Peugeot 107 & 108 Problems: Common Faults on SA's Smallest Peugeots

If you drive a Peugeot 107 or 108, you own a small, simple city car — and that is mostly good news. In South Africa both were sold with the same small Toyota three-cylinder petrol engine and a five-speed manual gearbox, so the list of things that go wrong is short and well documented. The bad news is that the same handful of faults turns up again and again: clutches that wear out early, water pumps that weep, water that finds its way into the boot, rear windows that come unglued and exhausts that rust through. This guide walks through each one, what to look for, and which recalls to ask about, so you can fix the right part the first time.

Which 107 and 108 Models Were Sold in South Africa?

The Peugeot 107 arrived in South Africa in November 2006. CAR magazine's launch report said all local 107s — three models at launch — used the Toyota-sourced 998 cm³ three-cylinder, came only as a five-door, and made 50 kW and 93 N.m through a five-speed manual [1]. The car was built in the Czech Republic at a plant shared with Toyota, which sold the same basic vehicle as the Aygo, while Citroën sold it as the C1 [2]. That matters for owners: most Aygo and C1 knowledge applies to your 107 as well.

The second-generation Peugeot 108 only reached South Africa in September 2019. It came as a single 1.0 Active derivative with a three-cylinder engine making 53 kW and 93 N.m, mated exclusively to a five-speed manual, and was priced at R179,900 at launch with a five-year/100,000 km warranty and a five-year/100,000 km service plan [3]. Reviewers noted it is mechanically similar to the Toyota Aygo and Citroën C1 [4].

Under the bonnet of both is Toyota's 1KR-FE 1.0-litre engine, which an independent Toyota technical reference lists for the Peugeot 107 and 108 as well as the Aygo and C1 [5]. It uses a single-row roller timing chain with a hydraulic tensioner, not a belt [5] — our guide to which Peugeot engines use a belt or a chain covers the rest of the range.

1. Clutch Wear

Early clutch failure is the fault most often linked to this family of cars. Honest John's review of the twin Toyota Aygo (2005–2014) lists "Clutch and waterpump failures common", adds that a stronger clutch was fitted from 2009, and records a reader whose 107 developed clutch noise at just over three years old and was quoted for a replacement [6]. Owners of the 107 itself report the same: one UK owner's clutch went at 18,000 miles, another needed the release (thrust) bearing replaced [7].

Two things wear these clutches faster. The first is the job they do: as the trade magazine PMM puts it, these city cars do a lot of stop/start driving, which can significantly reduce the service life of the clutch [8] — think daily city traffic. The second is water: Honest John notes that the clutches "seem to let in water, leading to surface corrosion and premature wear" [6].

Symptoms

• Slipping. The clutch slips when driving, or the car is slow to pull away [8].
• Clutch noise. Honest John's reader file records a 107 with clutch noise at just over three years old [6].

Solution

• Replace the clutch as a kit. Pressure plate, friction disc and release bearing together, so you only pay for the labour once.
• Plan for workshop time. The gearbox has to come off to reach the clutch — PMM's step-by-step on a semi-automatic 107 uses a two-post ramp, an engine support and a transmission jack [8]. This is not a driveway job for most owners.
• Check the flywheel while it is apart. PMM's procedure cleans the flywheel and inspects it for heat cracks before the new clutch goes in [8].

Clutch kit for your 107 or 108

Pressure plate, clutch disc and release bearing for the 1.0 three-cylinder manual. Send us your VIN and we will match the right kit for your build year.

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2. Water Pump Leaks

The water pump is the second fault that comes up again and again. Honest John says water pump failures are common at about three years old on the Aygo [6]. On the 107 specifically, UK owners report a failed water pump at 32,000 miles, a pump replaced under warranty, and one car that had two clutch failures and a water pump failure between April 2011 and December 2012 [7]. In Honest John's reader file, the same 107 that was in for clutch noise was also found to have a leaking water pump [6].

On the 1KR-FE, the water pump and oil pump sit in the cast timing chain cover, and the pump is driven by the auxiliary (serpentine) belt rather than the timing chain [5]. So a leak usually shows at the front of the engine, on the timing-cover side.

Symptoms

• Coolant leak. Coolant traces at the front of the engine — Honest John's reader file records a leaking water pump on a 107 [6].

Solution

Replace the pump and its gasket, and check the rest of the cooling system for leaks at the same time. Do not keep topping up and driving: if the engine overheats, the repair bill can rise quickly. While the car is in, it is worth replacing the auxiliary belt if it is cracked or glazed, since it drives the pump.

See the cooling parts for the 107 on our Peugeot 107 water pump page.

Water pump for the 1.0 three-cylinder

A replacement water pump and gasket for the 107 and 108. Tell us your year and engine and we will quote the matching pump.

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3. Water in the Boot and Cabin

Damp boots are a long-running complaint on these cars. Honest John lists water leaking into the load area via an extractor vent, and into the load area and rear through misfitted rear door and hatch seals or rear light seals [6]. One 107 owner describes the all-glass boot lid starting to leak around its seal, on a car that had always suffered with condensation [7]; another had the rear window rubber replaced under warranty because of a leak into the boot [7].

Symptoms

• Wet boot floor. Water in the spare-wheel well or under the boot carpet.
• Damp carpets. Water getting into the rear of the car [6].
• Misting and smells. Windows that fog up [7].

