Stellantis Recklessly Endangered My Life: Faulty Airbags and Shocking Negligence

Stellantis endangered not only my life but also the lives of family and friends that I had in my vehicle. I highly recommend avoiding purchasing any of their vehicles at all costs. I received an SMS on Friday, 17 May 2024, noting that there was a stop drive recall on my vehicle, the SMS looked like a phishing **** so I contacted Stellantis to confirm that the recall was in fact serious.

I was put in contact with a woman dealing with the recall. I was them sent a Stop Drive letter clearly stating that the vehicle is NOT to be driven and that the airbag on the passenger AND drivers side pose serious risk of injury and death.

My vehicle had been at a Citroen certified service centre (CMH Fores****) on the 16th of May 2024, 1 day prior to receiving the SMS so it should have been picked up then while my vehicle was in.

Once Stellantis had confirmed the vehicle is not to be driven under any circumstances they arranged for a hire vehicle as I rely heavily on my vehicle daily. I was informed that there were no courtesy vehicles available and therefore a hire vehicle was the only option and I was to pay for the insurance.

Once the parts had arrived, I was told to DRIVE the vehicle myself to CMH Fores****, a 16km drive. I had been told initially that either my vehicle would be collected or a technician would be sent out due to the dangers of driving, however, I was now told to drive the vehicle, as it was less than 100kms in distance.

I am not sure how 100kms was decided on, statistically speaking 77% of accidents happen within 16kms of the victims home and therefore Stellantis was putting my life at risk knowing the vehicle had faulty airbags.

Being extremely concerned about this, I asked to be put in contact with the supervising manager. She then told me that she could not say that there was no risk in driving the vehicle (as there very clearly was) but that she would send an email stating that the vehicle is safe to drive to CMH Fores**** to put our minds at ease. This email was never received, proving that there was in fact a high risk.

After dropping the vehicle at CMH Fores**** on the morning of Wednesday, 19 June 2024, I was told the work would be done and I would receive a call to collect the vehicle.

I collected the vehicle the following day, Thursday, 20 June 2024 and was given an invoice as receipt of work done. I noticed that only the passenger airbag had been replaced and not the drivers, which needed to be done as well. I contacted Stellantis on Thursday morning to check this; they confirmed that the driver’s side did in fact need to be replaced as well. I had now spent the morning in my vehicle as it was returned to me as having been fixed and safe. Stellantis, CMH Fores****, and all parties involved had once again put my life in danger.

Stellantis contacted CMH Fores**** to look into it, I called for an update later that same day and was told by Stellantis that CMH Fores**** would be in contact with me to tell me when to bring my vehicle in again (once again putting my life at risk completely unnecessarily). I was told to once again DRIVE my vehicle with a faulty airbag to CMH to have the driver side replaced, after refusing to take my car in eventually a technician as sent out to replace the airbag on site.

I purchased my vehicle, as it was a “high-end” vehicle with great safety. To say that I am horrified by how this situation has been handled is an understatement.

I am well aware that issues such as this do happen, however, it is the way in which all parties involved have dealt with the situation that is so horrifying. It is now clear that Stellantis put profit above lives.

I was not given a choice as to where to take my vehicle for the airbag replacement and therefore hold Stellantis responsible for the actions taken, which endangered my life.

After writing a letter of complaint I was told that an investigation would be conducted. It has been weeks since then and, despite following up, I have heard nothing. I requested an update on the investigation but my emails remain unanswered.

Never buy a vehicle brand that falls under Stellantis, you will forever regret it.