PureTech Recalls Explained: The 2026 Mild-hybrid Fire-risk Recall, The Timing-belt Brake Recalls And The Stellantis Compensation Scheme

PureTech recalls cover Stellantis's 1.0 and 1.2 litre petrol engines in Peugeot, Citroën, Vauxhall, DS, Jeep and Alfa Romeo models. In 2026 a mild-hybrid car safety recall fixes a fire risk near the 48-volt belt starter-generator.¹ Earlier recalls fixed brake vacuum pumps affected by timing belt debris. Recall repairs are normally free at a franchised dealer.²

The Three PureTech Problems At A Glance

PureTech owners face three separate issues: a 2026 safety recall for mild hybrids, earlier safety recalls for belt debris reaching the brake vacuum pump, and a goodwill scheme for oil consumption and belt wear.

Keeping the three apart matters. A recall repair will not fix oil consumption, and a goodwill claim will not clear a recall. If you are not sure which applies, run your registration through the checker above.

The 2026 Mild-hybrid Fire-risk Recall

Stellantis is recalling about 44,000 UK cars built from 2023 to 2026, because the exhaust particulate filter pipe can touch the 48-volt starter-generator cover, letting water in and causing an electrical arc that could start a fire.¹

The six DVSA references add up to 35,506 vehicle-records, while Stellantis announced about 44,000 UK cars.¹ The gap is likely to come from cars that were counted differently or from references not yet in the DVSA file, so we show both figures. The fix is to replace the protective cap and check or reposition the pipe, which Stellantis says takes about 30 minutes and is free.¹

A separate Stellantis recall in July and August 2025 covered a high-pressure fuel pipe fire risk across seven references and 72,160 vehicle-records.⁴ Both appear on our fire risk recalls page.

What To Do While You Wait For The Mild-hybrid Repair

Book the repair as soon as you receive the letter, and follow any instruction in it about using or parking the car. If you have not had a letter but your car is a 1.2 PureTech mild hybrid built from 2023, check your VIN, because the letter may have gone to an old address. Until the work is done, watch for a burning smell, smoke or warning messages about the hybrid system, and if you notice any of them, pull over somewhere safe, switch off and call the dealer or breakdown service. The repair itself is short, so ask the dealer whether it can be done while you wait.

The 2026 recall is not the first electrical issue on these cars to be reported, but it is the one that matters for a recall check now. It is also separate from the belt problems below: a mild hybrid can be in this recall and still need its own belt servicing on time.

Timing Belt Debris And Brake Vacuum Pump Recalls

From 2020 to 2023, Peugeot, Citroën and DS recalled PureTech cars because material shed by the timing belt could reach the brake vacuum pump and reduce braking assistance. The seven references cover 87,399 vehicle-records.

1. 1
   Belt wearThe timing belt runs in oil and can shed material.
2. 2
   Brake assistanceDebris can affect the brake vacuum pump, making the pedal harder to press.
3. 3
   The recall fixSoftware to detect the problem, plus inspection and replacement of the pump or belt.

The fix combines software that helps detect the problem with an inspection and, where needed, replacement of the vacuum pump and timing belt. A hard brake pedal is the warning sign to act on.

The brake vacuum pump creates the low pressure that makes the brake pedal light to press. On these engines the pump draws its oil from the same supply the timing belt runs in. If fragments from a worn belt collect at the pump's oil inlet, the pump can lose its supply and stop helping the brakes. The brakes still work, but the pedal becomes much harder, so the car takes more effort and distance to stop.

Why so many references? Peugeot and Citroën register recalls separately, and the first wave in 2020 and 2021 was followed by a second wave registered in 2022 and 2023 that extended the checks to more cars. If your car had the first recall done, it can still appear in a later one, so check again by VIN rather than assuming the work is complete. See brake recalls for other recalls affecting braking.

Which Cars Have The 1.0 And 1.2 PureTech Engine?

The 1.2 PureTech is fitted to most small and mid-sized Peugeot, Citroën, DS and Vauxhall petrol cars from about 2014, and in mild-hybrid form to some Jeep, Alfa Romeo and Fiat models.

