Peugeot RCZ common problems & fixes (2010–2015 incl. 2013 facelift, 1.6 THP, 2.0 HDi and RCZ R)

Written by the C4R team from DVSA data and owner reports. Fact-checked 2026-10-13.

30-second verdict

The Peugeot RCZ (2010–2015) is a striking 2+2 coupe on Peugeot 308 underpinnings, and it cost less than an Audi TT when new. It suits drivers who want looks and tidy handling more than rear-seat space. Check the diesel fuel-filter recall is done, look for broken coil springs (the top MOT failure in our 2024 analysis), listen for a cold-start chain rattle on THP petrols and watch for coolant-sensor and electrical glitches. Every 2.0 HDi is now due a cambelt on age unless one has been fitted in the last ten years. The safest pick is a manual THP 200 or 2.0 HDi with a full service history. Auto Express advises avoiding the THP 156 automatic, and the RCZ R is the quickest but rare (Wikipedia counts 305 UK cars) and sits in insurance group 42.

Generations at a glance

Only the THP 156 was offered with an automatic gearbox. The THP petrols share their engine family with the MINI of the same era, while the diesel is the 2.0 HDi used across Peugeot's range. Other versions included the better-equipped Red Carbon, which Auto Express says cost £1,500 more than a GT, and a UK-only Magnetic edition that Wikipedia says was limited to 170 cars. Euro NCAP never crash-tested the RCZ. The rear seats suit small children only, and there is no spare wheel, just a tyre inflation kit.

Known issues

1. Diesel fuel-filter heater recall (2012–2014 builds)

Label: Confirmed recall R/2015/241

• What you notice: a warning light, an engine that is hard or impossible to start and, in the worst case, a diesel leak.
• Which cars: 2.0 HDi diesels built between 03/09/2012 and 19/12/2014, according to the DVSA record. The same campaign covered other Peugeot models, so its 12,833-vehicle total is not RCZs alone.
• Why: the fuel heater built into the diesel filter cover could let heat build up in its electrical connector. That can distort the cover and let air into the fuel system.
• Fix: a Peugeot dealer fits a new fuel heater cover and inspects the connector, replacing it if needed. Recall work is free.
• DIY difficulty: 5/5 (dealer recall work).
• Check when buying: run the GOV.UK recall check on the registration, then ask a Peugeot dealer to confirm by VIN that the campaign is closed. Ask the seller for the paperwork.
• Evidence: the DVSA recall record, launched 09/12/2015; Auto Express's used RCZ guide describes the same fuel filter cover recall on 2012–2014 diesels.

2. Broken coil springs and worn suspension joints

Label: Inspection point

• What you notice: a clonk over bumps, a car that sits lower on one corner, a ride that has turned harsh and crashy, uneven tyre wear or vague steering.
• Which cars: every version. In C4R's analysis of 2024 DVSA MOT results, a fractured or broken coil spring was the RCZ's most common failure item, recorded on 8.2% of tests, with diesels and petrols much the same. Worn ball joints, track-rod ends and split driveshaft (CV) boots also feature, and worn suspension pins or bushes were an advisory on 7.2% of tests.
• Why: springs, bushes and joints wear with age and mileage, and these cars ride on firm suspension and big wheels. Auto Express's long-term THP 200 rode noticeably worse by about 10,000 miles, which the tester blamed on worn bushes, and a Carbuyer owner reported knocking from the front suspension when the car was new.
• Fix: replace broken springs in axle pairs and renew worn bushes, ball joints, track-rod ends or CV boots, then have the alignment checked.
• DIY difficulty: 3/5 (springs need proper compressors).
• Check when buying: look at each spring through the wheel arch with the steering on full lock, drive over speed bumps listening for clonks, check the tyres for uneven wear and read the MOT history for spring, bush and ball-joint advisories.
• Evidence: C4R's analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2024 (method below); Auto Express's 2011 long-term test report; Carbuyer owner reviews.

