120,000 cars recalled in major UK alert - your rights and how to get it fixed
Every year, hundreds of products in the UK are recalled. In fact, in 2024, 424 items were recalled for various reasons – mostly safety related.
Product recalls are expensive for businesses so as a consequence they are not entered in to lightly. However, various laws and regulations ensure that the products and services we purchase are safe to use – and anything that doesn't meet the appropriate standards must be recalled as soon as a problem becomes apparent.
This week it's been announced that thousands of Citroën vehicles are to be recalled due to a problem with a faulty airbag. Owners have been told not to drive them while the recall is in place.
Citroëns are very popular vehicles in the UK, which means many people are affected and don't know where to turn. So what's going on, what are your rights and what if it takes too long to correct the problem? Here's my guide.
Get the best deals and tips from Mirror Money
WHATSAPP GROUP: Get money news and top deals straight to your phone by joining our Money WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
What's happening with Citroën?
Citroën has issued a 'stop drive' recall for C3 and DS3 vehicles due to concerns over a faulty airbag system that has the potential to cause serious harm – even fatalities. Reports from France have suggested that the fault with the airbag has led to upwards of 18 deaths alone.
A 'stop drive' warning means exactly that. The company is stating it is not safe to drive your vehicle. This is notable as this kind of recall and warning is extremely rare. The affected vehicles are:
Citroën C3 manufactured between 2009 and 2019
Citroën DS 3 manufactured between 2009 and 2016
DS Automobiles DS 3 manufactured between 2016 and 2019
The recall notice affects approximately 120,000 cars in the UK. But because it's some but not all Citroëns, it's not always easy to know if your car is affected.
Citroën's parent company, Stellantis, has more information on its website, along with a checker. Just enter in you VIN (vehicle identification number) in to the search box and you will be able to confirm if your car is affected by the recall. However, the company should be contacting you directly, so make sure that you have your address updated on the DVLA website.
You can also find out more on the GOV.UK. Your vehicle will be repaired for free, as you would expect. But here's the kicker: you could be left without a vehicle for months due to the sheer volume of people affected.
What's the problem with the airbag?
The Takata Corporation was one of the world 's leading manufacturers of airbags. But back in 2013, it became apparent that defective airbags had led to a number of injuries and deaths. This first recall affected 3.6 million people worldwide.
Yet problems continued to be reported. Ultimately, 67 million airbags have been recalled – with 42 million vehicles in the USA alone being affected, the largest vehicle recall in the history of the US. In 2017 the company went bankrupt, but countless vehicles still had the defective airbags installed.
So what went so terribly wrong? It turns out that the airbag inflators could explode with so much force, they could send fragments of metal shrapnel into the vehicle.
This is all down to the use of ammonium nitrate (yes, the fertilizer one) as a propellant, which can become unstable and degrade as time passes, especially in hot or humid conditions (where many of the French deaths occurred). The degraded propellant can cause the inflator to rupture, leading to serious injury or death.
This is so serious, the 'stop drive' notice has to be issued by the company.
What are my rights if I'm affected?
I've heard from many readers who are concerned about the lack of information about what happens next. First things first: tempting as it may be to drive your car, don't. The risks posed by the faulty airbags are very real and you may be in danger if you do so.
f an accident does occur – and you were aware of the recall – you could not only invalidate your insurance, you could also be breaking the law and end up with points or even a full driving ban.
Having said that, your insurance company may be able to advise you about options and what you are covered for with your policy. They should also be able to let you know if they will cover the costs of a courtesy car while you wait for a repair.
Speaking of courtesy cars, MoneySavingExpert reports that you can request a courtesy car from Stellantis by contacting its helpline on 0800 093 9393. Note that word 'request'. Because of the sheer volume of requests for replacements, you can expect quite a wait unless you have a severe need for a vehicle.
Be prepared to explain your personal circumstances – particularly if you are reliant on your vehicle. The business has stated that it will prioritise repairs and courtesy cars based on need. So make it clear why you need your car and the impact on you because you can't drive your Citroën.
There is the distinct possibility that the business may not give you a vehicle while you await a repair. While you can hire your own replacement and pursue the company for compensation after the repair, you'll still need to demonstrate that you chose a reasonable, comparable vehicle and that you have notified the company of what you are doing and that you'll be seeking compensation.
