Peugeot e-208 Electric Reliability

Stylish electric city car with decent range and fast charging. The e-208 shares its platform with the Opel Corsa-e and uses a proven electric drivetrain. Main concerns: 12V auxiliary battery drain, onboard charger failures (€8,000 repair), touchscreen freezing, and disappointing winter range. Battery degradation is generally acceptable. Early cars (2019-2022) lack a heat pump. A facelift in late 2022 brought larger 51 kWh battery, standard heat pump, and improved range. AC compressor recall (campaign MF9) affects some models.

Expected Annual Maintenance Costs

€600 - €1,000/year

15,000 km/year

Fixed costs

€350-550

Risk buffer

€250-450

What Can Break bars = likelihood

12V auxiliary battery drain €100 - €300

DC-DC converter or battery fails, car won't start or charge · more· less

The e-208 has known issues with 12V battery drain, particularly when using the app frequently (which wakes the car) or doing mostly short journeys. The 12V system charges from the traction battery via a DC-DC converter, but only when the car is running. If journeys are mostly short, it ends up at poor charge level. Some owners needed the DC-DC converter replaced. If the battery goes completely flat, it typically needs replacement as lead-acid batteries don't survive being run down to zero. Cost: replacement battery €100-250 plus €60-100 labor, or €300-600 if DC-DC converter needs replacing. Prevention: connect a trickle charger every few weeks if car sits unused.

Onboard charger failure €3,000 - €8,000

Charging unpredictable or stops after 10 min, typically at 10-12k miles · more· less

The e-208 and e-2008 have experienced onboard charger failures, typically around 10,000-12,000 miles. Symptoms: car sometimes charges fully, other times only for 10 minutes or 2 hours, with app showing 'Charge interrupted'. The white light near charger indicates plugged in but not charging. Replacement costs around €8,000 if out of warranty, but is covered under the 8-year Peugeot Care warranty. The e-208 also has a known firmware issue: it will start charging correctly if paused 9 times, but the tenth time further charging is blocked as a safety feature. Peugeot has been testing updated firmware to increase allowed interruptions.

Touchscreen frozen / unresponsive €200 - €1,000

Screen freezes or doesn't respond, software or hardware fault · more· less

Many e-208 owners have experienced touchscreen problems - this is a known fault with a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) issued by Peugeot. First try: press and hold the "Phone" piano key for 10+ seconds to reboot. If that doesn't work, remove fuse 18 from dashboard fuses for a few seconds. Some cases are cooling issues with loose FAN connectors needing tension and cleaning. If DIY fixes don't work, dealer software upgrade may be needed (€100-200), or in severe cases, new touchscreen required. Dealer replacement: €900-1,000. Specialist repair services: €220-400. Some cases covered under warranty.

Battery degradation €0 - €15,000

State of Health drops, typical 1-2% per year, some report faster · more· less

Battery degradation on the e-208 varies significantly between cars. General expectation: lose 1-2% potential range per year. Some owners report 96.4% State of Health after 7,300 km (2022 model), while others show 99.33% after 10,000 km. One owner lost 10% capacity after 15,666 miles in 11 months. However, there are no widespread reports of faster-than-usual degradation. Real-world range: owners typically get 130-190 miles per charge when new (pre-facelift 46 kWh), dropping to 110 miles in very cold winter conditions. Battery is covered by 8-year / 160,000 km warranty with 70% capacity guarantee. Replacement cost out of warranty would be €10,000-15,000+ but this is extremely rare within first 8 years.

Interior trim rattles €0 - €300

Loose door cards, A-pillar, dashboard trim, broken clips · more· less

Many e-208 owners report rattling from doors and cockpit on less-smooth roads, some experiencing these issues after just 1,000 km on new cars. Common problem areas: A-pillar/windscreen pillar trim (buzzing when pressing), door cards (broken plastic clips), dashboard area (vibration even on flat roads), boot lid plastic cover (cheap blue clips). Dealers typically repair under warranty by replacing broken clips or tightening assemblies. Out of warranty cost: €50-100 per clip/trim piece replacement, labor €100-200 if multiple areas affected. Most owners recommend taking to dealer for warranty repairs.

Electric traction system fault €500 - €8,000

Red warning, complete loss of power, 12V or inverter related · more· less

Common "electric traction system fault" warnings result in complete loss of power while driving. Often caused by undervoltage on 12V bus when the 12V battery isn't being charged properly by the inverter module (DC-DC converter), causing traction ECUs to shut down. Also related to AC compressor issues (recall MF9 addresses this with software update). In severe cases, Peugeot has replaced motor and traction battery under warranty. Repair costs vary: inverter module replacement €500-1,000, motor or battery replacement €6,000-8,000+ (covered under warranty). The MF9 recall software prevents traction fault from occurring solely due to AC compressor being faulty.