3. THP petrol: cold-start chain rattle and oil leaks

Label: Inspection point

• What you notice: a rattle from the engine for a few seconds after a cold start that lasts longer over time, oil weeping around the engine, rough running, hesitation or an engine warning light.
• Which cars: 1.6 THP 156 and THP 200 petrols from 2010 to 2015, and the RCZ R. The diesel uses a cambelt instead (see item 6).
• Why: the THP belongs to the Prince engine family developed by Peugeot and BMW, and RAC and Carbuyer both note that the RCZ shares its petrol engines with the MINI. In that family a tired tensioner lets the chain slap against its plastic guides and stretch. UK MINI specialist Lohen links the problem to the earlier N14 MINI engine and says the later N18 resolved it; it does not cover the Peugeot versions. Wikipedia also records a 2013 service bulletin on failing chains and tensioners in the Prince family. Mintech Spares lists inlet-valve carbon deposits, high-pressure fuel pump failures and turbo oil-feed trouble in this engine family. How often RCZs suffer is not well documented, so treat these as checks. In our MOT analysis, oil-leak advisories were far more common on petrols (14.7% of tests) than diesels (4.4%), and engine warning lights more common too (3.7% against 1.8%).
• Fix: for a rattle, Lohen starts with an oil and filter change and the latest tensioner, then replaces the chain and guides if the noise persists. Leaks, carbon and fuel-pump faults need diagnosing first, not guessing.
• DIY difficulty: 4/5.
• Check when buying: start the engine yourself from stone cold and listen for a rattle that lasts more than a second or two. Check the dipstick, look for oil around the engine and under the car, make sure no warning lights stay on and ask for invoices showing regular oil changes.
• Evidence: Wikipedia's Prince engine entry (engine family and 2013 bulletin); Lohen's explanation of the MINI chain rattle; Mintech Spares on Prince-family faults; RAC and Carbuyer on the shared MINI engine; Auto Express confirms the petrol is chain-driven; C4R's MOT analysis.

4. Coolant sensor faults and false overheating warnings

Label: Reported by owners and independent specialists

• What you notice: an overheating warning or a message telling you to stop the engine, a temperature gauge that reads far too hot or too cold, or coolant that keeps needing a top-up.
• Which cars: all years. The Carbuyer owner reports involve 2011 THP 200s.
• Why: Auto Express's used guide says coolant level sensors can fail and the temperature gauge can give false readings. Carbuyer owners describe repeated coolant-sensor and thermostat repairs, and one THP 200 needed a new cylinder head. RAC's review lists overheating warnings and a failed thermostat sensor from owner feedback. Mintech notes water pump and thermostat housing leaks on the related MINI engines.
• Fix: read the fault codes, pressure-test the cooling system and replace the faulty sensor, thermostat or housing. Never keep driving on a genuine overheating warning.
• DIY difficulty: 3/5.
• Check when buying: with the engine cold, check the coolant level in the expansion tank and look for dried coolant around the thermostat housing and water pump. On the test drive the gauge should settle in the middle and stay there. Ask for invoices for any cooling repairs.
• Evidence: Auto Express's used RCZ guide; Carbuyer owner reviews; RAC's 2013–2017 used review; Mintech Spares.

5. Electrical glitches: washers, lights, sat nav, mirrors

Label: Reported by owners and independent specialists

• What you notice: washer jets that stop working or spray only the headlamp washers, automatic headlamp adjustment or automatic lights that play up, instrument display lighting glitches, a faulty sat nav or stereo, door mirrors that creak when folding or will not adjust, or a boot release that fails.
• Which cars: all years.
• Why: Auto Express's long-term THP 200 developed washer, headlamp-adjustment and automatic-light faults during its 2011 test, and its used guide warns that mirror glass motors can seize. RAC's early used review mentions instrument lighting glitches fixed under warranty, and Carbuyer owners report sat nav, stereo, comms module and boot-release faults.
• Fix: read the fault codes with a capable scanner, then repair or replace the faulty part. Washer pumps, mirror motors and headlamp levelling sensors are separate parts.
• DIY difficulty: 2/5.
• Check when buying: test the washers and headlamp washers, folding mirrors and mirror adjustment, every light including automatic lights and wipers, the sat nav, the stereo, Bluetooth, the boot release and the heated seats.
• Evidence: Auto Express's long-term test reports (June and August 2011) and used guide; RAC's 2010–2013 used review; Carbuyer owner reviews.

6. 2.0 HDi diesel: cambelt due on age, and DPF care

Label: Inspection point

• What you notice: nothing until the belt fails. A clogging particulate filter shows a warning light and can put the car into reduced power.
• Which cars: 2.0 HDi 163 diesels, 2010–2015. Early cars built up to July 2010 were also covered by recall R/2011/017 for a chafing fuel return pipe.
• Why: Auto Express gives the diesel's cambelt interval as ten years or 140,000 miles, whichever comes first, so every RCZ diesel is now due unless it has had one. The particulate filter needs regular faster runs to burn off soot, and the AA warns that short trips stop it clearing.
• Fix: replace the cambelt; Auto Express quoted £345 in 2017, so expect more now. For a fresh filter warning the AA suggests about 10 minutes above 40mph; if that fails, a garage needs to run a forced regeneration.
• DIY difficulty: 4/5 for the belt; 2/5 for a regeneration drive.
• Check when buying: ask for an invoice showing a cambelt change in the last ten years or 140,000 miles; if there is none, budget for one straight away. Make sure no filter warning shows, look for smoke and ask how the car has been used.
• Evidence: Auto Express's used RCZ guide; the AA's guide to diesel particulate filters; DVSA recall R/2011/017.