This kind of reimbursement isn't guaranteed, but if you keep all of your paperwork then you'll be able to make a claim much more effectively. If the business doesn't play ball, you can threaten them with the small claims court.
How do I find out about other product recalls?
I wrote all about vehicle recalls in my Mirror column just last month. Here's a quick recap of how recalls work. If you want to find out what products have been recalled, start with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) who have product recalls on their website.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is the UK's national product regulator and is part of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The OPSS has guidance for consumers on its website and a list of the latest product recalls.
The Gov.uk product recalls website gives advice on the three different types of product recall:
For specific products that have been sold in the UK and may require you to act to receive a free replacement, repair or refund from the manufacturer or a retailer.
Product safety reports – These are for specific products found in the UK where corrective measures other than a recall have either been ordered by an authority or are being undertaken by a business.
Product safety alerts – These highlight product categories or sectors in the UK with risks of serious injury or fatality and where immediate steps are requested by OPSS from businesses, authorities and possibly consumers.
However, this is where things get complicated. Because of the sheer range of products that are sold, from cars to cauliflower cheese, there are a range of other agencies, regulators and official organisations that set rules around product safety and recalls.
As a consequence, you may find more information about specific recalls on the website of one of these organisations, like the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for problems with motor vehicles.
Martyn James is a leading consumer rights campaigner, TV and radio broadcaster and journalist
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Telegraph
Citroën ë-C3 review: The cheap electric car we've been waiting for
You have to feel for the Citroën ë-C3. There it was, set to grab a fat slice of the burgeoning market for small electric cars. Then along came the Renault 5 – almost identically priced, technically brilliant, as well as charmingly styled as a perfect retro homage to a car so quintessentially French it was a surprise not to find a boot-mounted onion holder on the options list. Where does that leave the ë-C3? Up a creek without a paddle, you might think. But there is still plenty to love about Citroën's small EV. For one thing, you might prefer the fact it looks forward, rather than back. It's chic and modern, rather than a retro pastiche, which might be more to your liking. For another, it's technically an SUV, its boxier profile making it more practical than the 5. And what with Citroën getting its mojo back recently, the ë-C3 should drive pretty well, too. So is this small, affordable EV worthy of consideration? Pros Comfortable ride Smart interior Low price Cons Not fast Boot could be bigger Shame about the Renault 5 Priced out Until recently, the ë-C3 had price on its side, too. At a shade over £21,000, it represented a saving of almost £2,000 over the entry-level 5. But more recently Citroën raised the price of the entry-level Plus model, narrowing the difference to £900. (The top-spec Max model tested here is a further £1,700.) That may still be enough to sway you, particularly given the ë-C3 will charge faster, zipping from 10 to 80 per cent in only 26 minutes, according to Citroën. However, the EVDatabase website, fast becoming the Bible for EV facts and figures, reckon it will take longer; in fact, at 32 minutes, it matches the 5's time exactly. The ë-C3's 44kWh of usable battery capacity will get it marginally further on a charge at 199 miles (to the 40kWh Renault's 192), but while the Renault has a heat pump as standard the Citroën doesn't. That said, the ë-C3's lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology performs marginally better in colder weather, which may help make up the difference. Either way, you can expect a range of about 150 miles in the real world, with the usual caveats relating to variations in temperature (significantly less range in the coldest weather). There are other rivals to the ë-C3, of course, though the price for entry tends to be higher. From China, GWM's Ora 03 Pure will do 193 miles (officially) and costs a fiver shy of £25,000. The BYD Dolphin is capable of 211 miles, but is just over £26,000. From Europe, the Mini Cooper Electric costs almost £27,000 yet only provides 185 miles of range. The £25,000-odd that Fiat charges for a 500e, meanwhile – which will only do 118 miles on a full charge – sounds by comparison like a rip-off. Almost perfect So the ë-C3 undercuts its supposedly more affordable Chinese competitors yet also looks a bargain next to its trendier rivals. Indeed, Renault 5 apart, the ë-C3 would have the playing field at this price point all to itself – and would look like tremendous value as a result. But there's a difference between 'good value' and 'cheap'. Early signs are promising. Climb aboard – the ë-C3's SUV profile means the seats are slightly higher off the ground than its conventional hatchback rivals', which makes access easier – and you're greeted with an unusual stacked dashboard, which incorporates full-width accent lighting, two enormous shelves and a central tablet-style touchscreen. The driver's main instrumentation takes the form of a simple black-and-white digital binnacle atop the dash that presents all the information you need crisply and clearly. There are physical buttons on the steering wheel and a proper climate control panel with some neat piano key toggles to adjust the temperature, so you don't have to use the touchscreen to do so.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
