Stellantis, the automobile giant born from the merger between PSA and Fiat Chrysler, once again finds itself under fire from critics. After the fallout from the Takata airbag affair, it's the engine's turn 1.5 BlueHDi diesel to arouse controversy. With more than 52,000 vehicles recalled to France, motorists are wondering: how far will this chain of defects go?
A massive reminder: a facade solution?
The problem, however identified by Stellantis, seems to come from the 1.5 BlueHDi diesel engine, installed in various models of the Peugeot, Citroën, Opel and DS brands. This engine, supposed to respect pollution standards, nevertheless exceeds the limits ofnitrogen oxides (NOx)a gas that is particularly harmful to health and the environment. In question, a calibration of theengine control unit (ECU) which fails to properly regulate emissions before the vehicle reaches 20,000 km, a distance to which a large proportion of buyers have not yet reached. Is this engine “learning period” a design flaw that Stellantis is trying to minimize?
Thousands of motorists taken hostage
The cars concerned – among others Peugeot 208, 3008, 5008, Citroën C3, DS3 Crossback – have become symbols of this crisis. In fact, tens of thousands of motorists will have to return to dealerships, losing time and, undoubtedly, trust in the manufacturer. For Stellantis, the repairs consist of a simple electronic recalibration expected to resolve the problem within 30 minutes. However, do these recurring recalls – not to mention the precedent of Takata airbags – show a lack of rigor in quality control processes?
Questions about Stellantis transparency
The recent pollution scandals linked to diesel have left their mark, but Stellantis affirms that there would be no attempt at concealment here. However, some observers wonder why these excess emissions have only recently been detected. Is it possible that the race for profitability has taken precedence over caution? If Stellantis admits the failures of this engine and offers repairs at its expense, these massive recalls could indicate a deeper problem: a fast-track production system that neglects quality and safety.
With these successive recalls and the numerous inconveniences for consumers, Stellantis must now face a major challenge: regaining the trust of a public tired of repetitive scandals.
