Vehicle recalls in the UK have increased tenfold since 1994. In the first eight months of 2024 alone, nearly 1.2 million vehicles were recalled by the DVSA across 41 brands. The pace has not slowed. The six months from September 2025 to February 2026 produced some of the most serious safety notices in years, including a rare "stop-drive" order that left over 130,000 drivers in the UK unable to legally use their cars.
Here is the full picture, month by month.
The Biggest Story: Citroën's Lethal Airbag Crisis
Nothing in the past six months comes close to the scale and severity of the Citroën Takata airbag recall. On 20 June 2025, Stellantis, the parent company of Citroën and DS, announced an immediate stop-drive order initially affecting around 120,000 Citroën and DS vehicles in the UK. This is not a standard recall where owners are advised to book a repair when convenient. A stop-drive order means exactly what it says: do not use the vehicle until it is fixed.
The original recall centred on the Citroën C3 and DS3, but was later extended to the Citroën C4, DS4 and DS5, adding a further 9,968 vehicles to the total. The fault in all cases is a Takata airbag inflator that can rupture in a crash, sending metal fragments into the cabin. The issue has become so serious in France, with at least 18 deaths including 16 in overseas territories linked to Takata airbags across various brands, that the French transport ministry issued its own stop-drive recall on 2.5 million cars. No UK deaths have been reported, but the potential is real and documented.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander wrote to Stellantis in August 2025 expressing serious concerns about the impact on drivers, calling for immediate steps to improve the recall process and ensure all affected owners were provided with viable alternatives. Owners have reportedly been offered £22.50 per day in compensation while waiting for repairs, which consumer groups have described as insufficient given the cost of alternative transport.
If you own a Citroën C3 (2009 to 2019), DS3 (2009 to 2019), C4 (2010 to 2013), DS4 (2010 to 2017), DS5 (2010 to 2018), or C-Zero (2010 to 2017), check your VIN immediately at citroen.co.uk. Do not drive the vehicle until the airbag has been replaced.
Alongside the airbag crisis, Stellantis announced a separate recall affecting a further 72,000 vehicles fitted with the 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine across Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Fiat, Jeep and Alfa Romeo models built between 2023 and 2025. Following 11 reported engine fires in France linked to a loosened nut on a high-pressure fuel pipe, fuel leakage and, in rare cases, engine fires, were identified as risks.
September 2025
Hyundai i20 (17,084 vehicles, built April 2021 to January 2023): the fuel pump may fail internally over time, potentially causing the engine to lose power. Fuel pump replacement required.
Ford Mustang Mach-E (16,155 vehicles, built March 2020 to May 2025): in the event of an unexpected 12V battery discharge, electronic door latches retain their last lock or unlock status, which could result in an unexpected lockout or lock-in situation. Software update to the Power Control Module required.
Mazda MX-5 (1,914 vehicles, built November 2023 to February 2025): the traction control and dynamic stability control warning light may not illuminate when abnormal yaw rate characteristics are detected. The control module will be replaced with an updated unit.
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October 2025
BMW 3 Series (120,611 vehicles, E46 and E90 generation, May 1999 to August 2006): the front passenger airbag contains a Takata PSPI inflator that was fitted as a replacement during a previous recall campaign. That replacement unit itself now requires replacing with one that does not contain ammonium nitrate. This is a continuation of the same global Takata crisis affecting Citroën.
Peugeot 2008 (5,583 vehicles, November 2024 to June 2025 build dates): tyre pressure warning messages may be incorrect or absent due to an ESC software deviation. Calibration update required.
Vauxhall Corsa and Mokka (8,467 vehicles combined, Corsa built March to June 2025, Mokka built January to June 2025): same ESC software issue as the Peugeot 2008, same fix. Worth noting that both the Peugeot and Vauxhall faults involve very recent builds, meaning owners of near-new cars should check their registration dates carefully.
November 2025
MG ZS (31,387 vehicles, built November 2020 to February 2024): NOx emissions do not comply with regulatory limits. A software recalibration is required to bring emissions within legal thresholds. This is an emissions compliance recall rather than an immediate safety risk, but it is a legal requirement to have the work done.
Toyota Corolla (30,141 vehicles, built August 2022 to May 2025): a programming error in the combination meter causes repetitive data to be written to a memory device, which can cause the instrument display to stop working permanently at startup. Reprogramming or replacement of the combination meter unit required.
Volkswagen ID.5 (25,031 vehicles, built June 2023 to August 2024): a software fault in the door handle control units means a door may open unexpectedly while the car is in motion. Software update required. This is a serious safety issue on a car that many owners will have bought as a premium family vehicle.
January 2026
Lexus NX, RX, LBX, RZ, UX, ES, LM, LC and LS (20,855 vehicles across nine models, built 2022 to 2025): a software fault in the Parking Assist ECU can cause the rear view camera image to freeze or fail to display. ECU reprogramming required.
BMW X3 (5,313 vehicles, built August 2024 to October 2025): a software error in the steering gear may prevent sensor failures from being detected correctly, meaning a driver would receive no warning of a developing steering fault. Control unit reprogramming required.
Ford Mustang (2,811 vehicles, built June to December 2020): corrosion may weaken or detach the seatbelt anchor pretensioner cables for both front seats. A corroded pretensioner cable may fail to restrain an occupant in a crash. No remedy has yet been developed. Owners are advised to take the vehicle to an authorised repairer for inspection immediately.
February 2026
BMW 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, X1, X3 (441,520 vehicles, built 2006 to 2015): the driver's airbag may deploy with excessive force, releasing sharp metal fragments into the cabin. The potential for fatal or serious injury is explicitly stated in the recall notice. This is the largest single recall in the period covered and affects over 440,000 vehicles on UK roads. Airbag replacement required.
Range Rover Evoque (48,997 vehicles, built September 2019 to December 2024): the passenger airbag may tear on deployment due to improper folding during assembly. Airbag module and associated components will be replaced.
Volvo EX30 (10,440 vehicles, built September 2023 to October 2025): a risk of overheating in a high voltage battery cell following charging could lead to fire. Volvo's interim guidance is to limit the battery to a maximum charge of 70 percent and not leave the vehicle unattended while charging in enclosed spaces. A permanent fix is still being developed.
What to Do
Manufacturers contact registered keepers using DVLA data. If you are not the first owner of your vehicle, or if your address has changed, the letter may never reach you. The only reliable check is to do it yourself.
Go to gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall and enter your vehicle details. It is free, it takes sixty seconds, and it covers every registered recall in the UK database. For the Citroën airbag issue specifically, use the VIN checker at citroen.co.uk directly.
All recall repairs are free of charge regardless of vehicle age or warranty status. If the work is expected to take significant time, ask for a courtesy vehicle. BBC research has found that 72 percent of recalled cars remain on the road without the rectification work being carried out. That statistic is not a reason to delay. It is a reason the article exists.
