. Where humidity and heat create a perfect potion for surprise explosions, manufacturers will have to flex their muscles, or risk hefty fines, in a bid to finally tame this industrial scandal.

Justice and Victims: A Case Rocking Between Technical Issues and Human Drama

But beyond the numbers and vehicles, it’s lives that are at stake. The French justice system is now centralizing investigations, to prevent this case from becoming a genuine festival of intertwined procedures. Eleven injured victims, nine bereaved families, and amid all that, an endless chain of recalls and repairs.

Several owners have even decided to take action against Stellantis for accusations of "endangering others" and "deceptive business practices." If that wasn't enough to awaken consciences, lawyer Charles-Henri Coppet, overseeing several cases, believes this affair should be recognized as a true industrial scandal, much to the chagrin of marketing strategists.

Si vous souhaitez lire d'autres articles tels que Takata Airbags: after Citroën and Volkswagen, Toyota and Mercedes join the vehicle recall, here are the affected models, consultez la catégorie Citroën.