Peugeot 208: PureTech 1.2 EB2 Timing Belt Premature Failure

The 1.2 PureTech three-cylinder engine uses a rubber timing belt running inside the oil-wetted camshaft cover (belt-in-oil design, also called TBIO). The belt degrades faster than expected when saturated with hot oil, leading to premature failure well before the service interval. Belt failure causes catastrophic engine damage — bent valves, damaged pistons and cylinder head. Peugeot ran an extended warranty programme in Europe acknowledging the defect. NZ grey imports of A9-generation cars are heavily affected; early revised belts from 2018+ partially address but do not eliminate the issue.

• Engine suddenly cuts out without warning
• Loud mechanical knock or slapping from engine on startup
• Oil pressure warning light prior to failure
• Rattling from timing cover at cold start
• High oil consumption preceding failure

1. 1

   Request full service history and confirm timing belt replacement date and mileage.

2. 2

   Check for oil contamination around the timing cover and cam cover gasket.

3. 3

   Ask whether the revised belt part number has been fitted.

4. 4

   Any car over 40,000 km without documented belt change is high risk.

Parts involved: Timing belt.

$800 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

• “When was the timing belt last replaced and what part number was used?”
• “Has the car ever shown oil consumption or needed oil top-ups between services?”
• “Has any Peugeot dealer or independent workshop inspected the timing belt housing?”

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.