120,000 cars recalled in major UK alert - your rights and how to get it fixed
This week it's been announced that thousands of Citroën vehicles are to be recalled due to a problem with a faulty airbag - consumer rights expert Martyn James explains what you need to know Every year, hundreds of products in the UK are recalled. In fact, in 2024, 424 items were recalled for various reasons – mostly safety related. Product recalls are expensive for businesses so as a consequence they are not entered in to lightly. However, various laws and regulations ensure that the products and services we purchase are safe to use – and anything that doesn't meet the appropriate standards must be recalled as soon as a problem becomes apparent. This week it's been announced that thousands of Citroën vehicles are to be recalled due to a problem with a faulty airbag. Owners have been told not to drive them while the recall is in place. Citroëns are very popular vehicles in the UK, which means many people are affected and don't know where to turn. So what's going on, what are your rights and what if it takes too long to correct the problem? Here's my guide. Get the best deals and tips from Mirror Money WHATSAPP GROUP: Get money news and top deals straight to your phone by joining our Money WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. What's happening with Citroën? Citroën has issued a 'stop drive' recall for C3 and DS3 vehicles due to concerns over a faulty airbag system that has the potential to cause serious harm – even fatalities. Reports from France have suggested that the fault with the airbag has led to upwards of 18 deaths alone. A 'stop drive' warning means exactly that. The company is stating it is not safe to drive your vehicle. This is notable as this kind of recall and warning is extremely rare. The affected vehicles are: Citroën C3 manufactured between 2009 and 2019 Citroën DS 3 manufactured between 2009 and 2016 DS Automobiles DS 3 manufactured between 2016 and 2019 The recall notice affects approximately 120,000 cars in the UK. But because it's some but not all Citroëns, it's not always easy to know if your car is affected. Citroën's parent company, Stellantis, has more information on its website, along with a checker. Just enter in you VIN (vehicle identification number) in to the search box and you will be able to confirm if your car is affected by the recall. However, the company should be contacting you directly, so make sure that you have your address updated on the DVLA website. You can also find out more on the Your vehicle will be repaired for free, as you would expect. But here's the kicker: you could be left without a vehicle for months due to the sheer volume of people affected. What's the problem with the airbag? The Takata Corporation was one of the world 's leading manufacturers of airbags. But back in 2013, it became apparent that defective airbags had led to a number of injuries and deaths. This first recall affected 3.6 million people worldwide. Yet problems continued to be reported. Ultimately, 67 million airbags have been recalled – with 42 million vehicles in the USA alone being affected, the largest vehicle recall in the history of the US. In 2017 the company went bankrupt, but countless vehicles still had the defective airbags installed. So what went so terribly wrong? It turns out that the airbag inflators could explode with so much force, they could send fragments of metal shrapnel into the vehicle. This is all down to the use of ammonium nitrate (yes, the fertilizer one) as a propellant, which can become unstable and degrade as time passes, especially in hot or humid conditions (where many of the French deaths occurred). The degraded propellant can cause the inflator to rupture, leading to serious injury or death. This is so serious, the 'stop drive' notice has to be issued by the company. What are my rights if I'm affected? I've heard from many readers who are concerned about the lack of information about what happens next. First things first: tempting as it may be to drive your car, don't. The risks posed by the faulty airbags are very real and you may be in danger if you do so. f an accident does occur – and you were aware of the recall – you could not only invalidate your insurance, you could also be breaking the law and end up with points or even a full driving ban. Having said that, your insurance company may be able to advise you about options and what you are covered for with your policy. They should also be able to let you know if they will cover the costs of a courtesy car while you wait for a repair. Speaking of courtesy cars, MoneySavingExpert reports that you can request a courtesy car from Stellantis by contacting its helpline on 0800 093 9393. Note that word 'request'. Because of the sheer volume of requests for replacements, you can