65,000 Peugeots recalled

Around 65,000 Peugeot 406 cars will have to be recalled, the firm said today, after claims that thieves can break into the boot within seconds.

The move comes two months after Peugeot cars destined for the French market were recalled with the same problem, according to BBC1 consumer programme Watchdog.

Investigators found the boots of the €22,000 cars can be opened without using tools, or causing any damage.

Peugeot confirmed today it had started to recall 65,000 cars and letters began arriving at customer’s homes this morning.

It affects all 406 models made in the last three years currently on British roads. The company said around 25% might need modifications to make the boot more secure.

The BBC investigation, using secret filming, claimed cars destined for the French market were recalled in July.

But those destined for British customers, despite being from the same production line, are only now being recalled, it said.

Watchdog editor Doug Carnegie said today: "Peugeot has known information about its cars that some Brit drivers haven’t - and that has cost some of them dearly."

A spokesman for Peugeot said: "We would like to assure our customers that the Peugeot 406 boot lock is not at fault.

"However, within the Peugeot quality programme it has been identified that in order to improve protection against forceful attempts to gain access to the boot it is necessary to carry out a modification to some customers’ cars.

"In recognition of this, a recall campaign has commenced informing all those owners of 406 saloon models produced since March 1999 to make contact with their Peugeot dealer to arrange for the modification to be carried out."