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Peugeot 307
9th March 2004
Over the last couple of years Watchdog viewers have been telling us
rather a lot about their Peugeot cars. Now it seems, it's the turn of the
Peugeot 307. It's a car, quite literally, able to go that extra mile.
Mike Jefferies bought his 307 last June. After a few months he noticed
that the mileage was going up rather quickly. It was then that his
friend, Stuart, remarked that his own 307 seemed to have a similar
problem. Mike estimates that he's done approximately 9,000 miles, but the
actual mileage on the car is now 11,300. He says that he knows it's 4.9
miles from his house to the golf course, but on one journey the main
mileage had gone up by 9 miles.
Mike's local Peugeot garage knew of his problem but didn't know how to
fix it. They said they'd let him know when they did. He waited three
months before contacting them again. He was told that Peugeot were still
working on a solution. Since then, Mike has been keeping a record of his
mileage and over a ten day period his trip said 273 miles - but the main
mileage had gone up by 343, an increase of 70 miles.
Stuart Ash has his 307 on a lease deal - he keeps it for 12 months,
and is only allowed to do a set mileage over that period. If he goes over
10,000 miles then he's charged for every extra mile.
Peter Lowe's 307 also started clocking excessive miles soon after he
bought it. Worse still, it was clocking up miles even when it wasn't
moving. When the door is opened the mileage display comes on, and when
you close the door and start the ignition it puts a couple of miles on.
He says the difference in mileage is around 30 percent - that this means
the service interval would come around 30 percent more often and the
higher mileage will affect the resale value.
Jeff Paterson, of Glass's Motoring Guide, explains that these cars
could create uncertainty in the market place and that they would be very
difficult to sell on. He says people would be put off from buying if the
mileage is inaccurate, because how do they know that the true mileage
isn't much higher?
And if the owner sells the cars, knowing that the mileage is higher
than it genuinely is and doesn't tell the buyer, then they are leaving
themselves open to legal recourse.
Peugeot has known about the problem since late summer but has
continued to sell 307s without telling customers. Martin Sullivan bought
his in December. He says that for every 100 miles he drives, it's adding
an extra 25 to the clock and that sometimes it can jump much higher.
Martin's dealer eventually agreed to give him a replacement 307. He
was informed that it had only happened to a few people, so he was shocked
to discover that the new car had the same problem.
Peugeot admit they've found a mileage calculation fault in the car's
software, and that a download to put it right is now available free to
affected drivers. Peugeot have now begun a recall campaign and say those
drivers should contact their local dealer.
Any concerns will be dealt with on a recall helpline: 0118 945
8484
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