Experts and drivers are calling on Citroen to improve its recall processing after a notice left 120,000 drivers unable to use their cars.
Consumer champion Which? is warning that the French manufacturer could risk Government action following a rare "stop-drive" notice being issued for thousands of motorists.
Parent company Stellantis announced the stop-drive recall for Citroen C3 models (2009-2019), Citroen DS 3 (2009-2016) and DS Automobiles DS 3 (2016-2019).
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These vehicles are equipped with Takata airbags, which have been at the centre of controversy recently regarding the safety of these airbags following reports of deaths abroad.
Experts are calling on the Government to oversee Stellantis' recall of Citroen vehicles
| THE CAR EXPERTThere have not been any UK-based instances of the airbag rupturing in a collision, which can cause shrapnel to fly out and lead to injuries or deaths. Stellantis has issued a recall across Europe, with affected customers being notified by mail.
Which? is now warning that the Government may need to step in to help the 120,000 owners of these vehicles unless Stellantis improves the process of fixing the fault and offering appropriate compensation.
The recall was issued more than a month ago, with Which? claiming that there is a "seemingly deliberate lack of public clarity over available compensation".
Owners have been urged to contact their dealer for a free airbag replacement, although garages across the UK have warned that they are being flooded with requests and that it could take months to fulfil all repairs.
The Citroen C3 has been hit with a 'stop drive' notice | GETTYThe consumer champions claimed that they had heard from motorists who were unable to drive, including the mother of a premature baby who needs regular hospital visits and a woman caring for her terminally ill husband.
Drivers who cannot use their Citroen and DS vehicles are incurring huge costs for hire cars, taxis or insurance fees. Without any timeline on receiving compensation, they could be forced to pay out of pocket for a longer period of time.
Some have even claimed that they are being forced to drive their vehicles as they do not have any viable alternative options to continue with their day-to-day lives.
Stellantis stated it would arrange alternative transport on a "case-by-case" basis, with those in the greatest need being prioritised.
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Repairs will be free, with the cost covered by the manufacturer | GETTYSue Davies, head of consumer protection policy at Which?, 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."
Which? has demanded that Stellantis improve helpline issues, confirm a formal compensation scheme and provide practical solutions, such as courtesy cars, at-home repairs or collection options.
It described the stop-drive notice as "unprecedented", adding that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) should be doing more to help motorists impacted by the recall.
Millions of faulty Takata airbags have been identified around the world | GETTYWhich? has written to the DVSA and Department for Transport to outline its concerns and call on both to intervene and investigate whether Stellantis could improve the handling of the situation.
In a statement, Citroen said it expected all airbags to be replaced by the end of next month, adding that the manufacturer was focused on completing the repairs as quickly as possible.
A spokesperson noted: "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.
"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."