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The engine has failed in my 5-year-old car just out of warranty. What now?

I own a 2015 Peugeot 308 1.2 Puretech. I've taken it to a garage because of light misfire under load. The dealer is not clear on technical issues but says fault codes and low compression means a new engine. It's outside of the five-year 100,000-mile warranty by seven months. The car has only done 42k miles and is owned from new with a full service history. Peugeot customer care is not helpful. Surely this is a premature failure since a major component like the engine should last longer than 5+ years.

Asked on 26 January 2021 by C Burrows

Answered by Dan Powell
Sadly this is not the first complaint we've received about the 1.2 PureTech engine in the Peugeot 308. Has the dealer identified the cause of the low compression? I would not expect this to be related to wear and tear, given the age and mileage of the car.

It may be better to get a second opinion from an independent Peugeot specialist (as they may be able to repair the engine at a much lower cost). Alternatively, you could seek legal advice - the Consumer Rights Act gives you the right to take action on a faulty car for up to six years (after the date of purchase) in England and Wales or five years in Scotland.
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