Peugeot 308 vehicles recalled for seat belt defects

The recalls come one after another, but they're all different. A few weeks after issuing a recall of thousands of its branded cars due to an engine issue, Stellantis is once again facing a safety issue with its vehicles. On Friday, August 15, the automotive group launched another recall. The cause: a faulty seat belt fastener. "The rear seat belt anchors may not be sufficiently impact-resistant," details the recall information on the European website Rapex. "This could limit the retractor's ability to restrain a passenger in the event of an accident, resulting in injuries."

This recall is not insignificant, as the 308 is a common model in the French car fleet. Since 2013, the second generation of this model, assembled in Sochaux until 2021, has been produced in nearly 1.4 million units. In total, five models of its 308, produced between October 12, 2015 and February 1, 2019, are affected: e2*2007/46*0405*04, e2*2007/46*0405*06 - *09, e2*2007/46*0405*11 - *13, e2*2007/46*0405*15 - *24 and e2*2007/46*0405*26.

If one of these identification numbers is indicated in box K of the registration document, the owner must contact their dealer or visit the lion brand's website. The repair must then be covered free of charge by the brand.

Stellantis reportedly refrained from this new recall. Last July, the automotive group already recalled 630,000 Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, Opel, and DS cars due to a defect in the 1.5 BlueHDI diesel engines. According to a company spokesperson, the problem was related to the camshaft chain, an engine component that regulates the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. This defect could cause engine failure, among other things. Stellantis is also affected by defective Takata airbags, which are fitted to several of its models.

But Stellantis isn't the only company plagued by technical issues. At the end of July, the famous Italian brand Lamborghini recalled several of its Revuelto , one of its most prestigious models. The reason: insufficient tightening of one of the parts risked causing the elytron door to fall off when opened. This recall remains anecdotal: only 27 Revueltos were recalled and no accidents have been reported to the brand. But it's still the third for this model, a stain on this model costing over 500,000 euros.