Buying a used car with a 1.2 PureTech: what to check

That depends on the build year, the version and above all the servicing. According to the ANWB, the Dutch motoring organisation, 1.2 PureTech engines from the production years 2014 to 2019 sometimes suffer from timing belt wear. The newer PureTech engines, from late 2019 or 2020, are more reliable according to the ANWB and have fewer belt problems.

According to the ANWB, it has not been confirmed that the problems are solved for good. The ANWB says the mild hybrid versions have used a timing chain instead of a belt since 2023. That is why the ANWB advises choosing a version with a chain when buying used, where possible. What can go wrong technically and how to recognise the signs is explained on our main page about PureTech engine problems.

The 1.2 PureTech is fitted to many petrol versions of Peugeot, Citroën, DS and Opel. Parts manufacturer NTN-SNR names the 1.2 PureTech Turbo in these models, among others:

Source: NTN-SNR, TECHinfo 1.2 PureTech Turbo (June 2022). According to the ANWB, the PureTech is also fitted to some small Fiat and Jeep models. Checked on 6 November 2026.

Not every version of these models has this engine. A diesel, an electric version or a mild hybrid version does not have it. According to the ANWB, the 1.6 four-cylinder does not have a wet belt either. An overview by make and engine is in our article which cars have a wet timing belt. Looking at an Opel? Read our article on the Opel 1.2 Turbo engine.

Focus on what can be proven, not on what the seller says. The ANWB points to the condition of the timing belt, regular servicing with oil changes and any improvements made by a dealer. These steps help:

1. Ask for the service invoices. Check that every service was done on time, with the date and mileage. According to Stellantis, servicing according to the manufacturer’s maintenance plan counts for the compensation scheme.
2. Ask about the timing belt. Has the belt been replaced, and when? Is that on an invoice? According to NTN-SNR, the manufacturer advises checking the belt at every service.
3. Ask which oil was used. According to oil manufacturer MPM, Stellantis now specifies oil to FPW9.55535/03 (5W30) for the 1.2 PureTech engines with the code EB2, except the EB2LT. If the invoice only shows a viscosity and no specification, ask further.
4. Ask about oil consumption. Does the owner often top up the oil? Check that the oil level is between the minimum and maximum marks and whether there is a bottle of oil in the boot.
5. Check the recall. In the RDW registration check (in Dutch) you can see by registration number (the Dutch kenteken) whether a recall is open. The RDW is the Dutch vehicle authority. According to the ANWB, the PureTech recall applies to cars built in 2017 and 2018.
6. Watch for warnings. A red oil warning light that flickers briefly, an engine warning or a brake pedal that feels heavy are reasons not to buy without an inspection.

No. The timing belt is not an inspection point at the APK, the compulsory Dutch vehicle inspection (comparable to the MOT). Under engine, fuel systems and environment, the RDW APK manual lists items such as the engine mountings, the battery and wiring, and fluid leaks, but no timing belt or timing chain. A car with a fresh APK can still have a belt that needs replacing.

You cannot see it from the outside either, because the wet belt runs inside the engine. A copy of the latest service invoice tells you more than an APK report.

Whether a car is covered depends on its production date and its servicing. According to Stellantis, the extended warranty covers 100 per cent of parts and labour for premature belt wear or excessive oil consumption, for up to 10 years or 180,000 km (press release of 7 May 2025). On an older used car or one with a high mileage, the cover may therefore already have expired.

Diagnosis and repair under the scheme go through an authorised repairer of the brand. We do not run the scheme and do not decide on it. Everything about the conditions is in our article on the PureTech compensation scheme from Stellantis.

If you buy the car from a business and the belt turns out to be defective within 12 months of purchase, the ANWB says the fault is assumed to have been present at delivery. In that case the ANWB advises keeping the replaced parts as evidence. Contact the seller first. Read the terms of your purchase agreement.

The ANWB gives a general cost of around € 300 to as much as € 1,000 for replacing a timing belt (consulted November 2026). At our garage, replacing the wet belt of the 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech costs € 995, € 1,095 or € 1,250, depending on the model and engine. We look up which price applies from the registration number. The package includes the timing belt kit, the gaskets, new oil, a new oil filter and cleaning the oil strainer. The water pump is not included. If it needs replacing, we tell you in advance. The car is usually ready within a day. Take this amount into your negotiation if the belt on the car is due soon.

Not sure about a PureTech you want to buy? Call us with the registration number and we tell you what we can check for you. From the registration number we look up which engine the car has and what the manufacturer’s maintenance plan prescribes, including for the timing belt.

Once you have bought the car, we service it according to the manufacturer’s maintenance plan, with the oil Stellantis specifies for the engine. During a service we check the belt as the manufacturer prescribes. More about replacement is on our page about timing belt replacement in Rotterdam.

No, not in itself. A PureTech with a high mileage and proof of servicing according to the maintenance plan can be a better buy than a low-mileage car without invoices. Pay most attention to the timing belt, the oil used and the oil consumption.

According to the ANWB, the mild hybrid versions have had a timing chain since 2023. The ANWB says the 1.6 four-cylinder does not have a wet belt either. We can look up which engine a used car has from the registration number.

Yes, on the invoice. You cannot see it from the outside, because the belt runs inside the engine. So ask for an invoice with the date, the mileage and the parts that were replaced.

No, not without a reason. The right moment depends on what is prescribed for your engine and on what has already been done. We look up the prescribed interval from your registration number. If there are no invoices or there are complaints, have the car inspected first.

Yes, on the models that NTN-SNR names. NTN-SNR names the Opel Corsa, Crossland X, Grandland X and Mokka with this engine. Opel calls it the 1.2 Turbo. We check which engine the car has from the registration number.

In the RDW registration check. According to the RDW, the recall no longer shows there once the repair has been reported. If a recall is open, you make an appointment at the garage the manufacturer appoints, usually a main dealer. According to the RDW, the repair is free.

No, not as a separate service. Call us with the registration number of the car you want to buy and we tell you what we can check for you.

• ANWB: PureTech motor (PureTech engine, in Dutch)
• ANWB: Distributieriem vervangen (replacing the timing belt, in Dutch)
• NTN-SNR: TECHinfo 1.2 PureTech Turbo (June 2022)
• Stellantis: Stellantis extends compensation for claims from European consumers on older generation PureTech 1.0 and 1.2 engines (press release, 7 May 2025, in Dutch)
• Peugeot Netherlands: Verlengde garantie voor specifieke PureTech-motoren (extended warranty for specific PureTech engines, in Dutch)
• RDW: APK manual for passenger cars: engine, fuel systems and environment (in Dutch)