A Coruña, Spain – YouTube channel “Llanta pinchada TV” has called Peugeot’s PureTech engine “the worst engine ever” in a hard-hitting video summarizing the problems that have affected thousands of owners.
Initially, the PureTech engine, a 3-cylinder gasoline engine (1.0L and 1.2L), was developed by the PSA Group (now Stellantis) to offer good fuel efficiency without sacrificing power. Key features included reduced internal friction and an oil-immersed timing belt instead of a traditional metal chain, with the aim of reducing noise, improving lubrication and extending engine life.
However, starting in 2020, numerous reports of serious engine failures began to emerge. The main problem was the oil-immersed timing belt, which was degrading prematurely.
After initially trying to minimize the problem, Peugeot and Stellantis finally acknowledged it due to the large number of affected vehicles, estimated in hundreds of thousands in Europe. In March 2024, Stellantis announced an extended warranty for the affected engines, covering repair costs for up to 10 years or 175,000 km. They also offered refunds to owners who had already paid for repairs, provided that the maintenance had been carried out in official workshops.
The third generation of PureTech engines, launched in 2023, addressed the issue by replacing the problematic oil-immersed belt with a timing chain, effectively eliminating the problem for new models.
For more information, you can watch the complete video on the Llanta pinchada TV channel on YouTube.