Risk of battery fire with 90,000 Citroën, DS, Opel and Peugeot hybrids

22/05/2023

Problems with the drive battery or its mounting are currently leading to numerous recalls for electric cars in the Stellantis Group.

The list of authorities includes the makes Citroën, DS, Opel and Peugeot with their models C5 Aircross, DS7 Crossback, Grandland, as well as 508 and 3008. The recall with the internal codes “JHW” (Citroën and DS), “KC5” (Opel) and “MA5” (Peugeot) are announced for the plug-in hybrid variants (PHEV).

The reason for the measure is water ingress, which can lead to rusting through the battery reinforcement and the battery box. This can, in the worst case, cause the battery or the whole vehicle to catch fire.

The authorized workshops check and improve the corrosion protection of the battery box. In addition, they drill drainage holes for incoming water if necessary. According to a Stellantis Group DE spokeswoman, the job takes 30 to 45 minutes and is scheduled for over 90,000 PHEV models built between 2019 and 2023. Germany accounts for around 32,000 units.

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With the exception of Opel, a further recall is still pending for the model series mentioned. This applies not only to the PHEV models but also to the all-electric (BEV). A software update of the battery controller is supposed to exclude a future fire in the energy storage unit. “If a non-compliance of the traction battery is detected, the traction battery will be replaced,” the spokesperson announced.

So far, the total number of units mentioned by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) in connection with the recall codes “JQD“, “JQE” (DS7 Crossback and Citroën C5 Aircross), “MEH“, and “MEJ” (Peugeot 3008 and 508) is over 127,000 units worldwide, of which around 13,400 are on the German market.

However, other authorities also report “JQF” and “MEG” identifiers, so the number could still rise. The (partially) electrified vehicles of the model years 2019 to 2022 are in authorized workshops for up to three hours. The KBA has yet to decide whether the authorities will monitor all the measures described here.

Source: kfz-rueckrufe.de

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