Peugeot AC Compressor Recall (R/2023/140): Is Your 208 or 2008 Affected?

If you own a battery-electric Peugeot — an e-208 or e-2008, or an e-Expert, e-Partner, e-Rifter or e-Traveller — built between mid-2019 and late 2022, there is a real chance your car is on the AC compressor recall list, and the fault is not just an air-con annoyance. Recall R/2023/140 was issued because the stator wiring inside the high-voltage AC compressor can leak current, and when it does the Powertrain Diagnosis ECU shuts the electric drive down completely while the car is moving. The DVSA's UK total is 29,537 vehicles across all six models. The same compressor is used across the electric range, so any SA car in the production window is worth a VIN check.

What the recall covers

The defect lives inside the AC compressor itself — specifically the stator winding of the high-voltage electric compressor. As the winding deteriorates it leaks current inside the compressor, and the Powertrain Diagnosis ECU reads that as a serious high-voltage fault and cuts the drive as a precaution. The electric motor disengages and the car coasts to a stop.

The remedy is a free software reprogram of the Powertrain Diagnosis ECU (Stellantis service campaign MF9). German motoring magazine auto motor und sport reports the update as either a 30-minute workshop visit or an over-the-air install.

Which cars are affected

The recall covers the electric Peugeot e-208 and e-2008, plus the e-Expert, e-Partner, e-Rifter and e-Traveller. Only the fully electric versions are in scope — the fault is in the stator winding of the high-voltage electric AC compressor, a component the belt-driven petrol and diesel cars do not have. The DVSA record sets a separate build window for each model: e-208 03/07/2019 to 26/11/2022, e-2008 08/11/2019 to 25/10/2022, e-Expert and e-Traveller 10/03/2020 to 07/12/2022, e-Partner 23/03/2021 to 16/11/2022, and e-Rifter 29/03/2021 to 16/11/2022. The 29,537-car total is the UK DVSA figure across all six models — and the UK is a small slice of it, because, as auto motor und sport reported in February 2023, the Stellantis-wide campaign covers 434,314 electric vehicles worldwide across Citroën, DS, Fiat, Opel/Vauxhall and Peugeot, recalled for the same AC compressor fault.

Only a VIN check confirms whether your specific car is affected. Build date — not registration date — is what matters. SA-imported cars often carry a build date six to twelve months before first registration.

How to check if your car is on the list

1. Peugeot SA online recall tool — peugeot.co.za/owners/maintain-your-car/recall.html. Enter your 17-character VIN.
2. Call Peugeot SA on 0860 738 472 — quote your VIN and ask about recall R/2023/140 (the MF9 campaign).
3. Any authorised Peugeot dealer — service advisors can run the VIN check on the spot.

Do all three if in doubt.

What Peugeot does for free under the recall

Under R/2023/140 the dealer reprograms the Powertrain Diagnosis ECU with the MF9 software update. No parts are replaced — the fix is software-only. If your compressor has already failed physically, the reflash will not bring it back to life — replacement is a separate, paid repair.

What if you are outside the recall window

If your car falls outside its model's build window above — or it is a petrol or diesel 208 or 2008 rather than an electric one — the recall does not apply. Same if your compressor has already physically failed. Indicative ranges only, not quotes; prices vary by condition, mileage, supplier and labour rate:

• 208 / 2008 (1.2 PureTech) AC compressor: R 2,500 – R 5,500 — our listed price. The high-voltage electric compressor on an e-208 or e-2008 is a different part; ask us for a quote
• Full job at a dealer (compressor, drier, expansion valve, regas, flush, labour): R 28,000 – R 42,500

The range reflects contamination — if the failing compressor has shed metal debris into the system, every downstream component needs flushing or replacing, otherwise the new compressor fails within months.

Need an AC compressor outside the recall window?

If your VIN is not covered, we can source OEM and quality aftermarket AC compressors for the Peugeot 208, 2008, 308 and 3008 — plus driers, expansion valves and flush kits for the full job — and courier them nationwide. Send us your VIN and we will source the right compressor for your engine variant.

