Own a Citroen C3, e-C3, C3 Aircross or e-C3 Aircross? Stop driving immediately!

Citroen has issued a ‘stop-drive’ warning to thousands of UK drivers after discovering a brake issue affecting some of its newest models.

The French carmaker is telling owners of its newest right-hand-drive Citroen C3, e-C3, C3 Aircross and e-C3 Aircross models not to drive their cars until they’ve been checked by a dealer.

A spokesperson at Stellantis (that’s Citroen’s parent company) told Carwow: “During our regular quality process checks, an investigation revealed that certain right-hand-drive models could have a pedal box assembly that is not to the correct specification and is at risk of loss of brake capability.”

While the automatic emergency braking (AEB) and electronic parking brake will still work, Stellantis says the risk is serious enough to ground the cars immediately.

So, if you own one of these models, you will be given free replacement cars while their cars are inspected and, if necessary, repaired.

The upcoming Vauxhall Frontera and Frontera Electric – which share parts with the Citroen C3 – are also affected, but Stellantis says all cars will be fixed before customer deliveries begin.

If you own one of these cars, call Citroen Customer Services on 0800 093 9393 or Vauxhall on 0800 026 0034 for further guidance.

Older Citroen and DS models hit by dangerous airbag recall

This isn’t the only stop-drive notice. In a separate and ongoing recall, Stellantis has also warned UK drivers of older Citroen and DS models to stop using their cars immediately because of faulty Takata airbags.

The recall affects the following models:

• Citroen C3 (2009–2017)
• Citroen DS3 (2009–2019)
• Citroen C4 (2010–2018)
• Citroen DS4 (2010–2013)
• Citroen DS5 (2010–2015)
• Citroen C Zero (2010–2017)
• Plus equivalent DS Automobiles DS3, DS4 and DS5 built between 2008-2018

These airbags, made by Takata, can explode on deployment, firing sharp metal fragments into the cabin. Globally, they’ve been linked to at least 28 deaths and hundreds of serious injuries since 2009.

In June, Citroen issued a “code red” safety recall – the most serious category – after a woman in France was killed in a minor accident involving one of the faulty airbags.

So far, no UK fatalities have been reported, but around 96,000 UK drivers have been told to stop using their cars.

What should drivers do?

Here’s what you need to do if you own one of these cars:

1. Check if your car is affected: Enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the Citroen UK recall checker or the DS Automobiles recall site.
2. Don’t drive if recalled: Even if your car feels fine, both the brake and airbag faults carry real safety risks.
3. Arrange a free repair: Call the Recall Helpline on 0800 917 9285 or Citroën Customer Care on 0800 093 9393.

Vehicle recalls aren’t unusual, but stop-drive orders are rare in the UK. Stellantis says it’s acting “swiftly, transparently, and responsibly” to protect drivers.

If your car is listed, it’s important not to ignore the warning. While the repairs are free, the risks of delay could be life-threatening.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Click here to follow us on WhatsApp, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos.