Has your Peugeot caught fire whilst under warranty?

Hi,

I'd like to know if your Peugeot has caught fire whilst under warranty, and
if so what action Peugeot took to rectify the situation.

My 307 caught fire last week, cause is still unknown but obviously some
fault under the bonnet caused enough heat to create a fire.

The insurance people say it is for Peugeot to deal with under the warranty
(and I agree with the insurance people), I'll let you guess what Peugeot is
saying.


I noticed an earlier thread about what melts in a fire on a 307, put it this
way, nearly everything does, see http://www.surftec.com/car.jpg

Ta, Neil...

 

Hi, not sure if this will help much but this problem has been shown on
Watchdog in the UK

The info below is taken from their website.

Chris.

2nd September 2003
Peugeot

Watchdog discovered that certain models of Peugeot 307s have a potentially
serious fire risk, which some owners have been unaware of.

Several viewers have been driving their cars when they noticed smoke
billowing from the bonnet and in some cases, it actually catching fire. The
cause is that the ignition key becomes stiff and stays in the starter on
position. This can cause the starter motor to overheat.

A recall campaign was launched by Peugeot in 2002. However, not all owners
appear to have received the notification letter. For those that did, the
letter made no mention of the potential fire risk. In fact, in an internal
Peugeot document obtained by Watchdog, this recall was actually classed as a
"non-safety" recall.

Peugeot regrets the events that have occurred and fully understands the
concerns of customers. Peugeot confirms the existence of a recall campaign
concerning the malfunctioning of the steering lock ignition switch on some
307 models. Vehicles involved in this recall were manufactured between April
and September 2001.

In the instance when the part did malfunction, drivers were alerted by
warning signs such as the key not returning from the 'starter' position to
the 'drive' position, an abnormal noise or an unusual smell. Therefore, as
there were indicative signs of a problem occurring the failure was
progressive.

Should any viewer be concerned then they can contact the dedicated Peugeot
helpline on 0118 945 8484 or visit their nearest Peugeot dealer.

 

Chris,

Thanks for your message, yes I am aware of the ignition lock failing
problem, my car has been subject to many recalls, BSI updates usually.

My car was never recalled for the ignition problem, however was
manufactured at the end of September or very beginning of October
(I did make a note in an old diary so I will check later), but then
saying that the ignition key has not stuck in the start position, so
I may be suffering from a different problem.

But in anycase, the original question remains, after a fire has taken place
how has Peugeot dealt with the issue, ie under Warranty or has it been
put into the Insurance companies hands.

I have many groups of people telling me Peugeot should cover it under
warranty (including a competing Peugeot dealer), the only people
saying the insurance should cover it is this cars Peugeot dealer,
I guess Peugeot have told them what to say, I need to know how
Peugeot have handled previous car fires, then I can move forward
and either kick Peugeot into action or the insurance company based
on this information.

 

It might be worth asking the insurance company to show you the relevant
clause of the contract between you and them, the policy. I'd really like to
know who they are to ensure that potential customers realise that if buying
a new car they will not be fully insured by these clowns.

Name and shame.

 

Neil,

So sorry to hear about your problems. I hope that the following may
help.

I cannot assist directly as I have a 206 which didn't catch fire,
however, I have had vast experience with dealing with Peugeot UK, and
the way they 'hide' behind the dealers. I would advise you to try the
following:

Let me explain first with an example:

A cambelt breaks under warranty, this failure causes damage to the top
end of the engine. There is usually no doubt that this would be
covered under warranty - note also that the cost of this is fairly
low.

Ok, look at your problem, something fails (wiring for example), this
caused damage to the rest of the car (fire), probably now a write off
- but this time the cost is high.

SO these two examples are kind of the same, the only reason Peugeot
are not repairing is 'cos of the cost.

What you need to do is be sneeky, find someone with a Pug, anything
will do. You need to contact Peugeot with the 'pretend' case of
cambelt failure and get in writing that the total cost of the repair
is covered, - record the conversation if necessary (but inform them
that you are doing so).

This letter/recording can then be used as evidence that in the case of
a part failing and causing damage the whole cost would be covered.

Then contact WatchDog (they would love this), contact Auto Express
also and go and see a solicitor who has experience of this type of
case. It is worth spending £50 on a letter.

