Transport Department to Look into Delayed Car Brake Issues
The Ministry of Transport's Market Surveillance Service for Vehicles and Engines (SSMVM) has announced evaluations and questionings of automobile manufacturers in response to media reports about sudden braking incidents. These incidents, which have occurred between 2017 and 2025, have involved numerous vehicle brands, with Peugeot, Citroën, and Škoda being the most frequently cited.
The SSMVM's evaluations will allow it to question manufacturers about potential design or component faults that could cause sudden or impaired braking, risk of crashes, or fire hazards. This move comes after Joanna Peyrache, a French citizen, reported an accident on the A40 motorway in April, where her Peugeot 208 suddenly braked with no apparent cause. Following the incident, Joanna reported receiving hundreds of testimonies about similar incidents.
In recent years, several automobile manufacturers have faced recalls and warnings due to brake-related issues. General Motors (GM) recalled over 40,000 Chevrolet Blazer EVs in 2025 due to a brake defect that might cause crashes. Volvo issued urgent brake failure warnings for some plug-in hybrid and electric models, including a recall of about 11,500 vehicles and warnings to owners who didn’t install the OTA fix. Ford recalled around 123,000 vehicles for brake fluid leaks and other issues, though not directly sudden braking-related.
International Motors and related brands have also experienced multiple recalls, including brake pressure switch leaks causing potential electrical shorts and fire risks; tension springs on parking brakes failing and potentially causing rollaway risks; and Hill Start Assist malfunctions causing delays in brake release, increasing crash risk.
Recalls for unexpected activation of emergency brakes have also been reported, such as NHTSA recall 25V501 covering International's ALTEC AP SERIES vehicles. On the other hand, newer automobiles like the 2025 Renault Megane E-Tech electric car are equipped with automatic emergency braking systems designed to detect and reduce braking distances in emergencies, representing technological evolution addressing sudden braking risks.
These recalls and warnings are typically initiated or evaluated by safety authorities such as the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While these recalls indicate active monitoring and evaluation, no specific centralized investigation by a Ministry of Transport and an entity named SSMVM has been explicitly found in available sources.
However, the SSMVM has taken action in the past, such as launching and following the recall campaigns for the defective Takata airbags of various manufacturers. Other cases have been directly reported to the Ministry of Transport. The ministry has confirmed that other cases have been directly reported to them.
In light of these incidents, a petition for an investigation and reform of the automatic emergency braking systems was launched on the National Assembly's website on August 6. As of now, the petition has collected around 80 signatures. The SSMVM will carry out tests as part of the evaluation process to ensure the safety and reliability of the braking systems in automobiles.
The SSMVM's evaluation process includes inquiries about design or component faults in various vehicles, particularly those prone to sudden braking incidents, which are crucial in the larger context of the automotive industry's safety concerns. In recent years, numerous automobile manufacturers have faced recalls due to brake-related issues, indicating a vital need for oversight in the sports, finance, and transportation sectors to prevent such incidents.
