Peugeot and DS Recall in France: Door Handles May Stop Working While the Engine Is On

French authorities have announced a recall of several Peugeot and DS models over a defect in the interior door handles. The issue affects vehicles built between 2022 and 2026, and is linked to the fact that the front and rear handles can deactivate while the engine is running. According to Caradisiac, Stellantis is recalling around 45,500 cars across the Peugeot, DS and Citroen brands in France — the campaign is listed on the RappelConso portal under reference SR/01735/26.

At first glance the fault sounds mundane, but the risk goes well beyond simple inconvenience. If a door cannot be opened from the inside while the car is running, it could prevent passengers from getting out after a crash, fire or other emergency. French outlet The Connexion separately recalls recent tragic cases of children left locked in cars during heatwaves, although those incidents were not linked to this manufacturing defect. Stellantis stresses that it is not aware of any accidents or injuries caused by the handle issue.

The recall covers the Peugeot 308 third generation, Peugeot 408, Peugeot 3008 V3 and Peugeot 5008 V3. On the DS side the list includes the second-generation DS 4, also known as the DS N°4, and the DS N°8. Owners need to check their VIN against the ranges published on the government RappelConso website. The VIN can be found on the vehicle’s registration document.

The production date ranges are broad. The Peugeot 3008 V3 is affected from 9 October 2023 to 9 July 2025, the Peugeot 308 V3 from 1 November 2023 to 12 February 2026, the Peugeot 408 from 3 November 2023 to 9 February 2026, and the Peugeot 5008 V3 from 5 December 2023 to 10 July 2025. The DS 4 is listed from 14 December 2022 to 9 February 2026, while the DS N°8 is covered from 27 March to 28 October 2025.

Owners of affected cars are advised to contact a Peugeot or DS dealer and book a service visit. The procedure itself is simple: technicians update the software of the Vehicle Surveillance Module (VSM), with the whole operation taking around 30 minutes and carried out free of charge as part of the factory safety campaign.

This case is a clear reminder that a dangerous defect is not always about the engine, the battery or the brakes. Sometimes the critical part is the simplest one — the handle that has to open the door precisely when every second counts.