Peugeot 307 problems, reliability and known faults
If you are considering buying a used Peugeot 307, these are the common problems worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 2 known faults for this model. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Is the Peugeot 307 reliable?
The Peugeot 307 has 2 known faults in our database, 0 of them rated high severity. The most serious are engine (oil carbonises in the thin pipe that feeds the turbo bearings on the 16-valve 1.6 HDi) and gearbox (the AL4 (also called DPO) four-speed automatic is the weak point of these cars). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
That is a count of the faults we hold, not a reliability score. Popular cars get written about more, and a newer generation has had less time to show its faults.
Generation 1 of 12 known faults · 5 owner reports · 3 good notes
Peugeot 307 (2001 to 2008) problems
Transmission/ClutchMedium severity💬 Owner reports
The AL4 (also called DPO) four-speed automatic is the weak point of these cars. Contaminated, overheated or never-changed fluid wears the pressure-regulation solenoids, so the box loses line pressure, shifts harshly and drops into limp mode with a gearbox fault message. PSA never specified a fluid change on many cars, which is the root of it. Replacing solenoids also needs the correct updated ECU firmware or the fault returns, and once the clutches have been slipping the fix is a full rebuild
Rough guide
£500-1500
Typical symptoms
Gearbox Fault warning and Sport/Snow lights flashing
gearbox thumping or banging into gear
stuck in 3rd gear (limp mode)
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All AL4 Automatics
Typical mileage:
60000-100000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Engine/EmissionsMedium severity💬 3 owner reports, 2012 to 2013
Oil carbonises in the thin pipe that feeds the turbo bearings on the 16-valve 1.6 HDi, so the turbo runs short of oil and its bearings wear out. Fitting a new turbo alone doesn't cure it: the oil feed pipe, and often the oil pump and the sump pick-up, need replacing too, or the new turbo can go the same way. Switching off straight after a hard run, with the turbo still hot, is thought to make the carbon build-up worse. Owners reported a franchised-dealer parts bill of about 1,200 pounds, or around 470 pounds for an aftermarket turbo plus a kit of modified pipes. Engines built from about 2008 are said to have revised parts, though later cars are not proven immune.
Rough guide
£470-1200
Typical symptoms
Whine or growl from the turbo as the engine pulls
Sudden loss of power or limp mode
Blue or grey smoke under load
Oil in the intake or intercooler hoses
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.6 HDi 16v diesel, 90 and 110 (DV6TED4 and related DV6 engines; the same engine as the Ford 1.6 TDCi); the 8-valve 1.6 HDi/e-HDi that replaced it from about 2010 is not covered
Typical mileage:
Unknown miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
What owners report on the 307
5 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Fuel system · August 2018A 2004 Peugeot 307 2.0 HDI SW at 114,000 miles experienced an 'Antipollution System Fault' light and reduced power, with diagnostics indicating a fuel cap sensor issue.
Engine · June 2015Heat shields near the exhaust manifold and turbo on a diesel 307 can degrade, allowing oil to ignite and cause engine fires.
Electrics · December 2012A 'gong' sound indicated the car battery was failing to hold sufficient charge and required replacement.
Bodywork · May 2012The drop-down spare wheel cradle mechanism and jack can corrode and seize, requiring regular greasing and pressure checks.
Engine · January 2012The 1.6 HDI engine suffered turbo oil starvation, leading to catastrophic failure and requiring extensive repairs beyond just a new turbo.
What owners like about the 307
3 notes
May 2012A 2012 analysis of warranty claims ranked the 307 as the tenth most dependable family car aged three to five years.
The Peugeot 307 was recognised as the 'European Car of The Year' in November 2001.
The model achieved a commendable four-star rating in the 2001 NCAP crash tests.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 6 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Peugeot 307 advert and we check it in seconds.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: October 2026
Peugeot 307 buying questions
What should I check when viewing a used Peugeot 307?
Ask the seller about the engine and gearbox faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for whine or growl from the turbo as the engine pulls and gearbox Fault warning and Sport/Snow lights flashing. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against its known faults before you travel. Check a Peugeot 307 advert →
What is the real MPG of a Peugeot 307?
Owners report 46.1 mpg on average across the Peugeot 307 engines with data, about 91% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 346 owner submissions. Peugeot 307 Real MPG by engine →
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Peugeot 307 owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
Knowing what a Peugeot 307 goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.