Vauxhall, Peugeot, Fiat and others recall 40,000+ UK cars over mild-hybrid fire risk

There are more woes for Stellantis, and specifically its 1.2-litre petrol engine, because more than 700,000 cars have been recalled globally over a fire risk, this time caused by the 48-volt mild-hybrid system.

The recall, which affects 44,000 cars in the UK manufactured between 2023 and 2026, has been prompted by what Stellantis refers to as “a potential issue concerning the clearance between the gasoline particulate filter pipe and the belt starter generator (BSG)”. Insufficient clearance between these two items can lead to an electrical arch in wet conditions, resulting in overheating and potentially a fire.

Cars affected spread across almost the entire portfolio of Stellantis brands, namely the likes of Vauxhall, Peugeot, Fiat, Citroen, Jeep, Alfa Romeo and DS. The group says it will “immediately reach out to affected vehicle owners, asking them to contact their dealer to schedule an appointment”.  

The fix, which should only take around half an hour, involves replacing the pole, adding further insulation for the 48-volt system and adjusting to the correct amount of clearance between it and the particulate filter pipe. 

Stellantis emphasised to Auto Express that this is not a stop-drive campaign – customers can, in theory, continue to use their cars. However, it did say: “we urge customers to immediately make an appointment at their dealer”, affirming that “customer safety and satisfaction [are] at the core of our values”.  

That said, it’s worth pointing out that this incident comes soon after another of similar magnitude, which affected non-hybrid versions of the 1.2-litre PureTech engine. In August 2025, more than 70,000 cars from 28 model ranges across the Stellantis group were recalled in the UK due to a fire risk caused by a fuel leakage.

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