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. Owners report the dashboard message "Electric traction system fault" alongside the air-con failing to cool, with no other advance warning.

The remedy is a free software reprogram of the Powertrain Diagnosis ECU (Stellantis service campaign MF9). The reflash teaches the ECU to ignore the specific fault signature without cutting drive, so even if the compressor wiring later fails, the car remains driveable. Stellantis quotes 30 minutes for the update; owners report 30 to 60 minutes in practice, and in some markets it can be delivered over the air rather than at the dealer.

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 the Stellantis-wide campaign covers 434,314 electric vehicles worldwide across Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Fiat, Opel and Vauxhall, all of which share the same electric AC compressor.

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 — a dealer can see campaign detail the public tool does not surface.

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. Out-of-recall Valeo AC compressor replacement on a 208 or 2008 typically runs:

• Aftermarket compressor only: R 12,500 – R 18,500
• OEM Valeo compressor only: R 18,000 – R 26,000
• 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 stock OEM Valeo and quality aftermarket AC compressors for Peugeot 208, 2008, 308 and 3008 at SA prices — plus driers, expansion valves and flush kits for the full job. Send us your VIN and we will source the right compressor for your engine variant.

Get a Quote →

Symptoms to watch for

The wiring fault degrades gradually. Catch the early signs and you can book the reflash before the powertrain ever cuts:

• AC stops cooling intermittently — works fine on a long drive, then fails on the next start
• AC and powertrain warning lights together on the dashboard
• Random "Electric traction system fault" messages clearing on the next power-up
• In advanced cases — sudden loss of drive at speed, with the car coasting to a stop

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 — a dealer can see campaign detail the public tool does not surface.

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, and Stellantis generally extends safety-critical campaigns to every market where an affected car was sold. 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?

No. The MF9 update is locked to the Stellantis dealer diagnostic platform. Use the dealer for the recall and your 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 Valeo or aftermarket compressor for your specific engine variant. We stock for every Peugeot 208 and 2008 sold in SA, with nationwide delivery.

Sources

1. Recall PEUGEOT R/2023/140 — AC compressor stator wiring — UK DVSA recall record
2. Peugeot 208 Recalls — Safety and Technical Recalls — Autoinsider
3. Recall due to AC-compressor — MF9 software campaign — Peugeot Forums owner thread (tollbit-gated)
4. AC Compressor — owner thread (£1,700 dealer quote) — Peugeot Forums (tollbit-gated)
5. Used Peugeot 2008 (2019-present) Reliability — What Car?
6. Stellantis-Rückruf: Über 400.000 Elektrofahrzeuge betroffen (KBA 012795, campaign MF9) — auto motor und sport

Important Disclaimer

This article summarises publicly available recall information from the UK DVSA, Stellantis communications and owner forums as of June 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. Pricing for out-of-recall replacement is indicative SA market range and may vary by region, dealer and component condition. Pro Peugeot Spares is an independent parts supplier and is not affiliated with Stellantis or Peugeot South Africa.