Martin

 

I spoke to them on Monday, and this time instead of getting through to
what I term as a Monkey (someone given a repetitive job, with little or no
training promoted DIRECTly to answering the phone LINEs and then asked
to use their brain - a dangerious thing) I spoke to someone who did know
what he was banging on about, further more he double checked what he said
with his manager, so credit to that man, he has also been calling me
regularly and helping out, so the company involved doesn't really deserve
to be shamed apart from promoting their monkeys into jobs they can't
handle.

Basically now the insurance people have clarified things:

They do not cover electrical or mechanical failures, however should such
a failure cause a fire for example they will cover the cost of that
fire damage repair but not the cost of replacing the failed part which
caused it.

Which reads much better than what I was told the morning after 'We do not
cover electrical or mechanical faults, including those which caused a fire'
which as you might understand caused me a heck of a lot of stress.

Cheers all, Neil...

 

So I'm not the only person which says they hide behind their dealers,
it is amazing isn't it, why are they so scared, why don't they proactively
deal with issues.

Yep, you've hit the nail on the head!

A solicitor has already been set into action, the dealer will be getting
a call, then a faxed letter later today - its a shame it really has to
come to this, it is their own doing.

I'm still hoping to find a 307 owner who's car burnt down and had
their car replaced - I need to know who paid the bill, ie Peugeot or
their Insurance. Based on that I can use that as reference for my
situation.

Regards Neil....

 

An interesting link here - this guy had his replaced after 4 weeks of
arguing

http://www.carsurvey.org/review_24687.html

Matt
--
1991 Peugeot 205 Roland Garros Cabriolet
TU3S 1.4 Carb
http://www.205rolandgarros.co.uk
2003 - Happy 20th Birthday Peugeot 205
SETI Team "Peugeot 205" Founder (and only!) Member
http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/stats/team/team_152225.html
==

 

I did have a dig around car survey, its a pitty all the postings
are anon. unlike here where you can contact people who have
previously posted, all of them who I e-mailed for further information
kindly replied.

Anyway, I may have received some very good news, but this has yet to
be confirmed.

I might actually sleep tonight, it has been a stressful week!

Cheers All.

 

Hi,
As an alternative way out I suggest that you write directly to Peugeot CEO
(Mr Folz) in their headquarters in Paris (Avenue de la Grande Armée 75000
France); I experienced this when bargaining on the price of my new Peugeot:
it works.
Good luck!

 

Hello,

WOW, JM Folz answered personnaly to you ? I always thought that CEOs were
hidden behind their secretaries... I don't know Mr Folz, I've heard he works
a lot (and gives the good directions, according to sales figures, thanks),
but I wouldn't mind he answers all mail he receives.
The address of Peugeot France HQs is, indeed :
Automobiles Peugeot, BP 01 16, 75761 Paris cedex 16, France
Phone : +33 1 40 66 55 11
Fax : +33 1 40 66 54 14

Ok, it was almost good

 

I may well give him a call tomorrow, that would wind Peugeot UK up.

Actually I had a shock on Wednesday evening, the dealer called me to
say things were starting to happen and that Peugeot was starting to
become proactive at helping sort this incident out.

Today more detail has come through on what is on offer, and to give
Peugeot credit, they are now dealing with this issue properely.

It would have been nice if they had been a bit nicer to me the day
after the fire, it would have saved me having such a stressful
weekend, but thankfully they have come round.

They may have saved loosing me as a customer, I've got to admit
out of all the car dealers I've been to see over the weekend and
this week, none of the cars I saw excited me.

Tomorrow I'll make my decision as to if I am going to stay a
Peugeot person, or if I am going to move to one of the German
makes.

Well done Peugeot, deal with all customers proactively and you
may save yourself a lot of bad feeling.

Cheers all, will let you know what I do.

Neil...

 

(Neil Farnham-Smith) wrote in message

I'm staying a Peugeot person after all, luckily this issue
has come to a close, points to Peugeot they got it right in
the end and were surprisingly helpful.

I was sad to see my old friendly 307 for the last time today,
always a shame to see a fantastic bit of kit in such a sorry
state after all the hard work looking after it and keeping it
in a good state of repair.

Thank you all on these groups for your ideas, suggestions
and help, much appreciated. Happy motoring.

Regards Neil....

 

Hello,

Glad to read that. So you called Peugeot France, and they decided to replace
your car ?

You're welcome !