After the problems of its 1.2 PureTech engine or its airbags, Stellantis is again at the heart of the controversy due to complications detected on 1.5 BlueHDi diesel engines. Like thousands of motorists concerned, a mother living in Haute-Savoie joined the association “Victims Channel 1.5 BlueHDI” which intends to start a collective procedure.
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While Stellantis has just announced a New recall operation 68,200 vehicles For “risk of fires” linked to an internal part of the pure tech engine, anger does not fall on the side of the owners of defective engines 1.5 BlueHDI.
In Haute-Savoie, Cathy G.’s car has not been working “for almost 9 months”. “This situation has put my family in a catastrophic financial situation,” she breathes. In June 2024, his vehicle “stopped with four children on board, never to restart”. “It was a Saturday, we came back from a football tournament when we broke down in our village when we were two-way a few minutes before,” said the Haut-Savoyard.
The car wedged without light or alert.
Cathy G., owner of a Citroën 1.5 BlueHDI in Haute-Savoie
Unable to restart the vehicle, the family then called on one of their friends, a mechanic. “He made a first diagnosis before towing and told us that he had very bad news,” continues Cathy G., evoking a “gap of the camshaft”. Two days later, the car was towed to a Citroën garage and “since then, it’s a disaster”.
Expertise says the manufacturer is responsible.
Cathy G., owner of a Citroën 1.5 BlueHDI in Haute-Savoie
Indeed, the documents transmitted by the expert mention that “the manufacturer’s responsibility is engaged in this dispute, the defect being linked to the design of the liaison chain between camshafts”, “this problem of breaking the chain “Being” unfavorably known on this engine, the manufacturer having even set up a technical modification with a chain of 8mm instead of that of 7mm “.
The manufacturer in question: Stellantis. Indeed, after the problems of the 1.2 PureTech engine, it is the turn of the 1.5 BlueHDi diesel engine to present a design defect with the possibility of a break in the camshaft chain which could cause the engine breakage.
“The expert would have asked the Stellantis group if he wanted to participate in repairs and had an answer up to 55%, but 55% of what? The engine has never been dismantled and we do not know how much it will cost” , explains the desperate motorist and whose vehicle has been immobilized for several months. In addition, communication seems difficult between the different actors. “The Stellantis group told me that the expert had never contacted them and the mechanic also assures me not having any return of the expertise. Difficult to know who says true,” regrets Cathy G.
This procedure, long and trying morally, could cost Cathy’s family dearly. “The garage asks me at least 8,000 euros in costs because my car is parked in their parking lot” since June, says Cathy G., “while for expertise, it was asked that my vehicle be on site” .
Faced with this situation, the motorist decided “to go to court”, on the advice of his legal protection. “We are still paying the credit of the car which costs 600 euros per month and we have four dependent children,” she adds.
I put myself in not possible states, I had an emotional shock and triggered an autoimmune disease.
Cathy G., owner of a Citroën 1.5 BlueHDI in Haute-Savoie
“I don’t care about the car,” continues Cathy, “I just want tranquility. Either we repair my car or, I am reimbursed. I just want to get my family out of all this.” If the Haut-Savoyarde feels “alone and little in the face of all this”, she hopes to obtain their case, just like the other victims.
Thousands of people would be affected in France and an association, which was born on January 21, 2025, brings together a hundred members. Named “Victims Channel 1.5 BlueHDI“, Its objective is” to welcome, listen to and assist the victims of the failures of the engines, to provide psychological and moral aid and above all, create a collective action against Stellantis “.
For its president and co -founder, Smaël Sebille, the story started in July 2023. The Varois, owner of a 5008, learns through his mechanic that his engine has a problem and that he should no longer use his vehicle . “I spent four months without riding,” he says. Result: the motorist had to pay 4,200 euros to have the engine repaired, without care, the maintenance being done out of network. “My mechanic told me to pay it in several times because it has been known for a long time,” explains Smaël Sebille who decides not to stop there and write a comment under an advertisement of Stellantis on social networks . “Another person answered me, we came into contact and explained to me that the chain of its engine was broken. We thought it was perhaps the same problem as with PureTech engines with a design defect “.
Follow the creation of a Facebook group – which now has nearly 10,000 members – via which Smaël Sebille has received “thousands of testimonies”, the posting of a card identifying the victims of the 1.5 BlueHDI engine and a form for those who wish to participate in collective action. “More than 700 people have already completed it,” said the president of the association, adding that “the victims are afraid of embarking on such a procedure. (…) This is new for us. We do not would never have thought of doing this. “
According to theConsumer association UFC-Que Choisir, “many models of stellantis out of factory between October 2017 and January 2023 are potentially concerned by the distribution chain problem (…) as well as manufacturers’ vehicles not belonging to the group, but having commercial links with He, Tel Toyota, who uses certain Stellantis engines “.
Six brands and 36 models are concerned: Citroën (C3, C3 Aircross, C4, C4 Cactus, C4 Picasso, C5 Aircross, Berlingo, Spacetourer and Jumpy), Fiat (Ulysse and Scudo), DS (DS 3 Crossback, DS 4, DS 7 and DS 7 Crossback), Opel (Corsa, Astra, Mokka, Crossland, Crossland X, Grandland, Grandland X, Combo, Zafira and Vivaro), Peugeot (208, 2008, 308, 3008, 508, 5008, Expert, Rifter and Partner), as well as Toyota (Proace and Proace City).
Since January 8, 2025, the management has increased from 5 years or 150,000 kilometers to 7 years or 180,000 kilometers. According to the newspaper L’Argus, “its applicability depends on the 7 years (from the first vehicle registration) and the customer must present the last three maintenance bills with a tolerance of 3 months / 3,000 km”.
Through his association, Smaël Sebille calls Stellantis to “fully assume his responsibility”. According to him, the group “should not simply offer a guarantee extension but should recall the vehicles concerned, in view of the severity of the failure and the cost of the repair”.
“The way customers are treated is unacceptable,” regrets Cédric Brun, assistant central union representative CGT PSA Valenciennes and member of the European Group Committee. “This is the consequence of a group that has reduced everything we had to sorrow,” he adds. “For someone who loves their job, it’s terrible.”
We had the pride of being one of the first dirasists and we become the laughingstock of the world.
Cédric Brun, assistant central union delegate CGT PSA Valenciennes and member of the European Group Committee.
Anyone who is also regional advisor to Hauts-de-France affirms his desire to “support the requests of associations to ensure that [the] customers are properly treated”. He also calls the potential victims, who will be “thousands to have this problem”, to get closer to associations: “we will have to start group actions, the more you will be, the stronger you will be”.
Only you will be unlikely to obtain repair.
Cédric Brun, assistant central union delegate CGT PSA Valenciennes and member of the European Group Committee.
“The new CEO (John Elkann, after the departure of Carlos Tavares) explains that customers will be taken into account more satisfactorily. I am waiting to see, “continues the man who works during the group’s authorities whose” all the strategy is being overlooked “.