Mass car recalls in France: which brands and models are impacted and why?
Peugeot, Opel, Fiat among brands that have been impacted
The Stellantis group said the recall was “standard” and that repairs would be covered by the manufacturer
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Almost 1,500 vehicles from the brands Peugeot, Opel, Fiat, and DS - under the Stellantis group - are being recalled in France due to a problem with the steering column.
Owners of the vehicles - all of which are from the Stellantis group - are advised to have their cars repaired urgently. A total of 9,524 vehicles are affected, of which 1,440 are in France.
Government recall website Rappel Conso said the problem was due to a potential “crack inside the electric power steering motor…can cause the steering to lock, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries”.
The Stellantis group told Capital: “In some cases, this can result in rigid steering, and in the worst case, can lead to steering lock-up for the life of the vehicle.”
Which models are affected?
The following models, manufactured between the beginning of April and the end of May this year (2024),
The issue only affects models manufactured during this period (when the vehicle first left the factory), not the date of first sale.
What should owners do to repair their vehicles?
Repairs will be fully covered by the manufacturer, the Stellantis group has said. Affected owners will receive a letter informing them of the need for repair, and the nearest dealer that can carry out the work.
“This is a standard recall. All customers will be informed by post and invited to take their car to the nearest dealer, where the steering column will be replaced,” it said.
However, if you would like to check your vehicle:
Go to the car manufacturer's website and fill in the VIN (vehicle identification number).
You can find the VIN on your registration certificate, or at the bottom of the windscreen. You can also contact your dealer to check.
Read also: 240,000 Citroën cars recalled in France over airbag fault
Read also: Car airbag recall concerns up to 1.4m French vehicles, says watchdog
The latest recall comes around four months after the same group reported an issue with Takata brand airbags, which affected a potential 1.4 million Citroën, Opel, and DS cars in France.
Similarly, in May, almost a quarter of a million older Citroën cars (produced in 2009 or 2019) were recalled in France after an airbag fault was identified in two models.
