1997 Peugeot 406 GLX 2.1 turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Faults:

Oil leak from bottom gasket at 70k.

Tye rods went at 120k.

Door trim does not last long.

General Comments:

Super quick car which handles superbly round corners, but can guzzle the diesel when you put your foot down, but the ride is great as is the drive.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th March, 2005

1997 Peugeot 406 GLX 2ltr from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A pleasure

Faults:

Engine blew at 91,000 miles steering wheel fell off at 93,000 miles clutch ceased at 93,500 miles air bag malfunction at 100mph nearly killed me exhaust fell off and hit car behind causing damage power steering failure gave me three months in hospital.

General Comments:

This car may have its faults, but drives like a dream however radio not that great shakes a bit at 120mph.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 29th January, 2005

3rd Feb 2007, 13:48

There is the right feeling... a Peugeot owner with a near death crash dosn´t care... Peugeot is more than life.

1997 Peugeot 406 Executive 2.1 turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Smooth, refined cruiser with appalling electrics

Faults:

The car was checked over carefully by me before purchase and also under the Peugeot approved scheme, and had none of the faults below present at time of delivery. This all happened in 13 months:

I'd had the car two weeks and the heated seats packed up. Went back to the supplying (main Peugeot) dealer who fitted new heating pads under warranty.

Instrument panel readouts became erratic a few weeks after that, and finally everything bar the speedometer stopped working. New instrument panel fitted under warranty.

Electric sunroof motor died with the roof half open. Had to use the manual crank system to close it. New motor fitted under warranty (4 figure sum with labour)

External temperature readout started telling blatant lies (95°F on a frosty January morning for example). New sensor fitted under warranty.

Knocking from front suspension. New wishbone bushes fitted under warranty.

Final straw - clutch started juddering. Dealer diagnosed a weeping rear main oil seal which had allowed engine oil to leak from the rear of the crankshaft and contaminate the clutch plates. New seal and clutch kit fitted under (about to expire) warranty.

General Comments:

Lovely, lovely car to drive, but criminally unreliable.

2.1TD engine is lovely and works really well in the 406. Marked difference between this and the smaller 1.9 unit which I also tried. Like all 406's the Executive is refined, smooth and handles and rides beautifully.

The Executive spec is incredible. Full leather electrically operated and heated seats, climate control, perhaps the best standard fit stereo I've experienced and a full complement of electrics. Unfortunately, despite the car being a low mileage approved example from a Peugeot main dealer, most of it went wrong in the year I owned the car.

Never have I been so grateful for a warranty. I became quite friendly with the service staff in the local dealership, and when I collected the car after the clutch repair, they totted up the total cost of the work invoiced to the warranty company: a scarcely believable £4,200! In just over a year!

Sold it before the warranty expired. Lost a fortune. Ho hum, lesson learned. I still remember it as a fantastic car to drive, which in the light of the appalling ownership experience says a lot for the driving experience. Never again though! My brother in law is currently having stacks of problems with his new 307 so things at Peugeot don't seem to have changed much.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 17th December, 2004

15th Apr 2007, 08:53

I bought a 2.0 ltr petrol turbo executive 406 nearly 2 yrs ago, I've replaced the exhaust system, tyres and just recently the hydraulic system for the clutch as the pedal went all soft and lost travel, this was a peugeot part only and was a whopping £194.00 inc VAT, apart from this the car is fantastic and has never let me down or suffered any electrical problems. It just goes to show how unlucky you have been! My car is a 1996 showing 124.000 miles.

5th Dec 2008, 17:06

I drive a 1998 2.1 406 - best car I have ever had; smooth, economical and reliable, getting 45-48 mpg. It has 188,000 miles on the clock and drives well. Had it for 2 years - best 800 pounds I have spent.