Got a Citroen or DS car? Your rights as 'do not drive' order issued

The problem in a nutshell

On Friday 20 June, Stellantis – the parent company of car brands Citroen and DS – announced an immediate 'stop-drive' order on certain models across Europe, which are equipped with 'Takata' airbags – see our full list of impacted cars below.

Takata was an automotive parts company that went bankrupt in 2017. Its airbag inflators are being recalled globally due to chemicals in them that may deteriorate over time, which could cause the inflator to rupture and lead to serious injury. Though no incidents of this have been reported in the UK.

Stellantis has said affected vehicles will be repaired free of charge, though waiting times vary. In the meantime, frustrated motorists are unable to use their vehicles.

Your key Citroen and DS stop-drive questions answered

We've been inundated with messages from affected drivers over email and social media, so we've compiled your key questions below.

💬 I think I'm affected, but I've not heard from Stellantis. Is there another way to check?

If you've changed address since buying your vehicle, it's crucial that you update this with the DVLA as soon as possible.

If you've not heard from Stellantis and you're worried your vehicle may be affected, you can check by entering your 'vehicle identification number (VIN)' into the tool at the bottom of the recall page on Citroen's website.

💬 How do I find my VIN to check if I'm affected?

Your VIN can be found in your vehicle log book – it's 17 characters long and will start with either VR7 or VF7.

If you don't have your log book, you can look for your VIN:

• Through the front windscreen of the vehicle, in the left or right hand bottom corner.

• On the doorframe, near the door catch.

• Within the engine compartment.

💬 Will my repair be arranged automatically?

No. You need to actively register your vehicle, so Stellantis can process your repair. If you're unable to register online, call the recall helpline on 0800 917 9285.

💬 How long will it take to get my vehicle repaired?

Stellantis told us that waiting times vary across the country and wouldn't give any specific timeframes. However, we've seen reports from motorists who aren't sure when their car will be repaired, or who have been told it'll be months before it's fixed:

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, repairs for faulty goods must be completed in a "reasonable" length of time, though the law doesn't get any more specific.

If you feel you're being asked to wait an unreasonable length of time for your repair, you might want to consider asking for some form of reimbursement.

💬 If I continue to drive my car, will this invalidate my insurance?

Ignoring a stop-drive order can lead to legal repercussions, such as a fine, a driving ban or points on your licence.

It could also invalidate your insurance, meaning you may not be covered if you need to make a claim.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says you should always let your insurer know if your vehicle has been recalled and follow any guidance it gives you.

💬 How can I take my car to be fixed when I'm not supposed to drive it?

According to Stellantis, solutions to this will be discussed with individual drivers once their repair has been processed. For example, some dealers are offering repairs at home, while others will collect the vehicle on your behalf.

💬 Am I entitled to a courtesy car from Stellantis in the meantime?

You can request a courtesy car from Stellantis by contacting its customer care helpline on 0800 093 9393.

However, Stellantis said it's prioritising giving courtesy cars to customers with "the most urgent need" – and it wouldn't clarify what this means specifically.

💬 If I can't get a courtesy car from Stellantis, can I hire my own and reclaim the cost?

David Hacker, a partner at Thackray Williams Solicitors, told us it is "completely reasonable" to expect an alternative vehicle while yours is taken off the road. And if Stellantis or your car finance provider won't give you one and you end up out of pocket, you should try to get reimbursement.

Mr Hacker said: "Notify the dealer or finance company of what you are doing and the cost. Keeping a good paper trail is crucial to put yourself in the best position to make recovery."

However, bear in mind that while a consumer lawyer thinks this could potentially work, nothing is 100% guaranteed and Stellantis wouldn't tell us whether it'll reimburse drivers who pay to hire their own replacement car.

So only consider this route if you genuinely need a courtesy car and you keep all of your receipts for it, as if Stellantis refuses to reimburse you, your only option is to take your claim to court (via Money Claim in England and Wales for claims under £10,000).

You have the right to make a court claim up to six years after you paid for the service or product in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and five years in Scotland.

But if you purchased your car more than six years ago – regardless of the age of the car itself – you may be able to use the argument that you only became aware of the fault, and therefore only needed to hire a courtesy car, recently.

Mr Thacker said: "There's a fall-back limitation period of three years from the date you found out that the goods were faulty. So if the car was bought more than six years ago, but the owner only became aware of the issue in the last three years, they may still be able to bring a claim.

"This three-year rule is subject to a fifteen-year 'long stop'. For example, if you bought the car in June 2010, over fifteen years ago, you may not be able to bring a claim."

Of course, while you may win there are no guarantees. So if you don't need a courtesy car, don't get one thinking you'll automatically get the money back.

💬 If I can't get a courtesy car from Stellantis or elsewhere, can I get one via my motor insurance?

While some car insurance policies provide courtesy cars while your car is being repaired after an accident, the ABI told us this doesn't typically cover car recalls.

However, it's worth checking your policy carefully and getting in touch with your insurer if you have any questions.

💬 Am I entitled to a refund on the cost of my car?

Mr Hacker says you could try to get a full or partial refund of the cost of your vehicle if it takes a long time to get a repair.

He said: "The Consumer Rights Act 2015 provides a number of rights to a consumer. Within 30 days of ownership, the consumer may wish to try and reject the car and get a full refund.

"After that 30-day period, then the finance company or dealer needs to be given the opportunity to repair or replace the vehicle. But if that is going to take an unreasonably long amount of time, then the customer can seek a refund."

Your legal rights when goods are faulty are with the retailer you purchased from, NOT the manufacturer. So if you bought your car using car finance, your rights are with the finance company, says Mr Hacker, not the dealer. Either way, if you make a complaint, he suggests sending any correspondence to both.

You may also be able to escalate your complaint to a motor trade association if the garage or dealership you purchased from is a member of one – see Citizens Advice for further guidance on this.

The same consumer rights rules apply to second-hand goods, though if you're buying from a private seller (someone who doesn't sell goods for all or part of their living), your rights are nowhere near as strong. Citizens Advice has more info on your used car rights in its online tool.

However, ultimately, if you're refused a refund, then again, your only option to enforce your rights is to take your complaint to court (via Money Claim in England and Wales for claims under £10,000).

Again, you usually have up to six years after buying goods to complain in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (in Scotland, it's five years from when you found the fault). This applies regardless of the age of the goods.

However, if you bought your car more than six years ago, Mr Hacker says you may still be able to take your case to court if you found out about the fault less than three years ago and you bought the car within the past 15 years.

While you can try this route, you may potentially need to engage a lawyer (which could prove costly) to help you and it'll be up to the court to decide if it thinks you've got a fair case or not – there are no guarantees.

💬 Am I entitled to any compensation for the inconvenience?

You can complain if you're unhappy and explain why you feel you're due compensation by contacting Citroen's customer care. However, Stellantis said compensation is not being offered.

💬 Which models are impacted?

The 'do not drive' order applies to ALL:

• Citroen C3 second-generation models manufactured between 2009 and 2016.

• Citroen DS 3 models manufactured between 2009 and 2016.

• DS Automobiles DS 3 models manufactured between 2016 and 2019.

You should receive a letter from Stellantis if you're affected.

💬 What about other car brands – are they affected?

Stop-drives are rare and usually involve a far smaller number of vehicles, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The Citroen and DS stop-drive is the only active one at the moment, though there have been other recalls involving Takata airbag inflators in the past.

You can check if a car of any manufacturer has been recalled by entering its registration number into this tool on Gov.uk.