Does insurance cover a car you are told not to drive?

[carmanmemoranda]

Yes, it's being going on for 10 years. There are about 70 million Takata airbags in circulation, all over the world, fitted to many makes and models of car, not just Citroens. My understanding is that Takata used ammonium nitrate as the gas generator which, in damp / hot conditions, deteriorates over time and instead of "burning rapidly", to generate the gas to inflate the airbag, it just explodes, resulting in shrapnel from the casing, sometimes being fired out towards the occupant, instead of just the airbag. There have been a small number of fatalities around the world, as a result of this.

I believe there was a much earlier recall, which involved inspecting the airbag casings for traces of rust (indicating moisture) and replacing if rust was found. If no rust was found, bags of silica gel were put in or near the airbag modules to act as a desiccant. Unfortunately, on some cars, the silica worked for a while, until it had absorbed as much moisture as it could, and then the deterioration continued, hence this new recall. Takata went bust in 2017, so it's "everyone else's problem" now... I don't believe the other airbag manufacturers round the world, have anything like sufficient capacity to make replacements for 70 million Takata airbags.

I also believe that Citroen were issued with a "do not drive" order by regulators in France. This puts them in an incredibly difficult position as it's basically the same product everywhere else. In the UK, we have a voluntary Code of Practice on vehicle safety recalls, operated by DVSA. Why this hasn't affected the (very similar parts bin cousin of the C3, the Peugeot 208), I have no idea.

There will be no trouble finding which vehicles were fitted with Takata airbags, as the manufacturers will have records of what was fitted to each vehicle.

Most likely, that until a "do not drive" order is mandated no more recalls will be made, unless they find serious likelihood of death or serious injury.

As you say, there is no more capacity to make, supply or fit airbags.

Not a conspiracy, just a mess

 

[aveatry]

More info here
Whilst there have been no reported instances in the UK, Stellantis has decided to deploy a stop-drive order for all impacted vehicles across Europe including the UK. This decision underscores the Company’s unwavering commitment to customer safety.

Citroën Safety Recall Check | Citroën UK

Use Citroën's Safety Recall Check to confirm your vehicle's safety and compliance. Enter your VIN to discover any recalls or safety notices. Stay updated.

www.citroen.co.uk

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Interestingly, I've recently had a special notice on these vehicles.

 

[Avocet]

Interestingly, I've recently had a special notice on these vehicles.

Are you allowed to disclose what it said?

 

[Mottie]

Are you allowed to disclose what it said?

Special notices are no secret. Dunno why he didn’t just post the link.

[Withdrawn] MOT special notice 02-25: testing vehicles affected by the Citroën C3 or DS3 stop drive recall

How to check if a vehicle presented for test is affected by the Citroën C3 or DS3 stop drive recall, and what to do if the vehicle is affected.

www.gov.uk

 

[Avocet]

Special notices are no secret. Dunno why he didn’t just post the link.

[Withdrawn] MOT special notice 02-25: testing vehicles affected by the Citroën C3 or DS3 stop drive recall

How to check if a vehicle presented for test is affected by the Citroën C3 or DS3 stop drive recall, and what to do if the vehicle is affected.

www.gov.uk

Thanks for that. However, it looks much like the guidance they've already put out?

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Are you allowed to disclose what it said?

This is the interesting part...

What to do if the vehicle is affected​

You can MOT test the vehicle as normal. The affected vehicles will only cause a problem in the event of an airbag deployment because of an accident.

You should issue a ‘manual advisory’ with the following text:

“This vehicle has an outstanding recall. Contact Citroën for information and to arrange a free repair.”




So even with a do not drive notice, they can still arrive for an mot. Defeats the idea of the do not drive notice really.

Also the mot system is supposed to automatically advise if there are any outstanding recalls (happens a lot) on any vehicle being tested. Not sure why they say a manual advisory should be issued.

 

[foxhole]

If I continue to drive my car, will this invalidate my insurance?

Ignoring a stop-drive order can lead to legal repercussions, such as a fine, a driving ban or points on your licence.

It could also invalidate your insurance, meaning you may not be covered if you need to make a claim.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says you should always let your insurer know if your vehicle has been recalled and follow any guidance it gives you.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

If I continue to drive my car, will this invalidate my insurance?

Ignoring a stop-drive order can lead to legal repercussions, such as a fine, a driving ban or points on your licence

It could also invalidate your insurance, meaning you may not be covered if you need to make a claim.

May stop you making a claim, but not being the subject of a claim, that is covered.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says you should always let your insurer know if your vehicle has been recalled and follow any guidance it gives you.

I don't disagree with any of that, but unless involved in any accident it is unlikely to be actioned.

However, as an MOT tester, if 1 of the affected vehicles turns up, I am supposed to test it , and under certain circumstances may have to drive it on public roads (fully insured). But put myself at risk if I was to be involved in an accident.

Odd situation. Very unlikely to need to road test it in fairness, or to have an accident, but multiplied across the country the odds increase.