Citroen and DS recall: Your updated rights as 'do not drive' order extended – yet motorists say cars still aren't being fixed

On 20 June 2025, Stellantis – the parent company of car brands Citroen and DS – announced an immediate 'stop-drive' order initially impacting 120,000 Citroen and DS vehicles in the UK. Affected models are equipped with potentially dangerous 'Takata' airbags.

In the past few weeks, Stellantis has widened the manufacture dates of the initial models announced as being impacted. It has also added further models to its recall list – the latter amounting to at least an additional 9,968 UK vehicles.

Stellantis says most affected vehicles should be fixed by early October

Your legal rights when goods are faulty are with the retailer you purchased from, NOT the manufacturer. But in the case of this recall, Stellantis is running a programme to fix affected vehicles in garages, as well as at homes:

• To arrange a fix at a garage, you'll need to call your local Citroen dealer – though we have seen reports online that drivers are struggling to get appointments. If you are finding it difficult, call the Citroen helpline on 0800 917 9285.

• To arrange a repair at home, call the Citroen helpline on 0800 917 9285 or contact your local Citroen dealer. At-home repairs will then be offered by Citroen's own dealers, some Peugeot dealers, the RAC or automotive service provider Formel D.

Stellantis forecasts that the majority of affected vehicles will be fixed by early October. However, we've seen complaints online from drivers who say their cars aren't booked in for repairs until November and beyond. Stellantis told us these customers should contact its helpline on 0800 917 9285. We've asked what it will do when these customers call and we will update this story when we know more.

You CAN now claim 'goodwill payments' to cover expenses incurred

Stellantis will offer goodwill payments of up to £22 a day to cover expenses while you wait for your vehicle to be fixed. It had told us in July that compensation would not be offered. Here's what we know about the goodwill payments:

• It'll cover "reasonable daily expenses associated with the unavailability of your vehicle". This includes public transport, taxis, and vehicle rental, but NOT fuel. Stellantis told us the daily £22 figure was reached after "reviewing market costs".

• Payments will cover from 20 June 2025 (the date the stop-drive order was issued) to the date your vehicle is repaired. If you were provided with a courtesy car, you will only be able to claim expenses for the days you didn't have a courtesy car.

• You will need to provide proof of the costs you incurred through valid receipts, invoices or bank statements.

• You can make a claim by calling the Citroen helpline on 0800 917 9285. Payments will only be made AFTER your vehicle has been repaired.

If £22 a day doesn't fully cover any reasonable costs you've incurred, keep your receipts and complain. David Hacker, a partner at Thackray Williams Solicitors, told us: "I would certainly urge consumers to keep receipts for everything they expend in relation to alternative hire and transport while their vehicle is off the road.

"£22 a day may cover some customers' expenses, but not others. And if it doesn't, then they should be claiming the full amount."

You can request a courtesy car, but drivers say they're struggling to get them

Stellantis told us it is still offering courtesy cars and that you can ask for one by contacting its customer care helpline on 0800 093 9393.

However, MoneySavers we've spoken to said they were turned down – with one email we've seen from Citroen offering the £22 a day goodwill payment instead of a courtesy car due to "high demand" for vehicles.

After we put John's case to Stellantis, it told us it would arrange an at-home repair for him and provide a courtesy car in the meantime.

Pay for your vehicle on finance? Don't stop making repayments

For those paying for their car on finance, Mr Hacker says you should continue to make repayments. He said: "Otherwise that will put customers in breach of their credit agreements and potentially then affect their credit history going forward."

'I'm heartbroken because I haven't been able to see my daughter'

It's a similar story for Lesley Parker, 58, from Yorkshire. Lesley told us she immediately called her local garage in Wakefield after receiving a stop-drive order on 30 June. But again, she says the garage told her it didn't have the necessary parts – saying the same again on 29 August – and Lesley says she was turned down for a courtesy car.

Lesley has now been offered the up to £22 a day goodwill payment, though she says she doesn't have any receipts for expenses as she was originally told compensation wouldn't be paid. She says she's also been offered £50, plus £1 per mile for a pick-up truck to get her car to the garage when she's eventually offered a repair date. Lesley said:

Again, since putting Lesley's case to Stellantis, it has confirmed it will arrange an at-home repair and provide a courtesy car in the meantime for her.

A last resort is asking for a refund of the cost your car if you're struggling to get a repair

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you have a 30-day window from buying your car to return it for a full refund if it's faulty. After that period, the finance company or dealer needs to be given the opportunity to repair or replace the vehicle.

However, if this takes an unreasonably long time, you can try seeking a refund – though Mr Hacker says whether your case is deemed "unreasonable" is likely to depend on how long it takes for a repair and whether you have alternative means of transport in the meantime.

Mr Hacker said: "There may be customers who have good reasonable reasons for rejecting their vehicle now owing to the wait and, certainly if timescales cannot be confirmed for early October, the right to reject becomes more compelling. However, there are no hard and fast rules (unfortunately) on what is a reasonable time in these circumstances."

If you've asked Stellantis for a full refund for your car or for a full refund of expenses paid and it's said no, you do have the option to take your complaint to court (via Money Claim in England and Wales for claims under £10,000); though you may potentially need to engage a lawyer to help you (which could prove costly) 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.

Mr Hacker said: "Whether it is worth suing very much depends on both the amount involved and also an individual's appetite for pursuing a small claim. The County Court system is very much backlogged and small claims cases are taking one to two years to be resolved. This is something to consider, alongside all the work that is involved in preparing for a small claim."

Full list of Citroen models impacted by the 'stop-drive' order

The 'do not drive' order now applies to ALL:

• NEW. Citroen C4 models manufactured between at least 2010 and 2013.

• NEW. Citroen DS 4 models manufactured between at least 2010 and 2013

• NEW. Citroen DS 5 models manufactured between at least 2010 and 2015.

• NEW. Citroen C Zero models manufactured between at least 2010 and 2017.

• NEW. DS Automobiles DS 4 models manufactured between at least 2010 and 2017

• NEW. DS Automobiles DS 5 models manufactured between at least 2010 and 2018.

• Citroen C3 second-generation models manufactured between at least 2009 and 2017.

• Citroen DS 3 models manufactured between at least 2009 and 2019.

• DS Automobiles DS 3 models manufactured between at least 2008 and 2019.​

You should receive a letter from Stellantis if you're affected – including by the expanded order.

The Government has expressed 'serious concerns'

On 19 August 2025, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander wrote to Stellantis expressing "serious concerns" about the impact on drivers from its recall.

In a letter reportedly seen by the Press Association news agency, Ms Alexander wrote to Eurig Druce, UK group managing director of Stellantis, calling for "immediate steps" to improve the recall process. Ms Alexander said this included ensuring all affected owners are "provided with viable alternatives" – whether through courtesy cars, financial compensation or at-home repairs – as existing arrangements are "not meeting expectations".

Stellantis told MSE it had "taken note of the concerns raised", admitting there are some areas of its processes that "have not worked as well as it would expect", and stating that it has "revisited these areas" with its teams.