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

If you own a 2016-built Peugeot, your starter motor relay may be covered by Rapex safety alert A12/0571/17. The UK campaign behind it, DVSA reference R/2017/140, is listed against the 208, 2008, 308, 3008, 508 and Traveller, and each model line has its own build-date window — 23 May to 28 September 2016 for the 508, 20 June to 7 October 2016 for the 308, with the campaign as a whole running from 15 May to 12 October 2016. Only a VIN check settles whether your car is in scope. 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 EU alert was published on 5 May 2017; the UK campaign behind it, R/2017/140, is dated 24 April 2017.

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 is one EU alert covering several Peugeot model lines built in 2016. The UK campaign behind it, DVSA reference R/2017/140, is listed against the 208, 2008, 308, 3008, 508 and Traveller, and each model line has its own build-date window — 23 May to 28 September 2016 for the 508, 20 June to 7 October 2016 for the 308. DVSA gives the campaign as a whole a build range of 15 May to 12 October 2016. We have not been able to source a published window for every model on that list, so the model name alone does not tell you whether your car is covered — only the VIN does.

Australia ran a related but separate starter recall on the 308 and 508. That one is a different defect: the starter motor 12V connection lug may be fitted incorrectly and touch a metal component, causing a short circuit. It covers roughly 1,000 cars sold between November 2014 and March 2017, and the UK equivalent is DVSA reference R/2017/215, a separate campaign from R/2017/140.

Cars built outside your own model's window are not covered by this campaign — the scope is set by build date, not by model year, trim or facelift. 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. If you are not certain, check the VIN rather than ruling yourself in or out from this page.

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 — give them your 17-character VIN; that is what their system searches on. If it helps, describe it as the 2016 starter motor relay recall (EU alert A12/0571/17, UK reference R/2017/140).
3. Any authorised Peugeot dealer — service advisors can pull the VIN against the recall database.

Recall work is not charged to the owner — the DVSA record for R/2017/140 states that you will not need to pay for anything involving the recall. Ask Peugeot SA to confirm against your VIN whether the campaign is still open on your car.

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. The published remedy is to check and, where necessary, replace the starter motor relay. If the starter motor itself shows heat damage (melted plastic solenoid casing, scorched wiring), ask the dealer whether that is covered too — collateral damage is often included, but it is decided on inspection and is not part of the published remedy.

What if you are outside the recall window

If your car was built outside its own model's window — 23 May to 28 September 2016 for the 508, 20 June to 7 October 2016 for the 308 — but the starter is misbehaving, the recall does not apply and the symptom is still 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 usually points to a worn starter motor rather than the relay. 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 2016-built Peugeot, 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
• Voltage drop or dim cabin lights at start-up
• In the worst case — smoke or fire under the bonnet

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.

If your VIN falls inside your model's window, action the recall now rather than waiting for the next service — a relay that is marginal today is not going to get better.

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 and give them the VIN — that is what their system searches on. If it helps, describe it as the 2016 starter motor relay recall (EU alert A12/0571/17, UK reference R/2017/140). Any authorised Peugeot dealer can run the same check.

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

We have not been able to confirm a published South African notice for A12/0571/17 — the alert was issued in Europe in May 2017. Where a car is in scope, the recall work is free to the owner. Do not assume you are covered, or that you are not, on the strength of this article: run the VIN check at peugeot.co.za or call Peugeot SA on 0860 738 472 and ask them to confirm.

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, ask the dealer whether that is covered too — it is decided on inspection and is not part of the published remedy. 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. Both the EU and UK regulators treat this as a fire risk — the EU alert rates it risk level 2, and the DVSA record says that in extreme cases there is a risk of fire.

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, no unexpected cranking — 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. DVSA recall R/2017/140 — starter motor may not operate correctly — UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (the manufacturer campaign behind A12/0571/17)
3. Rapex A12/0571/17 — Peugeot 308 record, build window 20 June – 7 October 2016 — Car-Recalls.eu
4. Peugeot recalling 308 and 508 in Australia — starter connection lug — Practical Motoring (the separate Australian campaign)
5. Used Peugeot 508 — starter relay and power supply recall — What Car?
6. Peugeot 508 starting problems — owner thread — Peugeot Forums (tollbit-gated)

Important Disclaimer

This article summarises publicly available recall information from European safety alerts (Rapex), UK DVSA recall records, Australian motoring media reports and owner forums, as of August 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.