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Peugeot1998–2016 Critical issues documented

Peugeot 307: common faults & what to check

Thinking about buying a used Peugeot 307 (1998–2016) in New Zealand? We've documented 8 known faults for this model spanning electrical, engine, and suspension. Each researched and verified before it's published. The most serious issues here are rated critical. Every one is listed below with its symptoms and repair cost, and each has its own page with where to look and what to ask the seller. Free, no account needed.

Check this exact Peugeot 307

  • Odometer history
  • Money owing
  • Reported stolen
  • Ownership history
  • Official NZ vehicle register data
  • NZ owned and operated

Type the plate for the free basics. The full record is a paid check from $13.49, one car at a time, no subscription.

No NZ plate yet, or buying in Australia? Pick the generation and engine and start a free check below. New to KickTyres? How the check works →

8

Documented faults

Critical

Most serious

$400–$1,500

Typical repair

3

Systems covered

Which Peugeot 307 are you looking at?

3 generation variants documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Which engine is in it? These cover every year of this model.

1.6 petrol· 1.6 litre petrol2.0 petrol· 2.0 litre petrol2.0 diesel· 2.0 litre diesel

Start your free check on this Peugeot 307

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

Peugeot 307Engine not picked yet

Pick the engine above first: the 307 came with 3, and without it the report has to show all of their faults. Pick the engine

Free. The paid plate check is separate, and stays optional.

Can't confirm for this car

Peugeot 307

Nothing has been narrowed yet, so nothing below is a claim about a particular car. Pick a year and an engine to see which faults apply.

Tell us the engine, or check the engine code on the car, before relying on this.

matched on no vehicle context

What to look out for

The checks worth doing on a Peugeot 307 before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

  • Costly issue

    Check for oil leaks around valve covers, sump and gaskets.

    See why

    AL4 Automatic Gearbox Valve Body Solenoid Failure

    The ZF/PSA AL4 4-speed automatic fitted to EW10-engined 307s is known for solenoid and valve body failures causing harsh or delayed gear changes, slipping between ratios, and failure to select certain gears. The fault is worsened by infrequent fluid changes; PSA initially listed the fluid as lifetime but extended service intervals are documented as the primary failure driver. Valve body replacement or rebuild resolves the fault; full gearbox replacement is rarely necessary if caught early.

    What you would notice

    • Evidence of engine wear or deterioration
    • Warning light or abnormal behaviour noted during operation

    Typically $1,680–$3,360 to put right.

  • Costly issue

    Press firmly on both front carpets and lift the mats to feel for damp.

    See why

    BSI water ingress from blocked scuttle drains (footwell flooding, electrical chaos)

    The 307's scuttle and windscreen-base drains block with leaves, so rainwater backs up and floods the front footwells and reaches the BSI body-computer and fuse box, which are poorly sealed on pre-2005 cars. Corrosion then causes wild electrical faults: dead wipers, central-locking and dash-warning gremlins, and sometimes a total electrical shutdown. Wet carpets are the tell-tale sign.

    What you would notice

    • Damp or soaked front footwells, musty smell
    • Wipers, central locking or lights behaving erratically
    • Random dash warning lights
    • Occasional complete electrical dropout

    Typically $400–$2,200 to put right.

  • Costly issue

    Inspect the inner edges of the rear tyres for feathering or bald strips.

    See why

    Rear torsion-beam axle bearing wear

    Like the 206, the 307's rear torsion-beam axle wears its internal bearings, giving a knock over bumps, a vague rear end and uneven rear-tyre wear as the geometry drifts. It usually needs a reconditioned or replacement beam rather than just bearings. It is one of the most common WOF-time surprises on these cars.

    What you would notice

    • Knock or clunk from the rear over bumps
    • Uneven / inner-edge rear tyre wear
    • Rear feels loose or wanders
    • Play when rocking a rear wheel

    Typically $600–$1,700 to put right.

See all 8 documented issuesEverything researched for the Peugeot 307, including 1 rated critical.
Depends on which engine this Peugeot 307 has — 8Each of these is documented for one particular engine. Pick the year and engine above to see which of them apply.
Engine, transmission & cooling4

01AL4 Automatic Gearbox Valve Body Solenoid Failure

Check for oil leaks around valve covers, sump and gaskets.petrol2001–2007Engine
CommonEngine $1,680–$3,360 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

The ZF/PSA AL4 4-speed automatic fitted to EW10-engined 307s is known for solenoid and valve body failures causing harsh or delayed gear changes, slipping between ratios, and failure to select certain gears. The fault is worsened by infrequent fluid changes; PSA initially listed the fluid as lifetime but extended service intervals are documented as the primary failure driver. Valve body replacement or rebuild resolves the fault; full gearbox replacement is rarely necessary if caught early.

Symptoms to notice

  • Evidence of engine wear or deterioration
  • Warning light or abnormal behaviour noted during operation

What to check

  1. Check for oil leaks around valve covers, sump and gaskets.
  2. Inspect coolant condition and level.

Parts involved: Mechatronic / valve body.

02HDi diesel particulate filter blocking on short trips — the 'anti-pollution fault' message

The HDi diesels clean their particulate filter by burning off soot on a long hot run, and a car used for short suburban trips never gets the chance.diesel2001–2009EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

03EW10 2.0 Timing Belt Tensioner Hydraulic Failure

Check for oil leaks around valve covers, sump and gaskets.petrol1998–2010Engine
CommonEngine $630–$1,260 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

The EW10 2.0 petrol uses a hydraulic timing belt tensioner. The tensioner loses hydraulic pressure through internal seal wear, reducing belt tension below specification. A slack timing belt causes ignition timing to retard, reducing power and fuel efficiency, and can allow the belt to jump or shed under load. The hydraulic tensioner must be replaced with the belt and all associated pulleys. The Citroën C5 EW10 application carries the same fault.

Symptoms to notice

  • Timing chain or belt related noise at startup
  • Fault codes or irregular readings when scanned

What to check

  1. Check for oil leaks around valve covers, sump and gaskets.
  2. Inspect coolant condition and level.

Parts involved: Timing belt.

04DW10 2.0 HDi EGR Valve Fouling and Failure

Check for oil leaks around valve covers, sump and gaskets.diesel2000–2016Engine
CommonEngine $490–$980 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

The EGR valve on the DW10 diesel accumulates heavy carbon deposits from exhaust gas recirculation. The valve sticks open or closed, causing excessive black smoke, poor cold-start performance, increased fuel consumption, and intake manifold carbon restriction. Common in stop-start urban driving patterns typical of NZ city use. Cleaning extends valve life; replacement is required once the valve body is scored.

Symptoms to notice

  • Blue or white smoke from exhaust
  • Difficult cold start or unstable idle

What to check

  1. Check for oil leaks around valve covers, sump and gaskets.
  2. Inspect coolant condition and level.

Parts involved: EGR valve.

Electrical2

01A long recall history — fifteen-plus campaigns including an engine bay fire risk

2001–2009ElectricalRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

02BSI water ingress from blocked scuttle drains (footwell flooding, electrical chaos)

Press firmly on both front carpets and lift the mats to feel for damp.2001–2008Electrical
CommonElectrical $400–$2,200 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

The 307's scuttle and windscreen-base drains block with leaves, so rainwater backs up and floods the front footwells and reaches the BSI body-computer and fuse box, which are poorly sealed on pre-2005 cars. Corrosion then causes wild electrical faults: dead wipers, central-locking and dash-warning gremlins, and sometimes a total electrical shutdown. Wet carpets are the tell-tale sign.

Symptoms to notice

  • Damp or soaked front footwells, musty smell
  • Wipers, central locking or lights behaving erratically
  • Random dash warning lights
  • Occasional complete electrical dropout

What to check

  1. Press firmly on both front carpets and lift the mats to feel for damp.
  2. Check the scuttle drains at the base of the windscreen are clear of leaves.
  3. Test the wipers, locks and lights repeatedly for intermittent faults.
  4. Any dampness plus electrical oddities points to BSI water damage.

Where to look: BSI and fuse box in the footwell; scuttle/plenum drains under the windscreen

Parts involved: Body corrosion.

Ask the seller

  • “Have the footwells ever been wet?”
  • “Any random electrical faults or warning lights?”
  • “Have the scuttle drains been kept clear / BSI ever replaced?”
Body, brakes, suspension & interior2

01Rear torsion-beam axle bearing wear

Inspect the inner edges of the rear tyres for feathering or bald strips.2001–2008Suspension
CommonSuspension $600–$1,700 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

Like the 206, the 307's rear torsion-beam axle wears its internal bearings, giving a knock over bumps, a vague rear end and uneven rear-tyre wear as the geometry drifts. It usually needs a reconditioned or replacement beam rather than just bearings. It is one of the most common WOF-time surprises on these cars.

Symptoms to notice

  • Knock or clunk from the rear over bumps
  • Uneven / inner-edge rear tyre wear
  • Rear feels loose or wanders
  • Play when rocking a rear wheel

What to check

  1. Inspect the inner edges of the rear tyres for feathering or bald strips.
  2. Listen for rear knocks over bumps on the drive.
  3. Rock each rear wheel top-to-bottom for play and check rear ride height is even.
  4. Ask if the rear beam has been done.

Where to look: Rear torsion-beam axle bearings inside the trailing arms

Ask the seller

  • “Has the rear axle/beam been replaced?”
  • “Why are the rear tyres wearing unevenly?”
  • “Any knock from the back?”

02Front anti-roll bar links, steering pins and control arm bushes wearing out fast

The front suspension on these wears quickly, and it is the fault owners mention most after the diesel's filter.2001–2009SuspensionRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

Peugeot 307 faults in detail

Each of these has its own page: the symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller and what the repair costs. Free, no account needed.

A long recall history — fifteen-plus campaigns including an engine bay fire riskCritical · ElectricalFront anti-roll bar links, steering pins and control arm bushes wearing out fastMajor · SuspensionHDi diesel particulate filter blocking on short trips — the 'anti-pollution fault' messageMajor · Engine

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Peugeot 307’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

Other Peugeot models

Peugeot 30826 documented faultsPeugeot 300823 documented faultsPeugeot 20811 documented faultsPeugeot 2067 documented faultsPeugeot 2077 documented faultsPeugeot 20086 documented faults

Peugeot 307 buyer questions

Is the Peugeot 307 reliable?

Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 8 documented faults for the Peugeot 307, the recurring problem areas are electrical, engine, and suspension. A Peugeot 307 with a full service history and no signs of the issues listed on this page can be a sound buy but each one needs to be checked individually before you commit.

What are the most common problems with a used Peugeot 307?

We've catalogued 8 known faults for the Peugeot 307, covering electrical, engine, and suspension. All 8 are written out in full on this page, with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each. Free to read, no account needed.

How much do repairs cost on a Peugeot 307?

Most single repairs on the Peugeot 307 fall between $400–$1,500 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 8 documented faults cost less and a few cost considerably more, and no one car needs them all. Knowing which ones to look for before you view is what lets you negotiate the price down or walk away.

Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a Peugeot 307?

Yes. A Peugeot 307 inspection focused on its known weak points is the single best way to avoid an expensive mistake. KickTyres gives you a guided, model-specific inspection plus a market valuation and negotiation figure for $24.90 far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page.