Poor winter range N/A

Range drops to 110-150 km in winter, heater uses 7-8 kW · more· less

This isn't a fault but a characteristic of the e-208, especially pre-2022 models without heat pump. At 0°C with 92% battery, owners report only 150 km range versus promised 315 km. Winter consumption typically reaches 30 kWh/100km versus 15-18 kWh/100km in summer. The electrical heater is very powerful (several kilowatts) and significantly cuts range if set high. Pre-heating at -7°C uses 7-8 kW initially, then 1-4 kW. Post-2022 facelift models have standard heat pump which improves winter performance. Best practice: precondition car while plugged in, use heated seats (300W) instead of high cabin heat, expect 50% range reduction in cold weather. Not a repair cost, but important for realistic expectations.

Reasonably reliable EV, but watch for 12V and charging issues

The e-208 is generally dependable with no major drivetrain problems. The electric motor and main battery are robust. Most issues relate to auxiliary systems: 12V battery drain is common but preventable, onboard charger failures are rare but expensive (covered by warranty), and touchscreen glitches are a known Peugeot issue. Winter range is disappointing, especially on pre-2022 cars without heat pump. Overall, a solid electric city car if you understand its limitations and keep up with recalls.

Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

General checks

Service history
Complete Peugeot dealer or authorized specialist records. EVs have longer service intervals (every 2 years / 16,000 miles).
Tires
Check tread depth, age (date codes), uneven wear. Standard size: 195/55R16 (€60-150 per tire).
Visual inspection
Check for dings, dents, scratches, kerbed alloys. Look for signs of accident damage.
Test drive
Minimum 20 minutes including highway speeds. Listen for rattles, test all electronics.
Ownership history
HPI check for outstanding finance. Avoid ex-driving school cars which may have been abused.

Specific for this vehicle

Request battery State of Health diagnostic
Dealer charges around €80 for test. Anything above 85% at 50,000+ km is acceptable. Below 80% may indicate issues.
Verify battery size: 46 kWh or 51 kWh
Pre-2022: 46.2 kWh usable (211 mi range). Late 2022+: 50.8 kWh (254 mi range). Check specifications carefully.
Test 12V auxiliary battery
Leave car off for 3-4 days before viewing if possible. Does it start normally? Check if warning lights appear.
Check for heat pump (2022+ models)
Cars built after September 2022 have standard heat pump. Verify build date and specifications.
Test touchscreen thoroughly
Press every button, test climate controls, navigation, phone pairing. Watch for freezing or lag.
Listen for interior rattles
Drive over rough roads. Check A-pillars, door cards, dashboard for rattles or loose trim.
Verify AC compressor recall completed
Campaign MF9 affects cars built around Dec 2021. Check with Peugeot dealer using VIN.
Test charging at home and rapid charger
Verify both AC (7.4 kW) and DC (100 kW) charging work properly. Unpredictable charging indicates onboard charger issues.
Check real-world range display
After full charge, what does range display show? Compare to WLTP spec (211 mi or 254 mi depending on battery).

Recalls and Technical Service Bulletins

AC compressor traction fault (MF9, Dec 2021) Verify completed

A-pillar trim detachment (Jun-Nov 2023) Verify completed

Steering geometry (Sep 2019 - Mar 2020) Verify completed

Touchscreen frozen/unresponsive (TSB) Software update available

Tires with non-conforming rubber (Feb-Mar 2023) Verify completed

Contact Peugeot dealer with VIN to verify all recalls completed. The AC compressor recall (MF9) is particularly important as it prevents complete loss of power. The touchscreen TSB has a software fix available at dealers.

Warranty Status

Factory warranty (2 years) Check if active

Peugeot Care extended warranty Up to 8 years / 160,000 km

Battery warranty 8 years / 160,000 km, 70% capacity

Electric motor & charger coverage 8 years / 160,000 km (Peugeot Care)

All e-208 models get 2-year factory warranty from purchase. Peugeot Care warranty (formerly Allure Care) extends coverage to 8 years/160,000 km for electric motor, charger, transmission, and key components. It's applied automatically and extended with each dealer service (+16,000 miles per service, up to 100,000 miles total). Battery gets separate 8-year/160,000 km warranty with 70% capacity guarantee. Check if car has service history to confirm warranty is still active. Warranty is transferable to new owner if car is sold.

This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Estimates may be inaccurate. Always have a qualified specialist inspect the vehicle before purchase. We accept no liability for decisions made based on this information.