7. Clutch wear, and the THP 156 automatic

Label: Inspection point

• What you notice: on a manual, revs rising without the car speeding up, a high biting point or judder pulling away. On the automatic, higher fuel use than the manual.
• Which cars: all manual cars; the automatic was offered only on the THP 156.
• Why: clutches wear with use. One Carbuyer owner reported two replacement clutches, and RAC's summary of owner feedback lists the same and a gearbox oil leak. Auto Express suggests avoiding the automatic, and Carbuyer quotes 38.7mpg for it against 44.1mpg for the manual THP 156.
• Fix: a new clutch is a gearbox-out job. Have an automatic diagnosed by a specialist before condemning it.
• DIY difficulty: 4/5.
• Check when buying: in a high gear at low revs, press the accelerator firmly and make sure revs and speed rise together, pull away on a hill and look under the gearbox for oil. On an automatic, check it changes smoothly both from cold and once warm.
• Evidence: Carbuyer owner reviews and running-cost figures; RAC's 2013–2017 used review; Auto Express's used RCZ guide.

8. Corroded aluminium roof rails and noisy seals

Label: Inspection point

• What you notice: white or bubbling corrosion on the aluminium rails that run along the roof, and creaks or wind noise from the seals at their ends.
• Which cars: all RCZs.
• Why: Auto Express's used guide reports corrosion on the aluminium rails, and end seals that loosen and let in noise.
• Fix: a bodyshop or refinisher can treat and refinish the rails and refit or renew the seals.
• DIY difficulty: 3/5.
• Check when buying: look closely along both rails in good light, especially at the ends, and listen for creaks and wind noise on the test drive.
• Evidence: Auto Express's used RCZ guide.

Recalls (DVSA data)

The DVSA recalls file (checked 2026-10-13) lists three campaigns under the model name RCZ, matching the three recalls Carbuyer and Auto Express mention. Launch dates and build windows are copied from the file. Two campaigns also covered other Peugeot models, so the vehicle totals are for the whole campaign. Two build windows start in late 2009, when production began, before UK sales opened in summer 2010; they are shown as recorded. Not every car built in a window is necessarily affected.

Use the GOV.UK vehicle recall checker on the registration, then ask a Peugeot dealer to confirm by VIN that any campaign covering the car has been completed.

MOT watch-points

What the 2024 DVSA figures say

C4R analysed 10,830 normal MOT tests carried out in 2024 on Peugeots that DVSA records as an RCZ. The national figure is the 2024 pass rate for all cars at the normal test, weighted to match the ages of the cars in each group.

Overall the RCZ passed about as often as the average car of the same age. Diesels did slightly worse than average, but they had also covered more miles; the figures do not adjust for mileage.

Most common recorded failure reasons

Each figure is the share of that group's tests on which the item was recorded as a fail. One test can record several defects, so the shares must not be added together.

Common advisories to check before buying

• Tyres worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge: 19.7% of all tests.
• Brake discs worn, pitted or scored: 15.6% of all tests.
• Engine oil leak (not excessive): 11.1% of all tests, rising to 14.7% on petrols and 16.1% on cars first used in 2010–2012.
• Tyres cracking or perishing: 9.1% of all tests, so check the date codes on low-mileage cars.
• Suspension pins or bushes worn: 7.2% of all tests, and 9.2% on diesels.
• Brake pads wearing thin: 6.7% of all tests.

Method and limits: C4R calculated these figures from DVSA's anonymised 2024 MOT results for class 4 and 7 normal tests where the make is Peugeot and the model text contains RCZ, counting each test once (duplicate rows in the DVSA files are counted once). Pass rate is P / (P + F + PRS). Petrol and diesel come from DVSA's fuel-type field. RCZ R cars cannot be separated from other RCZs. Items recorded on fewer than 30 tests in a group are not shown. These figures describe the tested cars as a group and do not predict the condition of any one car.

What to check before the test

• Springs and suspension: look at each coil spring for a break, especially near the ends, and listen for clonks over bumps.
• Driveshaft boots: turn the steering to full lock and look behind each front wheel for a split rubber boot or grease spray.
• Lights: walk round the car with the lights on, including brake lights, and check that the headlamps point where they should. Since May 2018 testers have also checked reversing lights and headlamp washers, if fitted, on cars first used from September 2009.
• Warning lights: an engine or ABS warning light that stays on is a fail, so make sure every light goes out after starting.
• Diesel smoke: since May 2018, visible smoke of any colour from a diesel with a particulate filter is a major fault, and so is evidence of filter tampering.
• Brakes and tyres: check the discs for a deep lip and scoring and the tyres for wear on the inside edges, cracking and damage.

