Peugeot Adblue Emissions system - massive £6k bill for repeat adblue error

sbirsen

My 2019 3008, purchased as an approved 2nd hand car with 12k miles from an official Peugeot dealer, had the same P20EE emissions / adblue error 3 times, including the mileage countdown which stated the car would be impossible to start after 750 miles. The car currently has 32,200 miles.

The error points to an emissions error NOx sensor efficiency being below threshold. There is a TSB (technical software bulletin) which suggests the dealer updates the ECU software and resets the error.

This 3rd time when the error appeared, the dealer carried out diagnostics at a cost of £957, and now came back with findings totalling £5380 repair, to change pretty mch everything, adblue injectors, sensors, DPF.

I've already involved Peugeot UK Customer Care, and sent them the invoices. Not all service was done at Peugeot as their appointments were always 7-8 weeks into the future. Peugeot UK said they will contribute and are reviewing, but my concern is their contribution will be limited.

I am argueing why these extensive diagnostics were not carried out the first time the error appeared, when the car was still under warranty. My point is by waiting for the error to appear 3 times, it is very likely they allowed for the damage to the emissions system to become this massive - if everything really needs to be replaced. I'm scpetical that they didn't really figure out where the issue was and are suggesting to change everythign at my cost to make the problem go away.

I feel I am hostage to the dealer, as it seems only they can delete the error properly, I thought a dealer having such a monopoly for such error resetting and repair work had been ruled out (at least in the EU), to give consumers the option to choose where they want the car repaire.

I am debating if I should ask the dealer to reset the error (it might come back anytime), so I can then take the car for a 2nd opinion.

I'd appreciate any views on my options.

 

Thanks

Error summary for anyone who wants to know more :

The errors always appeared approx 1 year apart

- 1st error in 2022 just at the end of its 3 year warranty, where the dealer carried out diagnostics and, updated the software and reset the error

- 2nd time the error appeared in 2023, the dealer couldn't give me an appointment earlier than 8 weeks, and due to the mileage countdown, I went to an indepedendent 3rd party dealer, who changed the adblue injector and reset the error. It came back a week later, so I still had to wait for Peugot to book me in. They then again reset the error and the mileage countdown. (cost £168 for an hour diagnostics)

- Same error and mileage countdow appeared in May 2024, Peugeot booked me in for 7 weeks later in July this month, so again could not drive the car freely due to the countdown.

After the car spent 10 days in service, and after I had to authorize 4.5 extra diagnostics at a total cost of £957 (no repair, diagnostics only so far !), the dealer came back with these findings below at a further cost of £5380 (plus £957 diagnostics) :

Diagnostic Findings

        •       Diesel Injectors Overfueling: The injectors are causing excessive smoke and emissions.

        •       Premature Blockage of FAP: The excessive emissions result in the premature blockage of the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).

        •       Contamination of Sensors: The blocked DPF and emissions have contaminated the associated sensors.

 

Recommended Repairs

        1.      Replacement of Injectors: Due to overfueling and causing excessive emissions.

        2.      Replacement of Sensors: Due to contamination from the excessive emissions.

        3.      Replacement of DPF: Blocked prematurely by excessive smoke and emissions.

        4.      Replacement of Blue Injector: Likely related to the AdBlue system malfunction.

Bigwheels1111

I have a 2016 5008, Countdown started after the radio displayed emmissons fault etc.

I could not get a local dealer to even book the car in for a scan for 6/8 weeks, so look further away.

3 days later it had been scanned and a visual checkup was done.

Adblue Tank was the issue. One, 1 hour scan and a visual check was all that was needed.

I had a Peugeot extended warranty, so was lucky.

Saved me 2k.

I dont know where you are in the country but these guys were the best Ive ever delt with.

https://www.yeomans.co.uk/peugeot/contact-us/worthing/

The prices for repairs etc are so much lower as well

https://www.yeomans.co.uk/peugeot/servicing-parts/10-most-common-repairs/

or

This guy on Youtube is very good on adblue issues.

https://www.youtube.com/@ORileysAutos

born_again

Warranty work, which was the 1st time in or out of warranty?

Where was the car serviced between purchase & above 1st issue?

You can take your car for servicing at 3rd party dealers, but that has to conform to the manufactures spec & may require a invoice detailing ALL part numbers used, so that only genuine parts are used.
If you do not have this then they can reject any warranty claims.

sbirsen

born_again said:

Warranty work, which was the 1st time in or out of warranty?

Where was the car serviced between purchase & above 1st issue?

You can take your car for servicing at 3rd party dealers, but that has to conform to the manufactures spec & may require a invoice detailing ALL part numbers used, so that only genuine parts are used.
If you do not have this then they can reject any warranty claims.

The 1st time I took the car to them with the error in 2022, it was under warranty. They only applied the software update. In 2023, I went back with the same error, paid £174 for diagnostics and again they only did a software update. No further digging.

2024, and now they say there is loads to be repaired.

The car was once service by them, once by a 3rd party. Only oil filter and air filter was changed, the dealer might argue, but I doubt they can claim these filters contributed to the emisions damage. 

This year's service was outstanding due to the mileage countdown (service was about 1000 miles overdue) - the dealer will no doubt use this against me, but the fact is mileage countdown massively impacted how often I could use the car, and I wante dto wait until the error was reset before having it serviced.

My main point with them will be that they had in in for the error twice and only reset the error. Had they done more digging while the car was in both times, they would have probably caught something early on, and be able to replace at much lower cost.

sbirsen

Bigwheels1111 said:

I have a 2016 5008, Countdown started after the radio displayed emmissons fault etc.

I could not get a local dealer to even book the car in for a scan for 6/8 weeks, so look further away.

3 days later it had been scanned and a visual checkup was done.

Adblue Tank was the issue. One, 1 hour scan and a visual check was all that was needed.

I had a Peugeot extended warranty, so was lucky.

Saved me 2k.

I dont know where you are in the country but these guys were the best Ive ever delt with.

https://www.yeomans.co.uk/peugeot/contact-us/worthing/

The prices for repairs etc are so much lower as well

https://www.yeomans.co.uk/peugeot/servicing-parts/10-most-common-repairs/

or

This guy on Youtube is very good on adblue issues.

https://www.youtube.com/@ORileysAutos

Seems Peugeot dealers in West Sussex are also never able to book you in earlier than 8 weeks. It's absurd, especially with a mileage countdown. 

Unfortunately Yeomans are a bit far from me, but looking at their prices on their website, they are so much more reasonable than Stellantis. The fact they do 30min diagnostics at £60 instead of £174 for an hour (whether the dealer uses the whole hour or not) says a lot. 

I tried Palmers Peugeot Watford for a quote, they said not to bother, they are even more expensive than Stellantis - that's the joy of living in the south east it seems

It appears the only other option would be to go to an independent dealer, or threaten them with legal action, as they missed the underlying issue twice when I took it in on 2 occasions. I will wait for Peugeot Customer Care to confirm what they are prepared to contribute and then decide I think.