Citroen C3 recalled for…passenger brake

A recall has been issued for over 20,000 units of Citroen C3 Picasso cars in the U.K. for an unusual problem leading to sudden and unexpected braking. BBC News said that the brakes of the right-hand-drive models of the C3 Picasso can be applied if the front seat passengers push against the floor. The original design of the C3 Picasso was for it to be a left-hand-drive car for mainland Europe. However, the controls were transferred to the right side for U.K. sale.

The problem stems from the fact that the right-hand brake pedal is connected via a cable to a vestigial brake pedal mechanism positioned in the passenger-side footwell, according to BBC. The C3 Picasso has started selling in the U.K. two years ago but this problem has only recently been discovered.

According to the BBC report, the left-hand braking assembly is only covered by a not-so-sturdy piece of felt. Since 2009, Citroen has sold 22,000 C3 Picasso models in the U.K. but it claims in its Web site that it’s the first time that it came to know of a “dual braking” problem. Citroen will be putting in extra components so that passengers won’t be able to activate the brakes. But Citroen has announced that even if the recall work hasn’t been done yet, the cars can be driven as normal. [ via - 4wheelsnews]