Automotive giant Stellantis has issued a recall for 68,000 vehicles in France due to a mechanical fault in the oil jet cooling nozzles of its PureTech engines. The recall affects compact models, including 57,000 Citroën C3s, 2,500 Peugeot 208s, and 8,700 Opel Corsas, all equipped with a 1.2 PureTech engine producing 82 horsepower. The announcement was made on February 25, confirming earlier media reports.
The issue is reportedly not linked to the engine’s design but rather to a supplier’s manufacturing quality decline concerning these nozzles. Stellantis, already managing a large-scale recall for defective airbags, explained that the fault could result in noise and, in severe cases, damage to the engine sensor. This damage could potentially lead to oil being projected onto the exhaust, posing a risk of smoke or even fire. The company did not specify if any such incidents have occurred to date.
Customers affected by the recall will receive a registered letter instructing them to take their vehicles to a dealership for an oil and oil filter change. Stellantis assures that this procedure, which takes approximately 30 minutes, effectively addresses the issue. The company emphasized its commitment to the precautionary principle, ensuring swift recalls to mitigate risks.
This latest recall follows a series of challenges with the PureTech engines, initially developed by PSA (Peugeot-Citroën) before Stellantis’ formation. These challenges have included excessive oil consumption and premature degradation of the timing belt. In January, Stellantis introduced a retroactive compensation platform for customers who experienced issues with these engines between 2022 and 2024.
