Which? slam 'chaotic' recall of Citroen car models amid rare 'stop-drive' warning
Stellantis announced an immediate and rare 'stop-drive' order on June 20 relating to certain models which are equipped with Takata airbags.
No incidents have been reported in the UK.
Stellantis has said affected vehicles will be repaired free of charge although waiting times vary.
The recall has left 120,000 customers unable to drive their cars, and Which? warned that many had no alternative mode of transport.
Car dealers were also told to halt sales of second-hand Citroens amid the issues in recent weeks.
What Citroens are being recalled?
The vehicles affected are second-generation Citroen C3s produced from 2009 to 2016 and first-generation DS3s manufactured from 2016 to 2019.
As a result, around 82,000 C3 and DS3 models have been removed from the road across France.
Which? said it was concerned by a lack of clarity over available compensation which was causing 'major upheaval' for owners who relied on their cars and had no alternative options.
Some owners reported being told they would receive a maximum of £22.50 in compensation per day, which the watchdog said was far below the cost of car hire in most regions.
Which? is calling for Citroen and its parent company Stellantis to immediately address helpline issues, confirm a formal compensation scheme and provide practical solutions including courtesy cars, at-home repairs or collection options, so that unsafe cars can be fixed without the risk of being driven.
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Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer protection policy, said: 'Stellantis must urgently confirm it will pay compensation for alternative transport as well as offer practical solutions such as offering at-home repairs or towing affected cars to garages. If not, many people will see no alternative but to continue driving cars that are potentially very dangerous.
'The Government needs to step in and hold them to account to ensure UK consumers have much greater clarity of what they need to do and what they are entitled to – and are never left in this position again.'
Citroen said it expected all airbags to have been replaced by the end of next month, adding: 'The company's focus remains on completing the replacement of airbags in affected vehicles as swiftly as possible.
'For each and every customer, we discuss options to support mobility, recognising that every driver has specific requirements. These options include replacement airbags at a dealership or at home, courtesy car, support for other mobility options and recovery.
'We give priority to those with the most urgent needs.'
How do I check my Citroen recall?
If you already own an affected Citroen, you should be contacted by letter, or you can check whether your car is affected by using the VIN check tool on Citroen's website.
Recommended Reading:
Citroen C3 drivers told 'stop driving' due to airbag fault
How you could get a roadside fine amid new DVSA changes
DVLA issues warning to anyone who passed their driving test before 2015
You will need the vehicle identification number (VIN). You can find this:
at point 1 on your MOT certificate
in part 4 (vehicle details) at point E in the vehicle's log book (V5C)
Owners can contact the recall helpline on 0800 917 9285, Citroen Customer Care on 0800 093 9393 or via Citroen's website.
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