Which Peugeot engines have known problems? PureTech, BlueHDi and THP

A few Peugeot engines have known problems that the manufacturer itself acknowledges, or that the ANWB, consumer organisations and parts manufacturers describe. The same engines are often fitted to Citroën, DS and Opel cars too. Below you can read, engine by engine, what the issue is, which build years are involved and what you can do as an owner.

By the team at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, RDW-approved APK (MOT) test station since 1979 · Updated 4 November 2026

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The short answer

The best-known problem engine at Peugeot is the 1.2 PureTech petrol engine with a timing belt that runs in oil. Stellantis acknowledges excessive oil consumption and premature degradation of the timing belt on previous generations of the PureTech 1.0 and 1.2, and has extended the warranty for these problems, subject to conditions, to 10 years or 180,000 km. For diesels, mainly from Peugeot and Citroën, the Belgian consumer organisation Testaankoop reported complaints about AdBlue warnings in 2023. We can check which engine your Peugeot has from your registration number.

Which Peugeot engines have known problems?

Three Peugeot engine families have problems that have been described by the manufacturer, the ANWB (the Dutch motoring organisation), a consumer organisation or a consumer programme. They are the PureTech petrol engine, the AdBlue system of the BlueHDi diesels and the timing chain of the older THP petrol engine.

Engine Fuel Known problem Period according to the source
1.0 and 1.2 PureTech (previous generations) Petrol Premature wear of the timing belt and excessive oil consumption Mainly 2014 to 2017 (ANWB, legal advice), for the 1.2: 2014 to 2019 inclusive (ANWB, PureTech engine)
BlueHDi (diesel with AdBlue) Diesel AdBlue warning that stays on after topping up Complaints reported in May 2023, mainly Peugeot and Citroën (Testaankoop)
THP (Turbo High Pressure) Petrol Timing chain could stretch, a known problem according to Radar (2012) From 2007 (Radar)

Sources: Stellantis, ANWB, Testaankoop and Radar (AVROTROS). Checked on 5 November 2026.

Not every Peugeot with these engines develops problems. Maintenance, driving style and the version of the engine all play a part. That is why the engine code matters more than the model name.

What is the problem with the 1.2 PureTech?

The problem with the 1.2 PureTech is that the timing belt, which runs in the engine oil, can wear too early. For previous generations of the PureTech 1.0 and 1.2, Stellantis refers to excessive oil consumption and premature degradation of the timing belt. According to the ANWB, most complaints concern the timing belt. The ANWB also mentions complaints about high oil consumption and problems with the camshaft and the crankshaft.

Parts manufacturer NTN-SNR explains how the wear happens. Unburnt fuel gets into the oil and makes it abrasive. This happens mainly on cars that cover less than 15,000 km a year, mostly in town. Particles that come loose from the belt can block the oil strainer and the vacuum pump. If the vacuum pump fails, the brake servo stops working and, according to NTN-SNR, you have to press the brake pedal much harder.

  • Engine codes according to NTN-SNR: EB2 DT (110 hp), EB2 DTS (130 hp), EB2 ADTD (100 hp) and EB2 ADTX (155 hp).
  • Peugeot models in the NTN-SNR overview: 208, 2008, 308, 3008, 5008, Partner and Rifter.
  • Other makes: Citroën, DS and Opel use the same engine in some of their models, as does the Toyota ProAce City.

The 1.2 PureTech in the mild hybrid versions does not have a belt in oil. According to the ANWB, these versions use a timing chain from late 2023. For more about the complaints, the warning signs and replacement, see our page on PureTech engine problems. Which other makes have a belt in oil is shown in our overview of cars with a wet timing belt.

What warranty does Stellantis give on the PureTech engine?

Stellantis has extended the warranty on previous generations of the PureTech 1.0 and 1.2, subject to conditions, to 10 years or 180,000 kilometres. This is stated in a Stellantis press release of 7 May 2025. The extension covers excessive oil consumption and premature degradation of the timing belt. Stellantis mentions cover of 100 percent of the cost of parts and labour, subject to certain conditions. According to Stellantis, this warranty extension has been in place since March 2024.

  • Costs already paid: according to Stellantis, costs you incurred for these problems between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024 can be reimbursed. You apply through the online platform stellantis-support.com. According to Stellantis, this platform is opening step by step to customers in Europe.
  • Maintenance: according to Stellantis, the car must have been serviced according to the manufacturer’s maintenance plan by an automotive professional.
  • Diagnosis and repair: for reimbursement, Stellantis says both the diagnosis and the repair must have been carried out through the authorised network.
  • Servicing at another garage: according to the ANWB, the servicing may also have been done at a garage other than the dealer. It must have been carried out according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Read the Stellantis terms for your own car before you have any repair done. If you suspect a problem with the belt or the oil consumption of your PureTech and your car may fall under the warranty scheme, contact a Peugeot dealer first. According to Stellantis, diagnosis and repair must go through the brand’s dealer network to qualify for reimbursement.

What problems are there with the BlueHDi diesel and AdBlue?

