2000 Peugeot 406 LX HDi 90

Summary:

Good, only let down by quality of finish

Faults:

Fuel pump fuse blew in heavy traffic - AA fitted higher-rated fuse and subsequently there was some debate as to whether or not this model should have been the subject of a recall.

Driver's window got stuck in the down position in heavy rain - call-out could not fix it, dealer fitted new motor etc under 3-yr warranty.

Problems with fuel injectors soon after delivery - all 4 replaced under warranty.

New instrument binnacle after false readings from fuel gauge.

Constant problems with front brake discs warping. Replaced or skimmed many times under warranty.

General Comments:

Very spacious, huge carrying capacity.

Comfortable, especially on long journeys.

Well-appointed for LX model.

Outstanding economy, but performance with the 90bhp mediocre.

Great for towing, very stable with reasonable pulling power.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 1st May, 2004

2000 Peugeot 406 GLX

Summary:

Could have been class leader, but fails in some important (Safety) areas.

Faults:

Rear suspension link broke. Replaced @ 43,000 miles.

Rear nearside electric window failed to operate and needed repair on three occasions.

Front brake disks have been replaced 10 times! Warped and causing brake shudder.

Rear nearside door lets in water in heavy rain.

General Comments:

Comfy car.

Lots of room.

Shocking brakes.

Too many niggles and problems that should have been put right and not have them return. The brakes saga is disgraceful.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 16th November, 2003

22nd Nov 2003, 15:17

Hi.

Well I too have a 2000 Model Peugeot 406 HDI Estate and it's been Ultra Reliable. it's got 121,000 miles on the clock it's only ever been in for services. the HDI 90 engine is a little small for a 1.40 tonne car, but mine has been super.

4th Aug 2005, 19:31

Brake warping is usually caused by drivers keeping their foot on the brake when in a traffic jam or at those pesky traffic lights. The disks cool while you're standing still, but the section covered by the brake pads remains hot, thus the disk warps.

Try using your handbrake a little more often ;)

6th Apr 2006, 16:46

I don't have any experience with the 406 - but I am considering buying one, hence reading reviews - but I have had terrible trouble with warped brake disks on my old Mondeo. Apparently the major cause of warping is having hot brakes from either high-speed braking, or 'enthusiastic' driving and getting the disks wet by driving through puddles. The fast cooling seems to make them warp very quickly. Unavoidable really, but this is what I know.

17th Mar 2008, 09:16

The discs on the mondeo warp because they are of crap quality. The reason other discs can warp is contained in the Booth and Strattos theory of radial cooling. I hate drum brakes to death!

2000 Peugeot 406 LX 2 .o petrol

Summary:

Too many niggly faults that need expensive repair

Faults:

Air conditioning packed up in this hot summer

CD player packed in

clutch needed replacing at high cost.

Brakes shudder

handbrake needs long pull to be effective.

General Comments:

Good looking car and I picked it because many taxi firms across Europe use it so I thought it would be reliable.

Good room in cabin and large boot.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 11th September, 2003

2000 Peugeot 406 Estate, Familia, 7 seater 2 liter petrol

Summary:

Nice, cheap, big car with poor quality

Faults:

A fastener on the dashboard was not fitted causing a rattle.

The slits in the buckles the rear safety belts run through are of a design that the belts often get twisted and stuck so that the kids can't untangle them anymore.

The Peugeot roof bars are a pig to fit, if you are not very careful you will end up with some nasty dents in the car's roof.

The black deco-foil on the roof struts is badly fitted creasing and flaking off in one place.

The pullback springs of the rear seat belts are so feeble, the belts do not be pulled back completely any more, hanging loose.

The paint in the area the rear door-stops rest on was flaking off, causing corrosion after a few months.

The rear door is so badly fitted that it collided with some welds on the car's body, scarping off the paint causing corrosion after a few months.

The reverse gear has the tendency to slip out when not very carefully engaged.

The rubber lip below the front spoiler was ripped off, breaking the tiny brackets that hold it in place, probably when coming in touch with a pavement stone.

The driver's door lock failed immediately, was replaced and fails again when temperatures are below freezing.

From the beginning there were insects in the windscreen washer tank, no idea how they got there. Getting shred by the pump, the bits then block the washer nozzles.

The front windscreen wipers cannot be lifted off to scrape ice off the windscreen because they would collide with the bonnet.

Front and rear windscreen wiper blade split after about a year.

The front windscreen gets fogged up as soon as temperature drops and there are a few people in the car. Need to have the air condition on noisy defog all the time.

The CD player was damaging the top coating of the CD due to excessive force of its primitive load mechanism.

One of the front fog-lights steams up, probably a seal broken.

Decorative covers on coat hangers fell off due to poor design and assembly quality.

There was an annoying rattle due to poor cable routing under the cylinder head cover.

The spare wheel cover (7-seater) is so fragile that the kids stepping on it to get to the rear facing seats nearly cracked it.

Grit from the road gets stuck between the front door sills and a rubber door seal attached to it. No way to get it out again. Will cause corrosion eventually.

The heat shield of the exhaust manifold is broken, £170 to get it fixed.

Air condition sensor failed.

General Comments:

The car looks good, feels good, drives good, is an utter bargain for the size and performance and has an utter atrocious design and build quality.

If you are not a Peugeot fanatic, better don't buy.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 16th April, 2003