Peugeot 307: HDi diesel particulate filter blocking on short trips — the 'anti-pollution fault' message
HDi diesel particulate filter blocking on short trips — the 'anti-pollution fault' message is a very common engine fault on the Peugeot 307 on the 2001–2009 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $300 to $3,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 8 documented faults on the Peugeot 307.
- Vehicle
- Peugeot 307
- Years
- 2001–2009
- Fuel
- diesel
- System
- Engine
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
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. Soot builds until the filter blocks, at which point the car throws an anti-pollution fault message, cuts power and eventually will not clear itself. It is the single most common complaint on these diesels and it is entirely about how the car has been used, not how old it is — so a low-mileage town car can be in worse shape than a high-mileage commuter. A blocked filter that cannot be regenerated has to be cleaned or replaced, and the additive these systems use has its own tank that needs topping up as a service item people forget.
What you would notice
- 'Anti-pollution fault' or a similar warning on the dash
- Sudden loss of power, particularly when accelerating or overtaking
- Engine running noticeably rougher, or a smell of burning after a drive
- Cooling fan running hard after you stop
- Owner describes short trips only, or the car is a low-mileage town car
How to check it
Where to look. Diesel particulate filter in the exhaust, under the car; additive tank near the fuel tank
Ask what the car is used for before you ask anything about the car itself — short suburban trips are the cause here, and a seller describing the school run is describing the fault.
Take it for a long enough drive to get thoroughly hot, including a sustained open-road stretch, and watch the dash the whole time for an anti-pollution or engine warning.
Accelerate hard in a high gear and feel for power that simply is not there.
When you stop, listen for the cooling fan running hard and smell for a hot, burning smell, both of which mean it was trying to regenerate while you drove.
Ask whether the warning has ever appeared, whether the additive has been topped up, and whether the DPF has ever been cleaned or replaced.
What it costs to put right
$300 to $3,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “What sort of driving does it do — mostly short trips or open road?”
- “Has the anti-pollution warning ever come on?”
- “Has the DPF ever been cleaned or replaced, and has the additive been topped up?”
Now check the Peugeot 307 you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
- What Car? — Used Peugeot 307 2001-2009 reliability and common problems
- BreakerLink — 'Peugeot 307 common problems'
- AutomotiveFaults — Peugeot 307 2.0 HDi 110 (2000-2009) problems and issues
Peugeot 307 buyer questions
Is hdi diesel particulate filter blocking on short trips — the 'anti-pollution fault' message serious on a Peugeot 307?
We rate it major and very common on the Peugeot 307. 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. Soot builds until the filter blocks, at which point the car throws an anti-pollution fault message, cuts power and eventually will not clear itself. It is the single most common complaint on these diesels and it is entirely about how the car has been used, not how old it is — so a low-mileage town car can be in worse shape than a high-mileage commuter. A blocked filter that cannot be regenerated has to be cleaned or replaced, and the additive these systems use has its own tank that needs topping up as a service item people forget.
How much does it cost to fix on a Peugeot 307?
$300 to $3,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which Peugeot 307 years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 2001–2009 Peugeot 307. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
Ask what the car is used for before you ask anything about the car itself — short suburban trips are the cause here, and a seller describing the school run is describing the fault. Take it for a long enough drive to get thoroughly hot, including a sustained open-road stretch, and watch the dash the whole time for an anti-pollution or engine warning. Accelerate hard in a high gear and feel for power that simply is not there. When you stop, listen for the cooling fan running hard and smell for a hot, burning smell, both of which mean it was trying to regenerate while you drove. Ask whether the warning has ever appeared, whether the additive has been topped up, and whether the DPF has ever been cleaned or replaced. Look here: Diesel particulate filter in the exhaust, under the car; additive tank near the fuel tank