The Peugeot Rifter is a passenger van or an MPV that was first revealed by Peugeot back in 2017 and has since been in continuous production ever since. The Rifter seems to be a fairly popular van in Europe where some people use it for personal use while others use it for commercial use as well. This means that the Rifter is also a fairly popular fleet vehicle option.
In order for a car to be bought in such quantity, it needs to be able to stand the test of time which means that it shouldn’t break down or be notoriously unreliable. In this article, we will go over all the common problems with Peugeot Rifter and tell you what you need to look out for if you are in the market for one.
The most common problems with Peugeot Rifter include problems with the handbrake, slow acceleration, problems with the steering system, fuel leaks, and issues with the seatbelts. Many of these issues were part of various recalls over the years which are not uncommon for any cars, but sure are worth a mention.
If you are after one of these, it would be a good idea to do a pre-purchase inspection as some of these were company vehicles which means that they weren’t driven by their original owners and are as such, often not taken care of properly.
Handbrake Issues
One of the most talked about issues with the Rifter is associated with the handbrake which can potentially disengage and cause the car to roll on its own which can be a huge issue. It seems like this issue is mostly linked to the 2018 Rifter which is why Peugeot recalled it to combat this issue. Any Peugeot dealer will be able to tell you if the model you are interested in has been included in this recall.
Most vehicles have been repaired and should be safe, but there are always those that haven’t been repaired properly or haven’t been recalled at all. As such, do your due diligence and check if the one you are looking at has been part of this recall.
Slow Acceleration
There have been quite a few complaints about the Rifter not providing enough power or even stalling on certain occasions. These can be caused by a few issues we are now going to mention in greater detail. The mass airflow sensor should be your main point of interest as it can get clogged and dirty and thus block the correct amount of fuel and air to enter the combustion chamber.
You should also check your fuel filter which can become clogged surprisingly quickly if the fuel you are using isn’t all that premium. The cats can also be the reason, and so can a faulty oxygen sensor. To top it all off, it is advisable to check the throttle body and the throttle position sensor as both of these can cause similar issues.
Steering System Issues
The steering system on the Rifter has been the reason why the car was recalled by Peugeot multiple times. The first recall took place back in 2019 when it determined that the entire steering column has been produced according to all the necessary specifications and thus could fail at any point and rob you of steering control.
The other issue is associated with the inner tie rods which suffer from a really similar issue. All in all, be sure to inspect both of these systems and contact a Peugeot dealer and ask about both and if your Rifter needs anything to be checked.
Fuel Leaks
Fuel leaks are not all that uncommon with Peugeot models and the Rifter is no different. The first-gen Rifter is known for a specific cabling and software issue that can cause the fuel to leak. This affects cars made between 2017 and 2021 and there have been instances where these even caught on fire due to leftover fuel in the heater.
The other fuel-related problem is linked to the 2019-2020 Rifter where the fuel pump hasn’t always been properly tightened to the engine which can cause leaks as well.
Seatbelt Issues
There have also been a fair bit of complaints about the seatbelts with the Rifter where the car seatbelts haven’t been made according to the necessary standards at the time they were manufactured. This has caused potential problems where the seatbelts will not offer enough physical restraint to keep you in your place in an event of an accident.
FAQ Section
Should I buy a Peugeot Rifter?
If you are interested in buying a well-thought-out MPV that can be used both for commercial and private uses, the Rifter is actually a really good choice. It offers more than enough seating space and is a decently reliable car as well.
It is comfortable enough for long-distance journeys, yet is docile enough to be used as a daily driver. It isn’t too large, yet it isn’t compact either. It is a purpose-made MPV that fits perfectly into most small business needs, but it can also serve as a really good family car due to it being quiet, safe, and relatively efficient.
Which cars rival the Peugeot Rifter?
First of all, the Rifter faces some serious competition from its own Stellantis-owned brother brands such as the Citreon C3 Berlingo. The Berlingo is really similar to the Rifter as these two share quite a bit of parts with each other.
The VW Caddy is somewhat of a legend in this segment and is really closely matched with the Citroen and the Peugeot. Finally, we also need to mention the Ford Tourner Connect which is Ford’s take on what a small MPV should be like.
Is the Peugeot Rifter available as an EV?
Yes, the Peugeot Rifter electric version is called the e-Rifter and it uses a familiar Stellantis 50kWh battery that offers 136hp 180 miles on a full charge. It can be recharged using a 100kW DC fast charger which should replenish the battery from 20% to 80% in a little over 25 minutes.