Minister for Consumer Protection, Rob Beenders (Vooruit), has announced plans for vehicle recall notices to be automatically communicated through inspection centres.
In early July, Stellantis recalled 117,000 diesel vehicles from Citroën, DS, Opel, and Peugeot due to potential engine issues. A few weeks earlier, nearly 28,000 Belgian owners of Citroën C3 or DS3 models were advised not to use their cars because of defective Takata airbags.
During a meeting with Stellantis, Beenders received an update on measures taken to inform affected vehicle owners. All relevant owners have been notified in writing, approximately 2,000 airbags are replaced weekly, and additional resources have been allocated. Currently, 35% of the airbags have been replaced, according to the minister.
While Beenders commends Stellantis for its swift action and customer support, he emphasises the importance of reaching every consumer. Since not everyone reads their mail or visits websites, it was agreed that information on compensation should be communicated directly to customers when they visit garages.
Beenders is pushing for further measures. He advocates for all recall notices, including those for minor defects, to be automatically signalled through inspection centres. He believes this is a logical and efficient way to inform vehicle owners, as inspection centres see nearly every car at least once a year. To achieve this, Beenders plans to consult with the relevant administrations and ministers.
Related News
- Stellantis Belgium now orders the immobilisation of vehicles equipped with defective airbags
- Testachats deplores 'disastrous' communication by Stellantis on faulty airbags
- Citroën calls for grounding of all C3, DS3 vehicles fitted with Takata airbags
- Volvo recalls 2,389 vehicles in Belgium due to risk of overheating
