Engine failure within 5 years - where to compain

bigjl

Dmas72 wrote: »

The car was purchased from a Peugeot dealer (although not the same dealer the car is currently located). It has had one service during the 3 years ownership at 12,500 miles. Low mileage as the car is used to commute to work (less than 12 mile round trip), and weekends. I have logged this engine failure with Peugeot requesting assistance. A response is expected within 3 days, although I don't think I am likely to get anywhere (the operator did not seem very interested, and just took name, email address and reg - not even had a confirmation email).

From the advice posted here (and if the response is not favorable from Peugeot), I intend to have the car towed to a non-Peugeot dealer and have an second hand engine fitted. I plan to keep the car. I would hope however, that Peugeot would at least express some interest into what caused the failure to determine if this is a manufacturing defect likely to effect other owners. I may also look at SOGA option, but in the short term I will need to get the car operational (currently cycling the 12 mile round-trip every day).

Thanks for all the advice, and I will post the conclusion in the nest few days.

From the information you have given the vehicle could be a year overdue a service.

The service schedule should have been 12.5k or 24months.

As has already been mentioned the kind of use it has had is considered severe service and usually means the vehicle needs more servicing not less.

You will have fuel contamination of the oil, it will rarely get fully up to temperature and was likely the consistency of Vaseline.

I think the reason for the engine failure is simply ineffective maintenance and ignoring the tell tail noises that the engine would have been making as the camchain started to rattle.

One good thing is that most petrol engines will be lower miles than used diesels so finding a nice one should not be as hard.

Going forward an idea in future will be to get a simple oil and filter change done every year when you get you MOT done to stop it happening again.

Dmas72

There are a lot of comments regarding servicing. I have owned the car for 3 years, and at just over 2 years it was due the 12,500 mile service. In fact I took I phoned it in at the 2 year mark, but was told to wait a couple of months until I reached the mileage, at is was so close. Current mileage is somewhere between 25K and 28K.

Putting the servicing aside, it is a little worrying that complete engine failure could occur like this without any prior warning. The wife's car is 13 years old, has never had a service and runs like a dream. Just check the oils and levels regularly, and replace when needed.

To their credit, Peugeot did get back in contact and within the 3 day period stated. They have been in contact with the dealers (both where the car was purchased and where it now resides) and reviewed the service history. Everything is in order and as expected, but due to the car being out of warranty they stated they have no obligation to assist. However given the mileage of the vehicle, they said such failure is unusual, and have therefore offered to pay 35% toward the repair bill of a reconditioned engine and associated labor.

I will probably take them up on the offer.

londonTiger

americans have lemon law, we have diddly squat. no wonder our car industry is non existent. our cars were worse than the french.

Iceweasel

Dmas72 wrote: »

To their credit, Peugeot did get back in contact and within the 3 day period stated. They have been in contact with the dealers (both where the car was purchased and where it now resides) and reviewed the service history. Everything is in order and as expected, but due to the car being out of warranty they stated they have no obligation to assist. However given the mileage of the vehicle, they said such failure is unusual, and have therefore offered to pay 35% toward the repair bill of a reconditioned engine and associated labor.

I will probably take them up on the offer.

That's a very surprising result - totally unexpected - so I'll put my hand up and say - Sorry -I was wrong as to Peugeot's stance..

A remarkable outcome - grab their offer right away.

colino

Yes, 35% discount on Peugeot Dealer engine work would have taken a real case to just eye-wateringly, instead of preposterously, over an experienced independants bill for the same work.
As a second owner, the OP has no contract at all with Peugeot the manufacturer, by all means kvetch and moan to the trader under SOGA and see how far you really get.

Double_V

NEVER EVER buy French cars.

Stoke

For those questioning the mileage, I recently sold a 51 plate Fiat Seicento, with 15k miles on the clock.

bigjl

Dmas72 wrote: »

There are a lot of comments regarding servicing. I have owned the car for 3 years, and at just over 2 years it was due the 12,500 mile service. In fact I took I phoned it in at the 2 year mark, but was told to wait a couple of months until I reached the mileage, at is was so close. Current mileage is somewhere between 25K and 28K.

Putting the servicing aside, it is a little worrying that complete engine failure could occur like this without any prior warning. The wife's car is 13 years old, has never had a service and runs like a dream. Just check the oils and levels regularly, and replace when needed.

To their credit, Peugeot did get back in contact and within the 3 day period stated. They have been in contact with the dealers (both where the car was purchased and where it now resides) and reviewed the service history. Everything is in order and as expected, but due to the car being out of warranty they stated they have no obligation to assist. However given the mileage of the vehicle, they said such failure is unusual, and have therefore offered to pay 35% toward the repair bill of a reconditioned engine and associated labor.

I will probably take them up on the offer.

What kind of car does you wife drive?

Is it a Yaris?

There is no putting the servicing aside, the car has had one service in 3 years at 12.5k and now has either 25k or 28k on it, so it is possibly a year overdue or several thousand miles overdue.

The engine failure as described by you is almost certainly lubricant related. And would have made noise for some time before the engine failure, just ask a Saab owner.

I have had repairs done under Goodwill under they wanted to know exactly when it had been serviced before they authorised the repairs.

I doubt they would have paid out if I had been a year overdue or several thousand miles overdue.

AdrianC

Double_V wrote: »

NEVER EVER buy French cars.

Well, quite.

You could have that exact same engine in a British-built Mini or a German-built BMW instead.

Stoke

Double_V wrote: »

NEVER EVER buy French cars.

Slightly harsh.