Suzuki has stepped up its recall of the new Celerio car and warned owners not to drive the vehicle following serious issues with its braking system. Sales in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand have been suspended after reports of brake failure during testing by motoring magazines What Car? and Autocar.
The small city car, priced at £8,000, went on sale in the UK over the weekend though it is believed only around 100 are currently on the road.
“With immediate effect, Suzuki is recalling its UK Celerio models that went on official sale to the public on February 1st,” the carmaker said in a statement.
“This safety recall relates to retraction of the brake pedal and affects right hand drive vehicles for UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. It does not affect left hand drive vehicles or other right hand drive markets.”
Around 40 Celerio cars are affected in Ireland, though Suzuki is unsure how many cars will be recalled in Australia and New Zealand, where the model has been on-sale for a considerable amount of time.
Following its testing, What Car? said that two Celerious suffered total brake failure whilst travelling at 80mph at a private facility in Bedford.
The magazine said: “During the first full-force braking test all stopping power was immediately lost upon application of the brakes.
“The brake pedal became stuck in the fully depressed position and had no effect on the Suzuki’s speed. No braking effort could be exerted by forcing the pedal up and reapplying it.”
The Celerio made its European debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014 and is Suzuki’s attempt at becoming a serious contender in the low-cost city car market.