Peugeot 301 M

Naturally aspirated variant of the 1.2-liter PureTech three-cylinder (56-60 kW). Simple technology without turbo, a solid base engine for city driving. Shares the inherently problematic oil-bathed timing belt design — Stellantis extended the warranty to 10 years/175,000 km. With regular oil changes (max. 15,000 km intervals) and some highway driving mixed in, this is an uncomplicated engine. Later production years from around 2022 onward use a timing chain instead.

• !! Wet belt (oil-bath timing belt) premature wear from 80,000 km

  The naturally aspirated EB2 also uses an oil-lubricated timing belt (wet belt). When oil changes are neglected or the car is used mainly for short trips the oil degrades faster, the belt swells and starts to break up. Rubber particles clog the oil pump strainer and VVT solenoid valves. In the worst case the belt snaps and pistons hit valves — total engine failure.

  Symptoms: Engine management light, rough running, oil pressure warning, sudden engine shutdown
  600–5,000 $
  Ad timing belt EB2 PureTech NassriemenSteuertrieb EB2
• !! Crankshaft axial play from weak thrust washers from 100,000 km

  The crankshaft thrust washers (half-rings) are undersized and wear prematurely. When axial play exceeds 0.5 mm the timing belt can jump off its sprockets — valves collide with pistons and the cylinder head is destroyed. The thrust washers are not available separately; the entire block must be replaced.

  Symptoms: Knocking noises when pressing and releasing the clutch, engine rattling, sudden catastrophic engine failure
  2,000–6,000 $
  Ad crankshaft Anlaufscheibe EB2Axialspiel crankshaft PureTech
• !! Crankshaft thrust washers wear quickly from 90,000 km

  The crankshaft thrust washers wear particularly quickly and cause axial play. From 0.5 mm of axial play Stellantis recommends replacing the complete engine block. Affects all EB2 generations up to build year 2022. Repair costs potentially 2,000–8,000 Euro.

  Symptoms: Vibration at idle, metallic knock on load changes, oil pressure warning, engine noise that varies with rpm
  2,000–8,000 $
  Ad crankshaft Druckring EB2 1.2 PureTech repairsatzAxialspiel crankshaft PureTech 1.2 Stellantis

+ 4 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses