New guidance has been issued by the DVSA for MOT garages about how to deal with vehicles included in a major recall from Citroen and Stellantis.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has published new guidance to address the 120,000 vehicles impacted by a rare "stop-drive" recall.
Citroen has provided updated communication regarding the recall, which was issued due to faults with the airbag system.
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The impacted Citroen and DS Automobiles vehicles feature Takata airbags that have been the subject of international scrutiny.
GETTY
|New guidance has been given to MOT garages regarding the Citroen recall
The stop-drive notice was issued as the airbags can rupture in a collision, causing shrapnel to fly out and potentially cause serious injuries and deaths.
The DVSA's new notice replaces previous guidance that should be "discarded" if any MOT garages still have the old information.
If garages receive any vehicles that may be included in the recall, they can enter the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the code displayed into Citroen's recall website.
The vehicle can go through the standard MOT test, as it will only cause a problem in the event of an airbag deployment caused by an accident.
READ MORE: Major car brand recalls 72,000 vehicles as UK drivers could be forced off roads due to fire risk
GETTY | The Citroen C3 has been hit with a 'stop drive' notice
Vehicles included in the Stellantis stop-drive recall
Second-generation Citroen C3 manufactured between 2009 and 2016
Citroen DS 3 manufactured between 2009 and 2016
DS Automobiles DS 3 manufactured between 2016 and 2019
Citroen C4 manufactured between 2010 and 2018
Citroen DS4 manufactured between 2010 and 2018
Citroen DS5 manufactured between 2010 and 2018
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GETTY | Repairs will be free, with the cost covered by the manufacturer
The DVSA states that MOT garages should issue a "manual advisory" to drivers to alert them to the recall.
It states: "This vehicle has an outstanding recall. Contact Citroen for information and to arrange a free repair."
Vehicles included in the stop-drive notice were part of an ongoing recall campaign that started over a year ago in Southern Europe.
Citroen and its parent company Stellantis confirmed that it had not received any reported instances of an accident in the UK.
STELLANTIS | DS Automobiles DS 3 models manufactured between 2016 and 2019 are also being recalled
Despite this, Stellantis said it was deploying the stop-drive notice anyway, adding that it "underscores the company's unwavering commitment to customer safety".
Anyone who owns one of the recalled vehicles should have received a letter from the manufacturer, along with instructions on the necessary actions to take.
Citroen and Stellantis have come under fire for their handling of the recall, with consumer champion Which? calling on the brands to outline how drivers can receive compensation.
It added that the Government and the DVSA should look into the actions of Stellantis to ensure drivers are not kept off roads for longer than they should be.
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