Peugeot Starter Relay Fire Recall (A12/0571/17): 308 & 508 Owners — Check Your VIN

If you own a Peugeot 308 or 508 built between 23 May 2016 and 28 September 2016, your starter motor relay may be sitting on the most serious recall on the Peugeot SA list — Rapex A12/0571/17. The relay can stick closed, leaving the starter motor engaged after the engine fires. The starter overheats, melts its plastic casing, and can ignite engine-bay wiring. The recall was issued in May 2017 and remains open at Peugeot SA dealers.

What the recall covers

The starter motor relay supplied to PSA in mid-2016 had an internal component out of specification. The relay has two failure modes:

• Stuck open — the starter never engages. Inconvenient but not dangerous.
• Stuck closed — the relay keeps the starter engaged after the engine has fired, or starts cranking spontaneously when the car is parked. The starter motor is designed for brief duty cycles (a few seconds). Continuous engagement causes the windings to overheat, melt the surrounding plastic, and in the worst case ignite adjacent wiring.

A12/0571/17 was issued as a Rapex safety alert by the European Commission. The remedy is straightforward — the dealer replaces the relay with a corrected-spec part. Job time is under an hour.

Which cars are affected

A12/0571/17 covers Peugeot 308 and Peugeot 508 cars built between 23 May 2016 and 28 September 2016. The same recall was issued in Australia covering the same models and build window. Stellantis SA mirrors the global safety-critical campaign.

The recall does NOT apply to 308 or 508 cars built outside that four-month window, Mk1 508 cars from before the 2014 facelift (different starter system), or other Peugeot models. Do not assume scope from registration date alone — build date is what matters, and SA-imported cars often carry build dates 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 A12/0571/17.
3. Any authorised Peugeot dealer — service advisors can pull the VIN against the recall database.

The campaign remains open in 2026. If you have not actioned this recall on a 308 or 508 built in the affected window, it is still free.

What Peugeot does for free under the recall

The dealer locates the engine-bay fuse box, removes the affected relay, fits the corrected-spec replacement, tests starter operation, and inspects the starter motor for heat damage from prior stuck-closed events. If the starter itself shows heat damage (melted plastic solenoid casing, scorched wiring), it is usually also replaced under the recall — determined on inspection.

What if you are outside the recall window

If your 308 or 508 was built outside 23 May to 28 September 2016 but the starter is misbehaving, the recall does not apply but the symptom is real. SA replacement costs out-of-recall:

• Starter relay only (DIY) — R 450 – R 1,200, 15-minute job in the engine-bay fuse box, no special tools
• Starter relay (workshop) — R 900 – R 1,800 fitted at an independent specialist
• Full starter motor replacement — R 3,500 – R 8,500 fitted, OEM Bosch or Valeo

Starter dragging on cranking = worn brushes (typical at 100,000+ km in SA). Cranks but engine won't catch = relay is the more likely culprit. A workshop scope of the starter circuit with a multimeter takes 20 minutes and tells you which path to take.

Need a starter or relay outside the recall window?

If your VIN is not covered by A12/0571/17 but the car will not crank, we stock OEM Bosch and Valeo starter motors and replacement relays for Peugeot 308 and 508 across all model years at SA prices. Send your VIN and we will source the right part for your engine variant.

Get a Quote →

Symptoms to watch for

If you have any of these on a 308 or 508 built in 2016, treat them as urgent:

• Engine intermittently fails to crank — key turn, lights on, no starter engagement
• Starter cranks unexpectedly when the car is parked and switched off — most dangerous symptom, relay stuck closed
• Burning electrical smell from the engine bay — relay overheating
• Door mirrors fail to deploy when unlocking — voltage cascade caused by parasitic relay draw
• Voltage drop or dim cabin lights at start-up
• In the worst case — smoke or fire under the bonnet

Forum owners report the most common giveaway is mirrors not unfolding at unlock — the relay drawing voltage it should not be, dragging the system below the threshold that triggers comfort functions. If you smell burning or see smoke, do not drive the car or park it inside a garage. Have it towed flatbed to the nearest dealer.

SA summer temperatures are harder on starter relays than European conditions, so a marginal relay fails faster here than the recall window would suggest. If you are in the affected window in Joburg, Pretoria or Durban, do not wait for the next service to action the recall.

Related Peugeot recall guides

You can also browse our full Peugeot 308 parts and Peugeot 508 parts catalogues, or jump straight to the starter motor parts category.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if my Peugeot 308 or 508 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 and ask about A12/0571/17, or walk in to any authorised Peugeot dealer.

Does the A12/0571/17 recall apply in South Africa?

Yes. Stellantis SA mirrors the global safety-critical recalls. If your car was built between 23 May 2016 and 28 September 2016 the free relay replacement is available at any authorised Peugeot SA dealer regardless of mileage or warranty status.

How much does the starter relay recall cost?

R0. The relay and labour are both free. If the starter motor itself has been damaged by a previously stuck relay, replacement is usually also covered. Out-of-recall: R 450 – R 1,200 for the relay DIY, R 900 – R 1,800 fitted at an independent.

What happens if I ignore the starter relay recall?

The relay can stick closed and leave the starter engaged after the engine fires. The starter overheats, melts its plastic casing, and can ignite engine-bay wiring. Fires have been reported across multiple markets. If you ignore the recall and have a fire, your insurance may decline the claim.

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

You can, but you should disclose it. Section 55 of the SA Consumer Protection Act implies a warranty of quality and selling with an undisclosed open fire-risk recall exposes you to serious liability. Book the free swap before listing.

Is it safe to drive an affected car until the recall is done?

If you have no symptoms — car cranks normally, no burning smell, mirrors deploy at unlock — short trips to the dealer are reasonable. Avoid overnight parking in an attached garage. If you have any symptoms, park outdoors and have the car towed.

Get your 308 or 508 sorted

If the recall applies, book the relay swap immediately. It is free, takes under an hour, and removes the single highest-risk safety defect on your car. If you are outside the recall window and the starter is misbehaving, send us your VIN and the symptom and we will source the right relay or starter motor for your specific build.

Sources

1. Rapex A12/0571/17 — Peugeot 508 starter motor relay recall — Car-Recalls.eu official record
2. Peugeot 308, 508 recalled to fix starter issue — Behind the Wheel (Australian market confirmation)
3. Used Peugeot 508 — starter relay and power supply recall — What Car?
4. Peugeot 508 starting problems — owner thread — Peugeot Forums (tollbit-gated)

Important Disclaimer

This article summarises publicly available recall information from European safety alerts (Rapex), Australian Department of Infrastructure records, Stellantis communications and owner forums as of July 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 parts 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.