ANOTHER 72,000 cars have been recalled over a worrying fault – just weeks after a “chaotic” stop-drive order rocked the firm.
The latest UK recall by Stellantis affects models from big-name brands including Peugeot, Citroen and Vauxhall.
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It follows 11 reports of vehicles catching fire in France, prompting fears the problem could hit British drivers.
The car giant says 28 models from Alfa Romeo, Citroen, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot and Vauxhall are affected.
At the centre of the scare is a high-pressure fuel pipe with loose nuts, which can lead to leaks, and, in a worst-case scenario, an engine bay fire.
A Stellantis spokesperson said: “Having customer safety and satisfaction at the core of its values, Stellantis is voluntarily recalling an estimated 72,000 in the UK due to a potential issue with the high pressure fuel pipe.
“Some 2023-2025 Peugeot, Citroen, DS Automobiles, Vauxhall, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Fiat vehicles may face fuel leakage at the high-pressure pipe between the high-pressure pump and the rail due to loosened nuts.
“This can potentially lead to higher fuel leakage consumption and, in a worst-case scenario, to occurrences of fire in the engine.”
Owners will be contacted directly and urged to contact their local dealer to book a fix.
The repair involves retightening nuts and screws on the high-pressure pipe and rail, a job Stellantis says takes under 30 minutes and is free.
Motorists can also check if their vehicle is affected through the brands’ websites or by calling customer service lines.
The latest recall piles more pressure on Stellantis, following its June stop-drive order for certain Citroën C3 and DS3 models fitted with potentially deadly airbags. That move caused chaos, with dealers under “immense pressure.”
At the time, consumer group Which? criticised the company’s handling of the crisis, saying drivers were left stranded and facing huge hire car and taxi bills.
Some motorists, including those with sick family members or urgent transport needs, said they had no choice but to keep driving their cars despite the risks.
This new issue means thousands more drivers will now face the hassle of arranging repairs—though Stellantis insists the process will be quick and painless.
In some cases, drivers were told repairs could take until 2026, leaving many stranded or still using vehicles flagged as unsafe.
Dealers were later ordered to stop selling affected used models, and in July owners were told to park up immediately.
Safety officials warned the airbags could explode “in an uncontrolled manner,” posing a serious risk of injury or death.
The recall comes amid a wave of other major motoring alerts in recent months, including BMW’s warning over potential engine fires, Ford’s notice about faulty brake hoses, and Toyota’s urgent fix for defective seatbelts—highlighting the growing number of drivers caught up in recall chaos.
The Department for Transport says it is monitoring Stellantis’s recall process to ensure safety remains the top priority.
Your product recall rights
Chief consumer reporter James Flanders reveals all you need to know.
Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods.
As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action.
But it’s often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk.
If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer’s website to see if a safety notice has been issued.
When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you – the customer – to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don’t there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault.
If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer.
They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice.
In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected.
You should not be charged for any recall work – such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item
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