– Stranded and out of pocket: Citroën owners speak out as stop-drive recall leaves them without transport or support
– £10,000 spent, 200 calls unanswered: Which? slams Stellantis for “shameful” handling of dangerous airbag fault
– Government urged to act: Consumer watchdog demands urgent reforms to guard drivers from future recall chaos
– Stranded and out of pocket: Citroën owners speak out as stop-drive recall leaves them without transport or support
– £10,000 spent, 200 calls unanswered: Which? slams Stellantis for “shameful” handling of dangerous airbag fault
– Government urged to act: Consumer watchdog demands urgent reforms to guard drivers from future recall chaos
Consumer group Which? has launched a scathing attack on Stellantis over what it calls a “shameful” and chaotic handling of the Citroën C3 and DS3 stop-drive recall.
In a proper letter to the UK government, Which? is demanding immediate motion to guard affected drivers – lots of whom are disabled, vulnerable or financially struggling.
The recall, issued in June, affects an estimated 120,000 Citroën C3 and DS3 models produced between 2009 and 2019. It warns owners to stop driving their vehicles immediately attributable to a dangerous airbag fault that might cause the airbag to rupture during a collision, potentially sending deadly shrapnel into the cabin.
Driving a vehicle under a stop-drive notice not only poses a security risk but can also invalidate insurance. It is prohibited to sell a automotive with an unresolved recall without disclosure.
For the reason that recall began, Which? Said it has been inundated with reports from owners describing dire experiences, from inability to succeed in dealerships and helplines ringing out, to mounting transport costs and inadequate support.
One disabled automotive owner, said she was left nearly £900 out of pocket after being forced to rent a vehicle to get her husband, who’s terminally ailing, to life-saving hospital appointments. “That’s my month’s money gone,” she said. “I’ve been surviving on handouts from my family for food.”
Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy at Which?, condemned Stellantis’ handling of the situation: “From people left stranded with no technique of transport to those paying out a fortune to rent cars and taxis, the emotional and financial burden of this recall has fallen squarely on those least capable of absorb it.”
“Stellantis must urgently confirm it can pay compensation for alternative transport in addition to offer practical solutions, akin to offering at-home repairs or towing affected cars to garages. If not, many individuals will see no alternative but to proceed driving cars which are potentially very dangerous.”
Davies also called on the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to intervene, stressing the necessity for systemic reform of how large-scale recalls are handled.
Which?’s Three Key Demands
- Launch a proper compensation scheme for all reasonable costs incurred by affected drivers, including transport, lost earnings and direct expenses.
- Fix customer support failings, including clear advice on vehicle transport, routes to compensation and urgent help for those with mobility or health-related needs.
- Provide practical garage solutions, akin to confirmation of courtesy cars, at-home repairs or vehicle collection services to avoid illegal or unsafe driving.
In a press release, Stellantis told Which? That it’s “focused on completing the substitute of airbags as swiftly as possible,” and that it has now authorised Peugeot dealerships – also owned by the group – to perform repairs to extend capability.
“For every customer, we discuss options to support mobility… including courtesy cars, home repairs and recovery. We give priority to those with probably the most urgent needs,” the corporate said.
Which? argues this response doesn’t go far enough, especially given the quantity of complaints and the continued lack of transparency around compensation.
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