CITROEN is recalling 25,000 ZX cars following the unscheduled detonation of an explosive seatbelt pretensioner device. The driver involved in the incident had stopped his car and was undoing his belt when the pretensioner went off, breaking the seatbelt buckle and filling the car with smoke. He was later told that his car would need a new airbag as well as a new seatbelt.

Citroen minimized the problem saying the pretensioner had done its job - for no reason admittedly - producing the same effect as if a rear seat passenger had grabbed the belt and given it a sharp tug. An official statement from the firm said: 'We are conducting the recall according to the code of practice for recall operations agreed between the motor industry and the Department of Transport to replace pretensioners and airbag components on certain ZX models.'

The Vehicle Inspectorate said there were in fact two recalls going on together. ZX models with TRW branded front belts would get replacement belts made by Autoliv, Citroen's other supplier. That recall, said a spokesman, involved 6,272 vehicles manufactured between November 1994 and March 1995. The 25,367 vehicles are being recalled because of a faulty driver's airbag control unit which could fire the bag for no reason. These cars were manufactured between October 1994 and September 1995.