The Peugeot 207 came out in 2006 in order to replace the older 206 models. The 207 has been kept until 2014 when it was succeeded by the Peugeot 208. Throughout this time, Peugeot managed to sell a ton of these, particularly in Europe. The Peugeot 207 is a compact hatchback mostly designed for inner-city use, but large enough to be used for longer journeys.
In this article, we are going to mention common problems with Peugeot 207 and tell you what to look out for if you are in the market for a used one. Since the 207 isn’t particularly expensive or old, we can see these trading in the next decades. We also ought to mention that the Peugeot 207 is one of the more popular first cars in Europe as it is cheap to buy, cheap to run, and fairly popular and easy to sell.
The most common problems include squeaking and grinding noises coming from the suspension area. The gearbox can become harsh and heavy to operate while the catalytic converter can also become problematic. The seats are problematic as well and have been included in two large recalls over the lifespan of the 207.
Lastly, we are going to mention certain equipment issues such as water ingress or problems with the windshield. All in all, if you take proper care of the 207, you should be able to use it for a decent while.
Squeaking And Grinding Noises
The first group of problems includes squeaking and grinding noises. Grinding noises are typically caused by sticking brake pads, especially if the car was left to sit for a while. Creaking noises are typically caused by problems with the front shock absorbers which will need proper lubricating which should solve the issue.
Another reason why the 207 tends to creak is due to a faulty bump stop which will need replacing to solve the issue. All in all, if you hear any weird noises coming from the suspension and brakes area, inspect them immediately as some can be caused by corrosion which is a serious problem and cause various structural problems down the line which are both difficult and expensive to fix.
Gearbox Problems
The Peugeot 207 comes with a durable manual transmission that is easily going to last the life of the car. However, it needs timely and proper maintenance otherwise it will fail a lot sooner than that. The most common problem with the manual transmission in the 207 is related to loose shift cables which will make the gearbox difficult to use.
If this is not dealt with soon enough, it can lead to more serious transmission problems which are soon to cause clutch problems and potentially need replacing the clutch or the entire gearbox. Since many of these are now old and not maintained as intended, this issue has become more serious than before.
Catalytic Converter Problems
If you come across a Peugeot 207 with a check engine light on, be sure to pay close attention to the catalytic converter which typically is the reason why these take place. The most common catalytic converter-related problem is associated with the P0420 fault code which outlines that your cats aren’t operating to their fullest capacity.
This is not the cheapest issue you can encounter because fixing these typically requires you to replace the catalytic converter with a new one.
Problems With The Seats
The seats on the Peugeot 207 have been the reason for two large recalls. The first one is related to the seats not being properly heated and thus failing to either turn off or engage. The recall took place in 2009 and it also said that this can lead to the battery draining itself out while causing much discomfort to the driver, especially during summertime.
The other recall is associated with improperly fastened seat belts (2006) which can fail to restrain you in an event of a crash.
Problems With The Equipment
Lastly, we are going to mention peculiar problems with the car’s equipment such as water getting into the front legroom and causing electrical problems and huge drops in the car’s resale value. These are caused by blocked water outlet pipes associated with the aircon. The good thing is that new parts aren’t necessary as these can be cleaned and reinstalled.
Other issues include the glove box failing and needing to be replaced windscreen washer problems, and problems with the windscreen which was known to be loose, especially on older 3-door models.
FAQ Section
Should I Buy A Peugeot 207?
If you want a small, used, and fairly affordable supermini hatchback, the Peugeot 207 is a really good purchase. The 207 isn’t too old to not get the essentials that most of us are used to with newer cars, but also isn’t too new in order to use difficult haptic feedback/touch controls many Peugeot models are used to these days.
On the other hand, the 207 is not a luxury vehicle by any means and it does not offer all that much space which can be a dealbreaker for taller drivers.
How Long Is The Peugeot 207 Going To Last?
Since the Peugeot 207 is more than 8 years old now, it makes perfect sense to wonder how long it can actually last. The good thing is that the 207 has proven to be fairly reliable, but the bad news is that its reliability is extremely dependent on how well the car has been maintained during its lifetime.
As such, if you come across a well-maintained model, you can expect it to last as much as 150,000 miles.
Is The Peugeot 207 Too Small For Tall Drivers?
The Peugeot 207 is indeed a bit too small for taller drivers and isn’t the best choice for those who often tend to transport multiple passengers. Since many of these have been sold in a 3-door configuration, you are also not likely to enjoy the fact that it isn’t too practical for family use.
However, if you are not huge and you tend to drive the car by yourself, a Peugeot 207 should be more than enough for most.
