At Auto Plus, we often talk about the problems faced by owners of cars equipped with the 1.2-liter three-cylinder PureTech engine from Stellantis.

While the group managed to make the famous 1.6-liter four-cylinder THP (which later also became PureTech) more reliable over time, the three-cylinder engine launched in 2012 (EB2 110 and 130 hp) had numerous reliability problems, including excessive oil consumption and premature wear of the toothed belt.

Discontent is growing in France and Europe

Despite the group’s efforts to resolve these issues, the reputation of PureTech engines suffered, resulting in a loss of customer confidence. Stellantis face today large waves of discontent among owners who no longer hesitate to take action. Recently, for example, a group of Belgian customers staged a demonstration outside the Stellantis headquarters with a horn concert in protest.
We are not going to tell you the whole story of this engine, but the one that was launched in 2013 in several models of the Peugeot and Citroën brands, was chosen as the “engine of the year” between 2015 and 2018. The problem is that a few years down the road we might logically ask if that title has been usurped. Because in addition to the technical aspect, its reliability is lacking.
Technical solutions arrived very late, including a change in belt design in July 2022. Before this date, it was not uncommon to see engine failures, sometimes long before the 100,000 km mark. Peugeot, Citroën, DS and Opel are responsible for replacing the timing belt if a fault is found during maintenance or during a recall campaign, but this support is possible only within 6 and a half years and 110,000 km. As a result, this excludes older vehicles and those that have exceeded this mileage. The manufacturer’s warranty depends on compliance with a maintenance plan adapted to use, as well as the age and mileage of the vehicle. Problem, the fact is that not all customers understand this.

Models referred to in Stellantis

• Peugeot 308 II and III
• Peugeot 508 I and II
• Peugeot 2008 I and II
• Peugeot 3008 I and II
• Peugeot 5008 I and II
• Peugeot Rifter
• Peugeot Partner II and III
• Citroën C3 II and III
• Citroën C4 I and II
• Citroën C4 Space Tourer
• Citroën C4 Picasso II
• Citroën C4 Cactus
• Citroën Berlingo II and III
• DS 3 Crossback
• DS4
• DS 7 Crossback
• Opel Mokka
• Opel Crossland and Crossland
• Opel Grandland and Grandland

A satisfying answer?

To address the dissatisfaction, Stellantis has decided to extend the warranty on certain PureTech three-cylinder petrol engines and offer coverage for 10 years or 175,000 kilometers for customers who have followed the manufacturer’s maintenance plan.
Obviously there are conditions to this, starting with following a maintenance plan recommended by the manufacturer and any automotive professional, while the group requires diagnostics and repairs to be carried out at an approved network.’ Stellantis will not require 100% of maintenance invoices, but only the last three with a tolerance of three months or 3,000 kilometers.

Not sure if that will be enough to satisfy aggrieved customers.