expect quite a wait unless you have a severe need for a vehicle. Be prepared to explain your personal circumstances – particularly if you are reliant on your vehicle. The business has stated that it will prioritise repairs and courtesy cars based on need. So make it clear why you need your car and the impact on you because you can't drive your Citroën. There is the distinct possibility that the business may not give you a vehicle while you await a repair. While you can hire your own replacement and pursue the company for compensation after the repair, you'll still need to demonstrate that you chose a reasonable, comparable vehicle and that you have notified the company of what you are doing and that you'll be seeking compensation. This kind of reimbursement isn't guaranteed, but if you keep all of your paperwork then you'll be able to make a claim much more effectively. If the business doesn't play ball, you can threaten them with the small claims court. How do I find out about other product recalls? I wrote all about vehicle recalls in my Mirror column just last month. Here's a quick recap of how recalls work. If you want to find out what products have been recalled, start with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) who have product recalls on their website. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is the UK's national product regulator and is part of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The OPSS has guidance for consumers on its website and a list of the latest product recalls. The product recalls website gives advice on the three different types of product recall: For specific products that have been sold in the UK and may require you to act to receive a free replacement, repair or refund from the manufacturer or a retailer. Product safety reports – These are for specific products found in the UK where corrective measures other than a recall have either been ordered by an authority or are being undertaken by a business. Product safety alerts – These highlight product categories or sectors in the UK with risks of serious injury or fatality and where immediate steps are requested by OPSS from businesses, authorities and possibly consumers. However, this is where things get complicated. Because of the sheer range of products that are sold, from cars to cauliflower cheese, there are a range of other agencies, regulators and official organisations that set rules around product safety and recalls. As a consequence, you may find more information about specific recalls on the website of one of these organisations, like the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for problems with motor vehicles. Martyn James is a leading consumer rights campaigner, TV and radio broadcaster and journalist
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Martin Lewis' MSE issues 'do not drive' warning as popular cars recalled
If you have one of these vehicles, you should not drive it, as there are safety concerns over the airbag system used in these cars - here, we explain the list of affected motors Martin Lewis' team has issued an urgent warning to 120,000 drivers after a major car recall was issued. The warning relates to second generation Citroen C3 and first generation DS3 models built between 2009 and 2016, as well as DS3 Automobile DS3s produced between 2016 and 2019. If you have one of these vehicles, you should not drive it, as there are safety concerns over the Takata airbag system used in these cars. It comes after a woman sustained fatal injuries caused by an airbag in a 2014 Citroen C3 in Reims, France, last year. There have been no incidents reported in the UK. MSE explained that Stellantis, which owns the Citroen brand, is repairing the affected vehicles free of charge, though you'll be unable to use your car until it is fixed. If you have one of these affected cars, you should be contacted by letter. MSE said: "If you've not heard from Stellantis and you're worried your vehicle may be affected, you can check by entering your 'vehicle identification number (VIN)' into the tool at the bottom of the recall page on Citroen's website. "Your VIN can be found in your vehicle log book – it's 17 characters long and will start with either VR7 or VF7. If you don't have your log book, you can look for your VIN through the front windscreen of the vehicle, in the left or right hand bottom corner, on the doorframe, near the door catch [or] within the engine compartment." You need to register your vehicle online for repair. If you're unable to register online, MSE says you should call the recall helpline on 0800 917 9285. In a recall notice published online, Stellantis said: "Stellantis UK announces an immediate stop-drive action for all Citroën C3 (second generation) and DS3 (first generation) vehicles manufactured between 2009 and 2019 equipped with Takata airbags. "Owners of such vehicles should immediately cease using their vehicle when safe to do so. Vehicles included in this new stop-drive action in the UK, were already part of an ongoing comprehensive recall campaign that started over one year ago, first in Southern Europe and then expanded northwards. "Recall decisions, especially stop-drive actions, are based on multiple factors, including airbag specifications, vehicle age and usage, climate conditions, and notifications from regulatory authorities. "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."