This is typical fitment, not a guarantee, because each model was also sold with other engines. Your V5C and a dealer VIN check confirm the engine. The make pages list every recall for each brand: Peugeot recall check, Citroën recall check and Vauxhall recall check.

How To Check If Your PureTech Car Is Recalled

Enter your registration here, then confirm with your VIN through the manufacturer's helpline or a franchised dealer, because the 2026 recall covers only cars built with the reduced pipe clearance.

1. Run the registration check above.
2. Confirm by VIN with the Peugeot, Citroën, DS or Vauxhall helpline or a franchised dealer. Our manufacturer recall helplines page lists each number.
3. Book with a franchised dealer of your car's brand.

See where to find your VIN if you need it.

If the dealer says your car is not included, ask which references it checked and keep a note. A car can be outside the 2026 recall because of its build date but still be inside one of the earlier belt recalls, or the other way round. If a recall clearly applies and the dealer will not book it, see what to do if a dealer refuses to fix a recall.

Can I Claim For A Failed PureTech Timing Belt Or Oil Consumption?

Yes, if you paid for qualifying repairs between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024 and the car was serviced to Stellantis's plan, you can apply through Stellantis's online compensation platform.³

The scheme's main conditions are:

• the engine is a 1.0 or 1.2 PureTech in a Citroën, DS, Peugeot or Vauxhall
• the costs were for excessive oil consumption or premature timing belt failure
• the costs were paid between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024
• the car was serviced according to the maintenance plan
• diagnosis and repair were carried out in the authorised network

Stellantis also offers an extended warranty for earlier generations of the engine, up to 10 years or 180,000 km (about 112,000 miles), under conditions.³ Check the current terms on the platform before you apply.

The evidence that makes a claim easier to assess is:

• invoices for every repair, showing what was diagnosed and replaced
• the service history, with dates, mileage and the oil used
• the VIN and the mileage at the time of the failure
• any reply from the dealer or from Stellantis customer relations

The platform decides each claim on its own facts, and approval is not guaranteed, so keep copies of everything you upload. If you paid for a repair outside the authorised network, you may still be asked for full evidence of the diagnosis, so ask the garage for a written report. See car recall compensation for other routes.

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Keeping a PureTech healthy

Warning Signs And Maintenance

Watch for oil level warnings, frequent top-ups and a hard brake pedal, and follow the belt inspection intervals in your service booklet.⁵

Check your service booklet or ask a dealer with your VIN for the belt interval. Later 1.2 PureTech engines are typically six years or about 62,000 miles, while early engines had longer intervals.⁵ Use the oil grade the handbook specifies, check the level regularly, and book an inspection if you need to top up between services.

The signs worth acting on are:

• an oil level warning or a need to top up between services
• a hard brake pedal, which can point to the vacuum pump problem above
• an engine warning light with loss of power
• a burning smell or smoke on a mild hybrid, covered by the 2026 recall

If you are buying a used PureTech car, ask for invoices showing the belt was changed or inspected on time and run a recall check first. Our guide to buying a used car with an outstanding recall has a printable checklist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The BlueHDi Diesel Affected?

Not by these PureTech recalls. Diesel engines have their own recalls, such as R/2025/247, a camshaft chain recall covering 47,693 vehicle-records on some Citroën diesel models.

Is This The Same As The Ford EcoBoost Wet Belt?

It is a similar belt-in-oil design, but Ford has no UK recall or published UK scheme for it. See the Ford EcoBoost wet belt page.

Does A PureTech Recall Affect The MOT?

No. An outstanding recall is shown for information, not as a fail.⁶ See recalls and the MOT.

Will The Recall Fix Stop The Oil Consumption?

No. The 2026 recall addresses the fire risk only. Oil consumption is handled under the goodwill and warranty programme.

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Data: DVSA vehicle recall data (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 15 October 2026. Scheme details correct at our last check; confirm with Stellantis before applying.