23-05-2011, 09:03 AM
French car maker Citroen has recalled more than 20,000 examples of the C3 Picasso because of a fault with the brakes.
It has been discovered that the car's brakes can curiously be applied from the passenger foot well.
This is due to a fault with the manufacturing process, during the car's conversion from left- to right-hand-drive.
Part of the braking mechanism runs below the passenger foot well and is covered by a thin piece of felt, which can be pressed easily by anyone sitting in the front passenger seat and activate the brakes.
Citroen will fit all the affected cars with a brake isolator, though it said there was only a remote possibility of the problem occurring. It is offering the repair to C3 Picasso owners free of charge.
The issue was brought to light when cleaning company in Kent, which has three C3 Picassos on its fleet, contacted the BBC's Watchdog consumer programme.
The resultant episode aired on May 19, but Citroen said that it had not been made aware of the problem before the Watchdog programme.
Speaking to the BBC, motoring engineer Mark Brown, who examined the cars, said: "It's potentially very dangerous indeed because the passenger wouldn't know he's the one activating the brake. The driver wouldn't know what's going on, and the people behind wouldn't know what's going on."
Tim Shallcross of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, added: "Citroen must investigate the problem as a matter of urgency. If the driver's control of the car can be compromised, they must take action to modify all cars, via a recall if necessary."
Original article
It has been discovered that the car's brakes can curiously be applied from the passenger foot well.
This is due to a fault with the manufacturing process, during the car's conversion from left- to right-hand-drive.
Part of the braking mechanism runs below the passenger foot well and is covered by a thin piece of felt, which can be pressed easily by anyone sitting in the front passenger seat and activate the brakes.
Citroen will fit all the affected cars with a brake isolator, though it said there was only a remote possibility of the problem occurring. It is offering the repair to C3 Picasso owners free of charge.
The issue was brought to light when cleaning company in Kent, which has three C3 Picassos on its fleet, contacted the BBC's Watchdog consumer programme.
The resultant episode aired on May 19, but Citroen said that it had not been made aware of the problem before the Watchdog programme.
Speaking to the BBC, motoring engineer Mark Brown, who examined the cars, said: "It's potentially very dangerous indeed because the passenger wouldn't know he's the one activating the brake. The driver wouldn't know what's going on, and the people behind wouldn't know what's going on."
Tim Shallcross of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, added: "Citroen must investigate the problem as a matter of urgency. If the driver's control of the car can be compromised, they must take action to modify all cars, via a recall if necessary."
Original article
2005 Berlingo Multispace 1.6i Desire (Iron Grey)
If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.
If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.