Latest news with #Takata
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Police 'to stop cars on streets' as 120,000 of make 'potentially dangerous'
Manufacturer is writing to owners telling them their aidbags could go off at any moment - potentially while driving A car industry expert has revealed that police are not stopping drivers of certain cars on the streets - and telling them they shouldn't be driving. More than 120,000 of the cars which have airbags that could go off at any time are on the roads in the UK currently. Citroen is writing to people with C3s and DS3 because of the potentially dangerous airbag fault. And now it has emerged that police are stopping motorists in the cars - and telling them they need to get their vehicles fixed. Car valuation experts Parkers said it understood forces around the country were taking direct action and said: 'Police are now actively stopping drivers of affected vehicles, and this isn't scaremongering: there's a real risk of injury or death if a faulty airbag deploys.' Drivers of Citroen C3s and DS3s have been ordered to stop driving their cars over a potentially dangerous airbag fault. The vehicles affected are second-generation Citroen C3s produced from 2009 to 2016 and first-generation DS3s manufactured from 2016 to 2019. The French firm has issued a 'Stop-Drive' order after a recent report stated that a woman sustained fatal injuries caused by an airbag in a 2014 Citroen C3 in Reims, France, last year. As a result, around 82,000 C3 and DS3 models have been removed from the road across France. The vehicles use Takata airbag systems, which could be faulty. However, Stellantis UK said that there were no reported incidents of faults in the UK, but it has decided to take action regardless. The car manufacturer in a recent statement said: 'Stellantis UK is mobilising its full network of suppliers, retailers and manufacturing plant to support this action to ensure the fastest, safest and most convenient solution for each customer. Stellantis remains fully committed to acting swiftly, transparently, and responsibly in addressing this issue.' Owners will be contacted by letter, or they can check whether their car is affected by using the VIN check tool on Citroen's website. Citroen said: 'Stellantis UK announces an immediate stop-drive action for all Citroën C3 (second generation) and DS 3 (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. 'All affected customers will be notified by letter. Customers can also check if their vehicle is affected and what actions are advised by using the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) check tool on the Citroën UK website below. If impacted, they should register their vehicle to enable the processing of their repair as soon as possible. 'If you are unable to register online, owners can contact our Recall Helpline on 0800 917 9285. Citroën Customer Care can also be contacted on 0800 093 9393.'
ITV News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- ITV News
Man stuck with car he can't drive as Citroen issue 'do not drive' order to thousands
ITV Wales' Consumer Affairs Reporter Kate Lewis has the story. A man has criticised car manufacturer Citroen saying that his vehicle is a 'death trap' after potentially serious faults were found with airbags in some models. Peter Bailey, 71, from Flintshire, has been told not to drive his Citroen C3 after a potentially dangerous airbag fault. He is one of tens of thousands of customers in the UK understood to be potentially affected by the fault. Mr Bailey who suffers with C0PD and Type 2 diabetes says he is facing a two month wait to get his car repaired and is struggling to get to medical appointments. "I've been driving around in a death trap. It's ridiculous, you don't expect this from Citroen, or any other car manufacturer." "I was driving at risk, I take my grandchildren in this. If we had an accident and the airbag went off and killed my grandchild it would break my heart, it would kill me." Mr Bailey said he had no idea about the fault with the airbags until he received a letter telling him not to drive his vehicle. The vehicles affected are second-generation Citroen C3s produced from 2009 to 2016 and first-generation DS3s manufactured from 2016 to 2019. The French firm has issued a 'Stop-Drive' order after a recent report stated that a woman sustained fatal injuries caused by an airbag in a 2014 Citroen C3 in Reims, France, last year. As a result, around 82,000 C3 and DS3 models have been removed from the road across France. The fault is understood to mean that the airbags can explode uncontrollably causing injuries. The vehicles use Takata airbag systems, which could be faulty. However, airbag manufacturers Stellantis UK said that there were no reported incidents of faults in the UK, but it has decided to take action regardless. They said: 'Stellantis UK is mobilising its full network of suppliers, retailers and manufacturing plant to support this action to ensure the fastest, safest and most convenient solution for each customer. Stellantis remains fully committed to acting swiftly, transparently, and responsibly in addressing this issue.' In a letter sent to affected customers, Citroen said: "As you might have heard from the media, Takata airbag inflators are being recalled globally due to a serious safety risk. These inflators can degrade over time and, in the event of an accident, may rupture with excessive force. This can cause severe injuries or even death." The letter went on to add: "Due to the serious safety risk involved, we are now taking stronger measures and urgently ask you to STOP DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY until the airbags have been replaced. This replacement takes 2 hours and is free of charge." However Mr Bailey says other than the letter he has had no other communication from Citroen and cannot get his vehicle repaired until September and that will be at a garage in Prestatyn - over 20 miles from his home. "How do I get it there? I'm on a pension I can't afford a tow-truck to take it there so I've got to take a chance and drive it there," he said. "I've got a car here I can't drive. I'm paying insurance, paying tax on it, and it's stuck here and nobody seems to want to do anything about