Peugeot 3008 PHEV problems

Yep covered under warranty atm.

It randomly won't use EV mode for a few days, then the check engine light stays on, sometimes one of the 'dash dials' warns there's a problem with the "traction system that needs repair" and another warning light stays on (a red Spanner). "Peugoet Assist" sent an AA man to check it out, his diagnostic says there's an 'unspecified fault' that he can't fix and needs Peugeot diagnostics. Bringing it back to the dealer and wouldn't you know it, it goes into EV mode and the warning lights go off, dealer says the rear aux. battery was low on charge and this caused the problem.

FYI there are two 'aux. batteries, one under the bonnet, normal battery you find in all cars. Then there is one in the boot, same size as a motorcycle battery.

Last week same thing happens plus an "engine fault that needs repair", so I check both aux. batteries, front one a shade under 13volts and rear a shade over 13 volts so I don't think that's the problem. Got talking to owners in the UK, Sweden, Portugal and Canada reporting similar issues, plus EV range 60/70% down on Peugeot's claims. They are getting the same speil from their dealers, some batteries replaced only for the same problem to reappear some months later. One chap in the UK had the car for nine months with the majority of that spent in his dealer (bones of six months I think he said) with no permanent fix (ended up giving the car back).

Peugeot don't seem to be acknowledging there is a problem and I'm being told that Peugoet UK for one are not being helpful to say the least. As you probably know 'check engine lights' etc are an automatic NCT fail, I know that's some time off but I don't want to get to the point where it will be weather dependant as to whether it passes the test or not being able to sell the car etc. I should say that the reason it won't go into EV mode, according to 'the car' is because of "ambient conditions" despite the fact the the temp. is in double figuers atm. God knows what's going to happen if we go sub zero.

Hope I don't have to have the Solicitor on speed dial with this but sh!tting myself atm.

No, can be and is 13+ volts showing on the main battery under the bonnet (normal car battery) and 13+ volts on the aux. battery which is about the same size as a motorcycle battery. Tested with car switched off, readings always taken after over night resting or for long enough for a "settled" reading. Jumps to 15 odd when switched on alright. When I say 13+ I mean 13.2 or 13.3 etc. At any rate the point is I'm getting the same readings with the new battery as the one they "replaced", so that side of it is consistant.

Been working on motorcycles and cars for 40+ years, these are behaving no differently to healthy batteries in the past. I have a spare van battery on the floor beside me in the garage as I speak, 12.7 on it atm. I have 3 multi-meters same readings no matter which one comes to hand, my load tester is on the blink in fairness and haven't had the battery out to run additional checks. This is my first foray with a PHEV so not familiar with their workings. Not sure why it even needs an aux. battery in the boot, talking to a 3008 owner who gave his late 2020 4WD version back after having no joy getting his sorted (not fit for purpose being the reason) now has a Rav4 with only one battery under the bonnet as normal.

Cheers Paddy, I'd pass on the 3008 phev for the time being until they sort it out. I don't think it's a mechanical issue, more software/electrical by the look of it. That said I was just talking to a friend of mine who ran the older (mpv style) 3008 and he said it was plagued with electrical faults and was costing him a fortune to keep it going, everytime he brought it in, it was costing him 3/400 blips every 4 months or so for 4+ years until he could afford to change.

I think if it was every car there'd be a bigger stink about it. That's why I started this thread to test the waters and see if other Irish owners responded. Obviously there'd be a greater impact if there was a decent number of owners contesting the same problem and it came to a legal action etc.

I'm being pessimistic here but I spent alot of money for what I thought would be trouble free motoring. Instead, less than a year of ownership, I at best have a car that doesn't do what it's claimed it should do and at worst in 3 years time a car that can't get through an NCT and could be essentially worthless. I know it's a big jump but you know yourself, "hope for the best.......plan for the worst".

If this ends up being a persistent problem it'd be better for me if it were a common issue, the more the merrier. We could hand the cars back for a refund as they'd not be fit for purpose under consumer legislation and we could move on. I for one can't afford to be Peugeot's Guinea pig. Their sales blurb doesn't mention anything about joining Peugoet's 'research and development' team. Now if they want to give me a free car to help them out that'd be a different matter.

Maybe I should add that I've just come away from high mileage BM with a Christmas tree instead of a dash board. F@ckin' DPF this, ERG valve that and timing chain the other, coolant leaks and god knows what else. NCT time was a sphinter clenching ordeal, not to mention the cost of it all and I was just sick of it. I was aiming for something reasonably fresh, low miles etc and just lost the run of myself and ended up here.

Hi Allan,

I take it that's the 4 wheel drive model. That's not great to hear but I suppose they are looking after you. There was no way I was getting a courtesy car from my dealership, but your problem is probably going to take longer to sort and maybe you had your holiday booked or do you live in France ?

Mine is running ok atm but apparently you have to run it in sport mode to get the ICE involved to charge the 'Aux' batteries every week. They don't mention that in their brouchers.

So far so good. Tech says run the ICE at least to full operating temp. 20 minutes or so every couple of weeks. I suppose you could also charge the batteries manually with a charger as a couple of owners in the UK are doing. Pain in the hole though with 2 of them. Problem is, if you miss the mark and lose "EV mode" a warning light comes on and doesn't appear to cancel itself when charged up. That's hassle of bringing it back just have the light reset and expense when warranty runs out. You can always just run it until next service. That is until NCT kicks in, then your Donald Ducked.

You're dead right about the training. When talking to staff at my dealership you can tell they weren't up to speed at first. They seem to be improving a bit though, I'd say because this is a common issue they're having to deal with, you can still spot the bluffing all the same. I suppose nobody likes to admit they don't fully know what they're doing and definitely not when they're charging you a 100+ Euro an hour workshop rates.

Ok atm. As long as I either drive in "sport mode" or put the trickle charger on the "aux" batteries regularly. I love the 3008 as well great build quality, a very nice car overall. The 1.6 petrol engine is not the smoothest and not very economical as far as I can tell, I'd hate to have to run it with the ICE for any length of time. If I had my time again I'm not sure I'd go for the PHEV or any Peugeot for that matter, don't know enough about them tbh maybe other brands have similar issues. But not being able to run completely in "ev mode" is a bit of a draw back they should have mentioned.