TESTIMONIALS – The automotive group has opened a compensation platform in response to the scale of claims concerning faulty PureTech engines. But customers are still not satisfied, even very angry.
After months of negotiations, users of defective PureTech motors obtained from Stellantis the establishment of a compensation platform, operational since January 15. Only here, “it’s a real maze”denounces Christophe Lèguevaques, lawyer in charge of a collective action against Stellantis. First problem, “only incidents occurring between January 1, 2022 and March 18, 2024 are eligible for financial compensation”. This is in particular the response that Philippe Grepin, owner of a Peugeot 3008 with PureTech engine, obtained from Stellantis.
“The date of the incident was that of the repair carried out at the garage”accuses the motorist. In reality, its belt had been out of service for several months. “By the time it took to make the quotes, I only had one repair appointment in May 2024, and it was impossible for me to prove that I was already in contact with a dealership before the date of March 18”he adds. Same problem for Sebastien Czerniak, founder of a Facebook group for PureTech engine users. “Stellantis shows amnesia for my breakdown that occurred in 2020”he adds.
No one will be taken care of, they will always find an answer.
a user of the platform
“Just their press release to announce their new compensation policy is dishonest”enrages Sebastien Czerniak. In the latter, Stellantis argues that “customer satisfaction is at the heart of its values”. For the moment, at least, it's a failure. “No one will be taken care of, they will always find an answer”laments a user on social networks. “I also think that this platform only serves to ensure their respectability, but they will always find a way to refuse our requests”adds another.
-An obstacle course to be compensated
The famous platform is, moreover “very difficult to use”according to Christophe Lèguevaques. First, you must identify the exact model of your model, because the support offered by Stellantis varies depending on it. Afterwards, “the vehicle must be covered by warranty extension (10 years / 175,000 km) from the warranty start date”notes the lawyer. This obstacle course does not end there, he testifies, Stellantis demands “detailed invoices” of the last three revisions of the vehicle. At the end of the form, it must also be demonstrated that the diagnosis of the fault caused by the PureTech motor was carried out in the network approved by Stellantis.
Also angry, Gwénaëlle Lorgueilleux, owner of an affected car, accuses Stellantis of playing on “customers’ ignorance of consumer law”. A problem that Christophe Lèguevaques wants to tackle head on. “Let’s imagine that you complete the form, to receive the money, you will have to agree to sign a transactional protocol by which you waive all other claims”alerts the lawyer. In other words, moral, financial or bodily harm will not be covered by Stellantis. Sebastien Czerniak, for example, is saddened by the lack of compensation linked to the dizzying discount on his Peugeot 3008 on the second-hand market.
Towards the filing of a collective complaint
To remedy this, the lawyer for these users, Christophe Lèguevaques plans to file a complaint on February 15, for fraud, deceptive commercial practice and endangering the lives of others. Its goal, to engage in a showdown with Stellantis, to avoid “to relive a scenario like that of Philips ventilators”. Faced with defective devices, releasing potentially carcinogenic particles, Philips had to compensate its victims.
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And while the financial markets anticipated a fine of three billion dollars, the company had settled with the victims for only one billion dollars. “I can understand that people in debt quickly leave the file, to receive a check via this form, but I find it indecent to take advantage of this state of consumer weakness”concludes Christophe Lèguevaques.