Solution

Find the entry point before you buy parts: check the hatch glass seal, the rear door seals, the rear light seals and the body vents in turn [6]. The fix may be as small as a new seal or re-sealing one area, and leaks are cheaper to sort if you catch them before they cause mould, smells or electrical issues.

4. Rear Door Windows Coming Loose

At launch, every South African 107 was a five-door [1] — and that is the body style with this problem. On five-door models, Honest John reports that the glue holding the rear door windows to their hinges eventually fails and the windows fall out [6].

In the UK this became a formal safety recall. The DVSA register lists recall R/2018/358 for the Peugeot 107: "the bonding of the rear door window glass to the hinge assemblies may not conform to specification", covering 70,171 UK vehicles built from 1 February 2005 to 21 November 2013, with the remedy to check and, if necessary, replace the rear window or re-bond the glass hinges [9]. The manufacturer reference on that record is JED [9]. The matching Citroën C1 recall is R/2018/359 [9].

Whether Peugeot South Africa ran the same campaign on local 107s is something we could not verify. If a rear window on your car is loose, give a Peugeot dealer your VIN and ask whether the rear-window bonding campaign applies to it.

5. Exhaust Back Box and Catalytic Converter

The rear silencer (back box) on these cars has a poor reputation. Honest John says exhaust back boxes may only last two years before rusting through, and that catalytic converters may also fail after two to three years [6]. A UK 107 owner lists "exhaust goes after 3 years" among their complaints [7].

Symptoms

• A louder, blowing exhaust. A back box that has rusted through [6].

Solution

A back box that has rusted through needs replacing. If the catalytic converter is the problem, read our Peugeot catalytic converter guide before you decide between a new and an aftermarket unit.

Rear silencer (back box)

A replacement back box for the 107 or 108 when the original has rusted through. Tell us your year and we will quote the right section.

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Recalls to Ask About

The UK register lists several other recalls on these cars. Most covered small batches built over a few weeks, so they will not apply to most cars — but they are worth asking about by VIN. The "UK cars" column is the number of UK vehicles in each campaign, not a South African figure [9].

The accelerator pedal recall was part of a wider 2010 action: The Guardian reported that Peugeot Citroën recalled about 90,000 107 and C1 cars made from 2005 to mid-2009 at the Kolin plant it shared with Toyota, after Toyota's own pedal recall [10]. As with the window campaign, we could not confirm which of these recalls were run on South African cars, so quote your VIN to a dealer rather than relying on the UK list.

Buying a Used 107 or 108? What to Check

• Clutch. Feel for slip on pull-away and listen for clutch noise [6][8].
• Coolant. Check the level and look for leaks at the front of the engine [6].
• Boot and carpets. Lift the boot floor and feel the carpets for damp [6].
• Rear door windows. On every five-door, check both pop-out rear windows are firmly bonded to their hinges [6][9].
• Exhaust. Listen for blowing at the back box [6].
• Timing chain. Honest John's view is that the chain should last the life of the car as long as the oil is kept clean and changed on time, but that it is worth having it checked at higher mileage [6] — so ask for the service history.

Get Your 107 or 108 Sorted

None of these faults should write off a 107 or 108. They are small, cheap-to-run cars, and the parts that fail are well known. Tell us your model, year and VIN, and the part you need, and we will come back with options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Peugeot 107 have a Toyota engine?

Yes. CAR magazine's 2006 launch report described every South African 107 at launch as using the Toyota-sourced 998 cm³ three-cylinder [1], and a Toyota technical reference lists the same 1KR-FE engine for the 107, 108, Aygo and C1 [5].

Is the Peugeot 107 a timing belt or chain?

Chain. The 1KR-FE uses a single-row roller timing chain with a hydraulic tensioner [5]. Honest John's view is that it should last the life of the car if the oil is kept clean and changed on time, but that a check at higher mileage is sensible [6].

Is the Peugeot 108 the same car as the Toyota Aygo?

Mechanically it is very close. The South African launch review described the 108 as mechanically similar to the Toyota Aygo and Citroën C1 [4], and it uses the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder family [5].

What are the most common Peugeot 107 problems?

Clutch wear, water pump failures, water leaking into the boot or cabin, rear door windows coming unglued on five-door cars, and exhaust back boxes rusting through are the faults most often reported on the 107 and its Aygo and C1 twins [6][7].

What are common Peugeot 108 problems?

Fewer problems have been documented on the second generation. The 108 uses the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine family as the 107 [5], so check the same things when buying: clutch, coolant leaks and a damp boot.

Was the Peugeot 108 sold with an automatic gearbox in South Africa?

No. When it launched here in September 2019, the 108 was sold as a single 1.0 Active derivative with a five-speed manual only [3].

Sources

1. Peugeot 107 (CAR magazine, 1 November 2006)
2. A lot of car for little money (Mail & Guardian, 15 November 2006)
3. Pricing! Peugeot 108 small hatchback touches down in South Africa (CAR magazine, 18 September 2019)
4. Peugeot 108 (2019) Launch Review (Cars.co.za)
5. Toyota KR series engines (Toyota-Club.Net technical reference)
6. Toyota Aygo (2005 – 2014) review (Honest John, archived copy, May 2021)
7. Peugeot 107 Owner Reviews: MPG, Problems & Reliability (Carbuyer, UK owner reviews)
8. How to Fit a Clutch on a Peugeot 107 (PMM — Professional Motor Mechanic)
9. All vehicle recalls since 1992 (data file) (DVSA, UK Government)
10. Peugeot hit by recall of 90,000 cars over accelerator pedal fears (The Guardian, 31 January 2010)