it. If I could go back in time I wouldn't even buy the car." While he waits to get his car returned he says he is relying on his son to take him to medical appointments or has to use his family's vehicles. "It's not just inconveniencing me it's inconveniencing him [his son]. It's disgusting. The least they could do is get the garage to give us a courtesy car." In a statement, Stellantis – the parent company of Citroen - said: "The Company's focus is on completing the replacement of airbags in affected vehicles as swiftly as possible. Working hand in hand with our Citroën Retailer Network, we are working to maximise the number of vehicles we can repair every day. "To increase our repair capacity further, work is ongoing to introduce additional airbag replacement sites at convenient locations as well as repair-at-home options. It is inevitable, with such a large number of vehicles affected, that customers will be inconvenienced in the short term. "However, we are deploying a variety of options to support mobility, recognising that every driver will have individual requirements, and that priority needs to be given to customers with the most urgent needs." Which models are affected? The affected models are: Citroën C3 second generation (from 24.09.2008 to 21.02.2017) Citroën C4 (from 02.02.2010 to 20.05.2018) DS3 first generation (from 2009 - 2019) DS4 (from 05.05.2010 to 03.02.2017) DS5 (from 30.06.2010 to 09.02.2018) What should you do if your vehicle is affected? Consumer advice website Which has advised customers of what to do if they own a car from the model years impacted by the fault. Firsty, if you own a car from those model years, the advice is: do not drive it. Use the Stellantis recall checker and enter your car's VIN (vehicle identification number). You can find the VIN on your V5C certificate from when you bought the car and on the inside of the doors or under the bonnet. Stellantis' page has specific instructions on what to look for to tell if your car is subject to the 'stop-drive' recall or a less serious recall. While you are unable to drive your car, keep a record of any travel expenses you incur as a result. This includes train tickets or having to rent a car (if your dealer can't provide you with a courtesy car).
The Sun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
All UK car dealerships will STOP selling 10,000s of iconic brand's used models impacted by lethal airbag flaw
CAR dealers have been told to halt sales of a popular second-hand car amid severe safety concerns. It could affect tens of thousands of cars while they await an urgent recall to replace potentially lethal airbags. 3 3 Citroens's parent company Stellantis issued a Europe-wide 'stop-drive' order for two models beloved by motorists. Citroen DS3 models built between 2009 and 2019 and CS3 models built between 2009 and 2016 were affected by the recall. Safety Concerns In June of this year, a French woman was killed following a crash as her airbag sent metal fragments into her face causing fatal injuries. The car's Takata airbag uses an explosive called ammonium nitrate in tablet form which can degrade into powder if it gets wet. This can then cause an "unstable, uncontrolled explosion" motoring expert Hugo Griffiths told the BBC. Instead of the explosion inflating the airbag at the end of the metal tube, it could cause the metal tube itself to explode sending shrapnel into the passengers. Recall Notice It led to a notice that owners of these models should stop driving them until the problem is resolved. The order is thought to affect 120,000 drivers. To check whether the recall applies to you, drivers should enter the vehicle identification number on Citroen UK's recall page. You can then arrange a repair online or by calling their recall helpline. However, This Is Money reported that these models were still being sold second-hand with no mention of the safety notice. Not only does this put drivers at potential risk, but it could also invalidate their insurance. Now, dealerships have been ordered to stop selling the C3 and DS3 models. A team of motor trade lawyers have issued the suspension on sales of C3 and DS3 models from 2009 to 2019. It prevents the sale of the car until Citroen have replaced the faulty airbags. Existing owners of the models can book their vehicles in to be fixed, although there are concerns this could take several months. In the meantime, dealerships could be stuck with a number of unsellable, and undriveable vehicles. Industry insiders warned This Is Money that private owners could be prioritised over traders, potentially leaving dealers stuck with their faulty cars until 2026. Stellantis acknowledged that its customer care team and dealers "have been overwhelmed" by the number of requests to replace airbags. An investigation by Which? found that Auto Trader would flag adverts for cars impacted by the recall notice. There are currently around 1,000 of these affected vehicles on the site. If dealers were to continue selling the models, they would be in reach of consumer law. The General Product safety Regulations 2005 ensures that "a product with an outstanding safety recall should not be passed to a consumer." However, this might not apply to those who buy from private sellers as the responsibility is on the buyer to check for any relevant recalls. If a crash is then caused by a fault recorded in the safety recall, it could invalidate the driver's insurance. You could also face up to £2,500 in fines, get three penalty points and be banned from driving if you are caught driving a recalled car according to the DVSA. Spokesperson for Citroen says... "The replacement of airbags made by the supplier Takata affects many vehicles manufacturers including ourselves. "Vehicles of ours 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. "The Company's focus remains on completing the replacement of airbags in affected vehicles as swiftly as possible. Our Citroen network is fully engaged in maximising the number of cars that can be completed every day and, to increase our repair capacity even further and minimise as much as possible the impact on customers, our Peugeot network is now authorised to replace airbags on these cars in addition to at home options. "It is inevitable, with such a large number of vehicles affected, that customers could be inconvenienced in the short term. "However, we are deploying a variety of options to support mobility, recognising that every driver will have individual requirements, and that priority needs to be given to customers with the most urgent needs. "Customers should check if their vehicle is affected and what actions are advised by using the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) check tool on the Citroën UK website. "If impacted, they should register their vehicle to enable the processing of their repair as soon as possible." Your product recall rights Chief consumer reporter James Flanders reveals all you need to know. Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods. As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action. But it's often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk. If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer's website to see if a safety notice has been issued. When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you - the customer - to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don't there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault. If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer. They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice. In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected. You should not be charged for any recall work - such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item 3
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford to recall 687,000 SUVs in U.S. for possible engine fires, will cost it $570 million
Ford Motor Co., which leads all automakers in the number of recalls it has issued this year, put out a new recall this week and said the company will take a $570 million charge to its second-quarter earnings because of it. The Dearborn-based automaker is recalling 694,271 SUVs in the United States and its territories due to a problem with fuel leaks that could heighten the risk of the vehicle catching on fire, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a July 14 filing, following a yearlong investigation. In the United States alone, the recall affects about 687,000 vehicles, Ford spokesman Mike Levine said. In the United States, the recall covers certain 2021–24 model year Bronco Sport and 2020–22 model year Escape SUVs with 1.5-liter engines. The NHTSA estimates that 0.3% of recalled vehicles may have the defect. According to the NHTSA filing, fuel injectors in the impacted vehicles may crack, causing fuel to leak into the engine compartment and possibly ignite. It said vehicle occupants may notice a strong fuel smell inside or outside the vehicle, instrument panel warnings, smoke, or visible flames. Levine said the automaker is not aware of any injuries related to this issue. He added that about 858,000 2021-24 Bronco Sport, 2020-22 Escape and 2019-24 Kuga vehicles globally, that includes the United States and its territories, are part of the recall. Ford's struggle with quality Ford primarily builds its Escape at its Louisville Assembly Plant in Louisville, Kentucky. It builds the Bronco Sport in its plant in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. This is Ford's 88th vehicle recall filed with the NHTSA since January of this year, topping all other automakers in the number of recalls filed. Ford has struggled with its quality for the past several years, in fact, it has been near the top or led in recall filings since 2020, according to NHTSA data. When Jim Farley was appointed as Ford CEO in October 2020, he listed fixing quality and lowering warranty costs as a top priority. So far, he has paid for not achieving it. His compensation fell by $1.6 million to $24.9 million in 2024 compared with 2023 because he failed to hit company-set quality improvement targets. Meanwhile, in November 2024, Ford agreed to pay the second highest civil penality in the NHTSA history as part of a three-year consent order. The fine is up to $165 million, topped only by the Takata air bag consent order. A NHTSA investigation that started in 2021 found that Ford did not recall vehicles with defective rearview cameras in a timely manner. It also said Ford failed to give accurate and complete recall information in line with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act requirements. Some safety advocates say the consent order, which requires Ford to meet various safety mandates, is partly driving the number of Ford recalls higher in recent months. The NHTSA can impose civil penalties for violation of federal safety laws — Volvo, for example, agreed in 2023 to pay $65 million for problems related to recalls. But such large fines against carmakers have been generally rare. In a government filing on July 16, Ford said of the latest recall: "We estimate the aggregate cost of the action, based on the remedy options we are evaluating, to be about $570 million and will be reflected in our second quarter 2025 results." Ford is expected to report its second-quarter earnings after the market closes on July 30. Many analysts expect Ford to report earnings lower than the year-ago period. Dan Ives, managing director and senior equities analyst at Wedbush Securities called the July 16 recall, "another headwind for Ford and speaks to the constant challenges ahead." Ford said in its government filing, "Consistent with our corporate policy, which considers the magnitude of individual field service actions, the expense will be treated as a special item. Accordingly, it will not impact our total Company adjusted (earnings before interest and taxes), adjusted earnings per share, or adjusted free cash flow." More: Ford's latest sale may be just the start in a summer of car-buying deals, experts say Eight vehicles had underhood fires This recall expands on previous recalls from 2022 and 2024, which affected about 42,000 vehicles at the time. The recall provided software updates but did not replace the potentially faulty injectors, according to a Reuters report. The report said an internal committee had recommended a software update and a drain tube to redirect fuel away from ignition sources. But in 2024, the NHTSA opened a recall query to study Ford's solution and found that the proposed