One of the “authorities” in sustainable mobility has just committed a historic failure that will be remembered for years to come. Just when they announced that they had found the engine that would revolutionize the roads, they had to backtrack… after having sold thousands of units. We have lost billions of dollars and years of development that, of course, China will use to their advantage (and to our disadvantage). We tell you what has happened.
This engine was promising in 2012: now, it’s a problem for more than 500,000 people
The global automobile conglomerate, Stellantis Group, which owns successful auto brands such as Citroën, DS, Opel, and Peugeot has been in a fix regarding its Puretech 1.2 engine. This engine or reformulated engine to cut pollution and boost petrol consumption has been found to have a failing belt, much earlier than its expected life cycle.
This has raised dander among car owners and a drop in brand image. In this article, the reader will come to know how the ‘PureTech 1’ came into existence. When Stellantis developed the 2 engines, it encountered certain challenges, and below are the problems it faced and the solutions that were implemented.
The Puretech 1.2 engine debuted in 2012 as a response to Stellantis’ attempt to earn compliance with EU emission regulations. This three-cylinder engine was developed with a strategy that focused on high performance and energy conservation together with passing very low levels of pollution.
Stellantis Puretech 1.2 engine: the failure that has experts on edge about the “new” mobility
One of the changes made to the engine was to have the timing belt submerged in oil so that they are immersed in engine oil to help achieve the purpose of improving efficiency by doing away with chains and therefore reducing the costs of maintenance. However, this design choice proved to be a catalyst for the malformation of the timing belt within appealing that created multiple issues.
The Puretech 1.2 engine has had timing belt failure issues which range from no power, to check-engine light, and brake problems. This failure is believed to be caused by the effect of a chemical attack on the belt by the old oil which degrades the belt. Thus, the belt itself is in a way an indirect negative factor or what is also referred to as a secondary casualty given that it is made by Dayco.
This failure has the following impacts: Car owners having cars with the Puretech 1.2 engine have described the engine as expensive, prone to failures and the braking system has become stiff. Such has prompted a dwindling in customers’ confidence and an equally freezing in the volume of sales for both new and second-hand units.
What has Stellantis done to solve this problem? The proposed solution has become a success
To address these issues, Stellantis has declared an extraordinary warranty offer concerning vehicles equipped with 1. 2 PureTech engines. This extension stretches for up to 10 years or 175,000 km from March 19, 2024. This warranty can only be obtained by the owner providing proof that their vehicle has been serviced as per the manufacturers’ schedule by an Authorized repairer.ç
Regarding models assembled between 2013 and 2017, Stellantis also announced two recalls while for models assembled after 2017, it also conducted recalls. However, these complaints remain common where consumers complain of challenges of attaining help from Stellantis retailers besides being unwilling to consider the difficulties and costs incurred.
The Puretech 1. FCA 2 engine has played a major role in the image change of Stellantis Automobiles and all the brands that clad under it. This has caused negative impacts on customer confidence and thus, stunted the growth of demand for both new and used vehicles. Besides, a class action is being filed in France for CAN citizens who have found issues with the Puretech engine.
This Stellantis engine proves that, as happens to all manufacturers, innovation is linked to making mistakes that are otherwise normal. This brand is one of the most promising at present, with zero-emission prototypes that we have shown you on previous occasions. In any case, remember that they have made available to their customers an extended warranty, so for our part there is nothing to reproach.
