Fuel thieves drain diesel from parked motorhomes by damaging tanks

Motorhome thefts in France have increased by 30% over the past year, with approximately 300 such vehicles stolen annually. Hybrid SUVs account for 45% of all vehicle thefts in the country. More than half of stolen vehicles later located via trackers are found in Belgium, with about 5% discovered in the Netherlands.

Manufacturer Stellantis has issued a recall for 18 variants of vans, including the Fiat Ducato, which are commonly used as base vehicles for motorhomes. The recall concerns a potentially defective fuel line that could leak. Owners are advised to contact their dealer for inspection and replacement.

Motorhome and caravan owners face increasing logistical hurdles. Key issues include multi-year waiting lists for winter storage due to a record number of registered vehicles, bans on older diesel motorhomes entering urban zero-emission zones, and hidden ownership costs that significantly increase the total expense.