A Peugeot 208 that whispers: small car, quiet horn, big recall

Peugeot is recalling the 208 because the horn fails to reach the legally required minimum loudness. KBA campaign 16357R, code MYU.

The Peugeot 208 has been hit by a recall for a reason that sounds almost funny but ties directly to safety. On some cars the horn turned out to be too quiet and does not reach the minimum loudness required by law.

The trouble is that in a critical situation other road users may simply fail to hear the warning. In the city this matters especially: a pedestrian, a cyclist or the driver of the next car often reacts to a short beep when there is almost no time left to manoeuvre.

The recall covers Peugeot 208s built between 1 September 2019 and 25 July 2022. Worldwide, 612,196 cars are affected. In Germany the service campaign concerns 34,850 vehicles and is supervised by the Federal Motor Transport Authority KBA. Campaign number — 16357R, manufacturer code — MYU.

The fix is simple: the horn will be swapped for a working version that meets the loudness requirements. Other components and the software do not need to be touched. Peugeot has not stated the exact duration of the work, but replacing a horn does not usually mean a long stay at the workshop.

Owners are to be notified directly. But there is no need to wait for the letter: you can contact a Peugeot dealer or an authorised workshop and quote code MYU.

This recall is a good reminder that safety is not only about airbags, brakes and electronics. Sometimes the problem comes from a small part the driver remembers once a week. But if it is not heard at the right moment, a “quiet” defect stops being a trifle.