There were complaints about AdBlue warnings on diesels, mainly from Peugeot and Citroën. This was reported by the Belgian consumer organisation Testaankoop in May 2023. According to Testaankoop, consumer organisations across Europe received complaints. At Peugeot, the diesels with AdBlue are called BlueHDi. AdBlue is a fluid that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions through the SCR system.

  • The warning that the AdBlue is nearly empty stays on, even after topping up.
  • A fault message appears, or the car counts down to the moment when it will no longer be allowed to start.
  • If the car registers the AdBlue as empty, the engine will no longer start.

Testaankoop does not give build years or engine codes. Not every AdBlue warning has the same cause. The problem can be in the tank, the pump, the heater or a sensor, for example. Read more in our article on an AdBlue fault and its causes (in Dutch). With car diagnostics we read the fault code before anything is replaced.

What was the issue with the THP engine?

On the THP petrol engine, the timing chain could stretch. According to the Dutch consumer programme Radar (2012), this was a known problem. According to Radar, the THP (Turbo High Pressure) was fitted from 2007 to various Peugeot and Citroën models and to the Mini Cooper S, and a stretched chain could lead to a sudden loss of power.

The source does not say what has been arranged for this engine since then. If you have an older Peugeot with a THP engine, read which signs point to a stretched timing chain (in Dutch).

How do you check whether your Peugeot has a recall or scheme?

You check for a recall by registration number in the RDW registration check (in Dutch). The RDW is the Dutch vehicle authority. At the bottom of the Overzicht (overview) tab you can see whether a recall (terugroepactie) is open. According to the ANWB, Stellantis started a recall for PureTech cars built in 2017 and 2018, because of problems with the brake servo and the timing drive. According to the ANWB, many owners have not yet received a letter about it.

  1. Look up your registration number in the RDW registration check and look at the bottom of the Overzicht tab, under Terugroepacties (recalls).
  2. If a recall is open, book an appointment with a Peugeot dealer. According to the ANWB, the inspection and the repair are then free of charge.
  3. Nothing open, but your car has a PureTech from a previous generation? Then ask a Peugeot dealer whether the Stellantis warranty scheme applies to your car.
  4. Want to know which engine your Peugeot has? Call us with your registration number and we will check which engine you have.

Is the APK (MOT), the compulsory Dutch vehicle inspection, coming up for your Peugeot? Then check the RDW registration check beforehand for an open recall. Have any recall carried out by a Peugeot dealer.

What can you do yourself as a Peugeot owner?

The best protection is servicing according to the Peugeot schedule, with oil that meets the prescribed specification. This is also a condition of the Stellantis warranty scheme. So keep all your service invoices.

  1. Have the oil changed as soon as the service schedule or the service reminder says so. NTN-SNR advises changing the oil every year on a PureTech that is driven little.
  2. Check the oil level regularly. A PureTech that uses a lot of oil may point to the problem that Stellantis acknowledges.
  3. If the brake pedal suddenly feels heavy or the oil warning light comes on, have the car checked straight away.
  4. Have the timing belt replaced at the moment the service schedule for your engine prescribes.

During a service for your Peugeot we follow the Peugeot schedule and use oil that meets the prescribed specification. If the wet timing belt needs replacing, you get a quote in advance based on your registration number, and we only carry out repairs with your approval. If your car may fall under the Stellantis warranty scheme, we tell you beforehand. According to Stellantis, diagnosis and repair then go through the brand’s dealer network.

Frequently asked questions

Which Peugeot engine is the most reliable?

There is no official ranking. According to the ANWB, the 1.2 PureTech in the mild hybrid versions has had a timing chain instead of a belt in oil since late 2023. For a used Peugeot, the service history matters at least as much as the engine type.

Does this also apply to Citroën, DS and Opel?

Yes. The PureTech engine and the BlueHDi diesels are also fitted to Citroën, DS and Opel models. According to Stellantis, its warranty scheme for the PureTech applies to Citroën, DS, Opel and Peugeot. We can check which engine your car has from your registration number.

What has changed in the PureTech in newer Peugeots?

According to Stellantis, the current PureTech engines, which are derived from the previous generations, have been heavily revised, with 70 percent new parts. According to the ANWB, the mild hybrid versions use a timing chain from late 2023. We can check which version your Peugeot has from your registration number.

How do I know if my PureTech uses too much oil?

Check the oil level regularly with the dipstick, as described in the owner’s manual. If you have to top up a lot between two services, have this recorded. According to Stellantis, excessive oil consumption on previous generations is covered by the extended warranty, subject to conditions.

Can I have my Peugeot with a PureTech serviced at an independent garage?

Yes. According to the ANWB, the servicing may also be done at a garage other than the dealer, as long as it follows the manufacturer’s instructions. For reimbursement, however, Stellantis says diagnosis and repair must go through the brand’s dealer network. Read the terms of your manufacturer.

What should I do if I receive a recall letter?

Book an appointment with a Peugeot dealer and do not put it off. According to the RDW (in Dutch), the dealer repairs the problem free of charge in a recall.

Not sure about the engine in your Peugeot?

Call us on +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number. We check which engine you have and what the service schedule prescribes, and you get a quote in advance.

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip). We work by appointment. For a quick question or check you can walk in without an appointment.

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