remedy did not fix the root cause of the problem. "After reassessment, Ford reported this month that it found cracked fuel injectors in eight vehicles that experienced underhood fires, despite having undergone repairs," according to Reuters. "Six of these vehicles did not have the updated engine software the company previously recommended." According to NHTSA's report, Italy-based Dumarey Flowmotion Technologies supplied the fuel injectors in the 687,000 vehicles being recalled. In a statement to the Detroit Free Press, Ford's Levine said the automaker is not aware of any injuries from "underhood fires related to cracked fuel injectors." He confirmed that Ford had two earlier recalls for similar issues and this new recall supersedes the prior recalls. "This safety recall ... will include a new remedy for this issue, which is currently under development and expects to be finalized in the near future," Levine told the Free Press. "The recall includes an interim software update, which will help detect cracked injectors and mitigate fire risk." More: Used cars under $20K have almost vanished from the market: Here's what's behind the surge He said the automaker is recalling an additional number of vehicles produced with these injectors that were not previously recalled, Levine said. That's because those are the vehicles that might result in a leak that produces the fuel smell and cause "drivability symptoms, instrument cluster warnings, or smoke and flames emanating from the engine compartment or underbody." The NHTSA filing said dealers will update the engine control software free of charge until a mechanical repair is determined. Letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed Aug. 18 and second letters will be sent once the remedy is available. In the meantime, vehicle owners may contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332 and provide Ford recall number 25S76 for more information. (This story has been updated to include new information.) Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@ Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ford recalls SUVs for possible engine fires, will cost $570 million
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Car dealers told to suspend sales of Citroen cars
Car dealers have been told to halt sales of second-hand Citroens awaiting an urgent recall to replace potentially lethal airbags. Last month, the French manufacturer's parent company Stellantis issued a Europe-wide 'stop-drive' order for C3 and DS3 cars produced between 2009 and 2019 until their airbags have been replaced. It came after a French woman in June was killed when the airbag was deployed during a crash and sent metal fragments into her face causing fatal injuries. While tens of thousands of owners in Britain have been forced to park-up their motors on the orders from Stellantis, last week we revealed many of these cars were still being listed for sale across the UK with no mention of the 'stop-drive' notice being in action. Drivers of second-generation Citroen C3 and Mk1 DS3 hot hatches produced between 2009 and 2019 have been sent letters telling them to immediately stop using them over safety concerns for the original Takata airbags installed. Owners have been told to book their vehicles in to be rectified as early as possible and to not drive them in the meantime. However, a study by Which? last week revealed that hundreds of these cars were listed for sale on major used vehicle websites with no information that the manufacturer had issued a stop-drive notice. Affected cars being sold at auctions are currently being handed over to buyers with stickers telling trade buyers 'not to drive them'. And following Which?'s investigation last week, Auto Trader now flags adverts on its site if cars have the outstanding recall notice, with around 1,000 of these motors listed on the platform. Lawgistics solicitor Nina Bowkis told trade magazine Car Dealer that the situation has been further complicated by the fact the affected cars will pass an MOT with this safety recall in place. She said: 'Any used car dealer with one of these vehicles to sell would be best advised to wait until the vehicle is fixed or sell it as an unroadworthy vehicle.' Under section 75 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, a motor vehicle is considered unroadworthy if its use on the road would be unlawful due to issues with its construction, equipment, or if it poses a danger of injury to any person, which would include a safety recall notice or stop-drive order. 'This is why we have separate invoices for spares and repairs via which unroadworthy vehicles can be sold to people whom dealers have made fully aware that the vehicle cannot be used on the road if and until it's fixed,' Bowkis added. Selling a car with an outstanding safety recall also a breach of consumer law Any motor dealer selling a car that has an outstanding safety recall is likely in breach of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR). This is based on an interpretation by the DVSA that states that 'a product with an outstanding safety recall should not be passed to a consumer'. It also says that the law does not distinguish between new and used products; so, businesses selling used cars are equally responsible as those who sell new models. But while GPSR likely covers anyone who purchases one of these cars from a dealer, there is no legal protection for those who buy from private sellers. In this instance, the new keeper is solely responsible for checking if an outstanding recall notice is in place for their vehicle – not the vendor. Failing to check if there is an outstanding recall can land new owners in hot water. For instance, if a fault linked to a safety recall causes a crash, the driver's insurance policy could be invalidated. The DVSA also points out that if police find you at the wheel of a car with a major safety recall, you can be 'fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get three penalty points for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition. The Association of British Insurers says: 'You should always let your insurer know if your car has been recalled and follow the guidance that it gives you.' How to find out if your Citroen is affected?