Read the full history on the GOV.UK MOT history service and look for spring, bush, oil-leak and lighting advisories that keep coming back.

Buying one? Our checklist

1. Run the GOV.UK recall check and, on a diesel, ask a Peugeot dealer to confirm that R/2015/241 (2012–2014 builds) or R/2011/017 (builds up to July 2010) has been done where it applies.
2. Confirm the engine and gearbox from the V5C and the car: THP 156 manual or automatic, THP 200 manual, 2.0 HDi manual or RCZ R.
3. Ask for the service history. Look for regular oil changes on a THP petrol and, on a diesel, a cambelt change within the last ten years or 140,000 miles.
4. Start the engine yourself from stone cold, listen for a chain rattle on a petrol and make sure every warning light goes out.
5. Check the dipstick and look for oil leaks around the engine and gearbox and under the car.
6. Check the coolant level when cold and watch the temperature gauge settle in the middle on the test drive.
7. Inspect the coil springs and driveshaft boots on full lock, then drive over speed bumps listening for knocks.
8. Test the clutch for slip and judder, or make sure an automatic changes smoothly.
9. Try every electrical item: washers, headlamp washers, mirrors, lights, sat nav, stereo, boot release and heated seats. On a fast road, check the rear spoiler rises; RAC says it deploys at about 53mph.
10. Inspect the aluminium roof rails for corrosion, check the tyres for wear and age and remember there is no spare wheel.

Running costs

• Vehicle tax: RCZ production ended in 2015, so almost every car was first registered before April 2017 and is taxed on the CO2 figure on the V5C. Using official figures quoted by Carbuyer, Auto Express and evo, and current GOV.UK rates for a single 12-month payment: the 2.0 HDi (130–135g/km depending on the source) falls in band D at £170 or band E at £200; the manual THP 156 (149g/km on the facelifted car) and the RCZ R (145–149g/km) in band F at £225; the THP 200 (155–159g/km) in band G at £275; and the THP 156 automatic (168g/km) in band H at £325. Figures vary between sources and model years, so check the V5C.
• Insurance: Carbuyer lists group 28 for the THP 156, groups 29 to 30 for the diesel depending on trim, up to group 34 for the THP 200 Red Carbon and group 42 for the RCZ R.
• Official economy: under the old NEDC test, Carbuyer quotes 54.3mpg for the 2.0 HDi, 44.1mpg for the manual THP 156, 42.2mpg for the THP 200 and 38.7mpg for the THP 156 automatic. evo quotes 44.8mpg for the RCZ R. Real-world figures are lower: Auto Express averaged around 30mpg in its long-term THP 200 and just under 30mpg in an RCZ R.
• Servicing: Auto Express gave the interval as every two years or 20,000 miles, alternating minor and major services, priced at £140 and £250 in 2017. Brake fluid is due every two years, and the diesel's cambelt every ten years or 140,000 miles. The THP petrol has a timing chain.

Sources & further reading

Official data

• DVSA: Vehicle Safety Branch recalls database (data.gov.uk)
• DVSA: Anonymised MOT tests and results (data.gov.uk)
• GOV.UK: Check if a vehicle has been recalled
• GOV.UK: Check the MOT history of a vehicle
• GOV.UK: MOT rule changes, 20 May 2018
• GOV.UK: Vehicle tax rates for cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017

Model history, reviews and reliability

• Auto Express: Used Peugeot RCZ review
• Auto Express: Peugeot RCZ (2009–2015) review
• Auto Express: Peugeot RCZ facelift
• Auto Express: Peugeot RCZ GT 1.6 THP
• Auto Express: Peugeot RCZ R (2014–2015) review
• Auto Express: Peugeot RCZ long-term test report (June 2011)
• Auto Express: Peugeot RCZ long-term test, final report
• RAC: Peugeot RCZ (2010–2013) used car review
• RAC: Peugeot RCZ (2013–2017) used car review
• Carbuyer: Peugeot RCZ coupe review
• Carbuyer: Peugeot RCZ reliability and safety
• Carbuyer: Peugeot RCZ MPG, running costs and CO2
• Carbuyer: Peugeot RCZ owner reviews
• evo: Peugeot RCZ review (2010)
• evo: Peugeot RCZ 1.6 THP 200 review (2010)
• evo: Peugeot RCZ R review
• Wikipedia: Peugeot RCZ

Engine and specialist advice

• Wikipedia: Prince engine
• Lohen: R56 MINI N14 timing chain rattle explained
• Mintech Spares: N14 and N18 Cooper S and JCW engine issues
• AA: Diesel particulate filters

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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