KNOWN FAULTS · Peugeot

Known faults for the Peugeot 301.

2012–2017 · Petrol / Diesel

Sources are not verified in real time and no entry confirms that your car is affected.

3 known faults with sources

Engines: 1.2 VTi / PureTech (Petrol)

Applies if: PSA 1.2 three-cylinder EB2 engine (PureTech).

Oil-bath timing belt degradationTiming / lubrication

Engine / equipment: 1.0 / 1.2 PureTech (EB2) in the Peugeot 208/2008/308/3008/5008, Citroën C3/C4/C5 Aircross, DS 3, Opel Corsa/Crossland/Grandland
Period mentioned: 2012 – approx. 2022
Symptoms: Oil pressure warning, hard brake pedal or reduced assistance, oil consumption, blue smoke, squeal at the front of the engine, turbo whistles or loses power.
Possible cause described: The timing belt runs in oil and degrades (especially with short trips and fuel dilution). Debris clogs the oil pump strainer, the brake vacuum pump filter, the turbo oil feed and the variable valve timing solenoids. Stellantis announced compensation for affected owners in 2025.
Check for the garage: Measure the belt through the oil filler opening with the manufacturer's tool. Confirm whether the vacuum pump campaign was done.
Cost cited in the source: Vacuum pump: €500–800; belt with oil system cleaning: considerably moreA rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 1.6 VTi (Petrol)

Oil consumption, leaks, coils and throttle body on the 1.6 VTi (EC5) of the 301 and C-ElyséeEngine

Engine / equipment: 115 hp 1.6 VTi (EC5, a development of the TU5): Peugeot 301 and Citroën C-Elysée
Period mentioned: 2012–2018
Symptoms: Oil has to be topped up between changes; oil stains under the engine; misfires or hesitation; rough idle or an engine warning from the throttle body.
Possible cause described: This 1.6 VTi is not the BMW-designed (Prince) VTi but the EC5, derived from the long-serving TU5. The AutoCentrum.pl engine encyclopedia (2022) rates it durable and cheap to run, but says owners often complain of high oil consumption, that an ignition coil or the throttle body sometimes fails and that oil leaks can be the biggest problem; early engines had ignition faults linked to poor servicing.
Check for the garage: Measure oil consumption between two changes and look underneath for leaks; read misfire and throttle-body codes; ask for the timing-belt invoices.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 1.6 HDi / BlueHDi (Diesel)

Turbo oil starvation from injector carbonTurbo / injection

Engine / equipment: 1.6 HDi DV6 (Peugeot 207/308/3008/Partner, Citroën C3/C4/Berlingo; same engine as the Ford 1.6 TDCi)
Period mentioned: Approx. 2004–2015
Symptoms: Loud turbo whistle, power loss, blue or black smoke, oil that gets dirty very quickly. Before the failure, often a puffing or ticking from the cylinder head and an exhaust smell from an injector.
Possible cause described: The injector clamp bolts work loose, the gas leak forms carbon that gets into the oil and clogs the mesh filter in the banjo bolt feeding the turbo. The turbo is starved of oil. Replacing only the turbo does not fix it.
Check for the garage: Check injector bolt torque and carbon at their base, the turbo banjo bolt and the sump strainer.
Cost cited in the source: Turbo + full oil system cleaning: approx. €900–2,000 (estimate)A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.