Drivers forced off the roads after car manufacturer recall

Around 120,000 owners are affected by Citroën and DS fault

- ALBERT TOTH

Hundreds of thousands of UK drivers have been left stranded without transport as a nationwide recall of several popular car models continues to cause chaos.

Around 120,000 vehicle owners have been forced off the roads after car manufacturer Stellantis issued a “do not drive” order for many of its Citroën and DS models on 20 June.

The company says it is recalling the affected vehicles for repair in stages. However, the unprecedented scale of the action has left some garages and dealerships admitting that their repair backlog now extends well into next year.

In the meantime, owners of the affected models are left unable to drive their vehicles, many without alternative modes of transport. The stop-drive order means they also cannot sell their cars, while ignoring it can lead to legal issues such as a fine, driving ban, or points on a licence.

Stellantis has now been urged by Which? to take urgent action to fix the faults or offer motorists appropriate compensation. The consumer rights group says too many people have been left stranded without any means of transport, causing major disruption to their lives.

One customer, Petra*, describes how she has tried many times to get help from Citroën, and is now nearly £900 out of pocket already due to having to hire a car. Her partner has terminal cancer, so she relies on the vehicle to get him to hospital for essential treatments.

“That’s my month’s money gone,” she told Which?, “I have to wait for my next benefit payment now, and have been surviving on many handouts from my family for food.”