https://commission.europa.eu/l…le-consumption-actions_en
AdBlue tanks in Stellantis cars
Following alerts issued by consumer associations in Italy and Spain, the European Consumer Association (BEUC) called on the CPC Network to open an EU wide investigation on technical issues with AdBlue tanks in certain diesel vehicles manufactured by Stellantis.
AdBlue is a liquid designed for diesel vehicle engines to allow the functioning of SCR system (selective catalytic reduction system) and ultimately reduce harmful emissions of nitrogen oxide.
Customers complained that the embedded software in certain diesel vehicles manufactured by Stellantis (such as Peugeot, Citroën, DS, or Opel) between January 2014 and August 2020, incorrectly indicated that the AdBlue tank was almost or completely empty. As a result, the engine stopped, preventing it from restarting and causing costly repairs for the owners.
Stellantis clarified that technical issues related to the urea tank have appeared in older vehicle generations, while newer vehicles are equipped with improved components.
Compensation measures agreed by Stellantis
In September 2023, the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) investigated the issue and agreed with Stellantis upon a series of compensation measures for consumers in Italy.
Following a dialogue with the Commission and the CPC Network, Stellantis agreed to extend these measures to all Member States, offering some additional commitments, including to:
- Extend the special coverage for Stellantis brands of vehicles Peugeot, Citroën, DS, and Opel. This means Stellantis is covering the cost of parts, beyond warranty requirements, depending on the age and mileage of the vehicle, which will extend to 8 years following each relevant vehicle manufacturing date. As such, the coverage will last up to 2028 for vehicles manufactured in August 2020. For eligible vehicles up to 5 years in service and up to 150,000 kilometers, Stellantis compensates 100% of costs for parts. If the vehicle is between 5 and 8 years old, the Company covers between 30% to 90% of the costs for parts, depending on the respective mileage.
- Complement the special coverage with an amount of €30 for labour costs, which in some cases represent around 20% of the average labour cost.
- Cover 100% of parts and labor costs for consumers who face re occuring cases (For customers who went to an authorized repairer for a second urea tank replacement, within the limit of 50,000 km or 24 months from the previous replacement carried out at an authorized repairer and documented by invoice; used vehicles excluded. The measure is effective until August 2028).
- A retro-active measure to compensate with a lump sum consumers who received less favorable reimbursements since 1 January 2021 than the extended special coverage.
- Organise trainings of distribution network and customer care employees to ensure consumers are properly informed of the coverages available to them. =
Stellantis will also launch a platform dedicated to the retroactive measure for affected consumers, who already received contributions in the past, to calculate their additional compensation rights. The platform will be available in mid-January 2025.
