France has ordered the recall of 2.5 million cars equipped with defective airbags that can explode on impact and have caused a series of deaths.

It follows a fatal accident earlier this month in Reims, east of Paris, in which a 37-year-old mother driving a Citroen C3 was struck in the head by pieces of flying metal after a minor collision.

It is the latest drama in the 20-year scandal over now-defunct Japanese manufacturer Takata, whose airbags were installed by nearly all the world's leading car-makers.

The airbags use ammonium nitrate gas for instant inflation. But the gas can deteriorate in hot and humid conditions, leading to powerful explosions which throw shrapnel into the driver's face.

The transport ministry in Paris on Tuesday issued a "do not drive" order on cars of all brands bearing Takata airbags in Corsica and in France's overseas territories, as well as on pre-2011 cars in mainland France.

The difference is because hotter climates, such as in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, make the airbags more unstable. Of the 18 French deaths attributed to the airbags, 16 have been in the overseas territories.

The number of affected vehicles is put at 1.7 million. The ministry said owners of a further 800,000 post-2011 cars on the mainland should report to their dealers and have their airbags changed.

The measure is a major step-up from the initial reaction to the Reims tragedy, which was to immobilise only certain Citroën vehicles – the CS3 and DS3.

"This decision should send a clear and firm message to the manufacturers, and at the same time encourage owners to have their vehicles checked as soon as possible," the ministry said.

The move risks causing serious disruption to families, a few weeks ahead of the summer holidays. The ministry said all drivers affected by the order should be able to access free replacement vehicles until their airbags are changed.

In a statement last week, car-maker Stellantis, which produces the C3 and DS3, said it was "committed to acting quickly and with the utmost transparency" to provide its customers with a solution.

It is thought that 35 people have been killed by Takata airbags around the world, and some 100 million vehicles have been recalled in various countries.

The scandal was mainly focused on the US and has belatedly hit Europe over the last two years. The UK arm of Stellantis also issued a stop-drive notice for its Citroen C3 and DS3 cars this week.

Lawyers and victims' families met in Paris to discuss the possibilities of legal redress on Tuesday.

"The rhythm of accidents is accelerating. Since January 2025, there has been a death every two months," lawyer Charles-Henri Coppet said.

"It is urgent to force manufacturers to issue recalls and make sure they are properly carried out, otherwise there will be more deaths."

"If my father had not had a Takata airbag, he would be alive today," Vicky – a woman from the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe – told Le Figaro newspaper. Her father was killed in July 2024 when his airbag exploded.

"There was no recall order out on his car. He had no idea he was driving a time bomb."

France's main consumers' association UFC-Que Choisir accused the government and manufacturers of complacency.

"No measure has been taken by the manufacturers which reflects the urgency and gravity of the situation," said the association's president, Marie-Amandine Stévenin.

"Their risk analyses were obviously not reliable, because we are continuing to have accidents."