Get a Quote →

Symptoms to watch for

The published defect describes one outcome and no early-warning sign, so do not wait for a symptom before checking the VIN:

• Sudden powertrain shutdown while driving, with the car losing drive

If you have had one powertrain-shutdown event, stop driving until the reflash is done. Buying a used e-208 or e-2008 from the 2019-2022 window? Make the VIN check a condition of sale.

Related Peugeot recall guides

You can also browse our full Peugeot 208 parts and Peugeot 2008 parts catalogues, or jump straight to AC system parts if you are sourcing compressors, driers or condensers.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if my Peugeot has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at peugeot.co.za/owners/maintain-your-car/recall.html. You can also call Peugeot SA on 0860 738 472 with your VIN, or walk in to any authorised Peugeot dealer. Use all three if in doubt.

Does the R/2023/140 recall apply in South Africa?

We could not find a published South African notice for this campaign — Peugeot SA does not publish a campaign list, only a per-VIN lookup, and the National Consumer Commission's public register does not carry it. R/2023/140 is a UK DVSA recall covering the battery-electric e-208, e-2008, e-Expert, e-Partner, e-Rifter and e-Traveller built between mid-2019 and late 2022,. The only way to know is to check your VIN at peugeot.co.za or call Peugeot SA on 0860 738 472. Where the recall does apply, the MF9 software reflash is free at any authorised Peugeot dealer regardless of mileage or warranty status.

How much does the recall fix cost?

R0. The ECU reprogram is free under R/2023/140. If your compressor has already physically failed, replacement is a separate paid repair — budget R 28,000 – R 42,500 for a complete dealer-supplied compressor replacement with flush and regas in SA.

What happens if I ignore the recall?

The Powertrain Diagnosis ECU can cut the electric drive without warning while you are driving. The car loses propulsion and coasts, which is a crash risk on a highway and unsafe even at urban speeds with traffic behind you. The fix is free and takes well under an hour.

Can I sell my car if it has an outstanding recall?

You can, but you should disclose it. If you are a dealer, the Consumer Protection Act's implied warranty of quality (section 56) and the right to safe, good quality goods (section 55) apply to the sale. A private seller falls outside the CPA — it covers suppliers acting in the ordinary course of business — but an undisclosed open safety recall can still expose you to a misrepresentation claim. The simpler path is to book the free reflash before listing.

Can the recall reflash be done at an independent specialist?

Recall work is carried out free of charge by authorised Peugeot dealers, and auto motor und sport reports the MF9 update can also be installed over the air. Use the dealer route for the recall and an independent for everything else.

Get your 208 or 2008 sorted

If the recall applies, book the reflash — it is the cheapest hour you will spend on the car this year. If the compressor has already failed and you need parts, send us your VIN and we will source the right OEM or aftermarket compressor for your specific variant and courier it nationwide.

Sources

1. All recalls since 1992 — full recall dataset (CSV) — UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (R/2023/140: launch date, models, per-model build dates, vehicle count, manufacturer code MF9, defect and remedy)
2. Recall campaigns — Peugeot South Africa (VIN recall checker; recall work carried out free of charge)
3. Used Peugeot 2008 (2019-present) Reliability — What Car?
4. Stellantis-Rückruf: Über 400.000 Elektrofahrzeuge betroffen — auto motor und sport

Important Disclaimer

This article summarises publicly available recall information from the UK DVSA recall dataset and German motoring press, as of October 2026. Recall scope, build dates and remedy details are subject to change by the manufacturer. Always confirm your specific car's status by VIN at peugeot.co.za or by calling Peugeot SA customer care on 0860 738 472 before relying on any information here. Out-of-recall prices are indicative ranges only, not quotes; prices vary by condition, mileage, supplier and labour rate. Pro Peugeot Spares is an independent parts supplier and is not affiliated with Stellantis or Peugeot South Africa.