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Hi Dolores,

They’re pretty shoddy, to be honest. The alternators are troublesome, as are turbos on both petrol and diesel models. Head gasket trouble is common, and the timing chain on the 1.6 petrol needs regular checking. Electrical problems are common and the roof mechanism on the CC model is spectacularly unreliable, often getting stuck half open or closed. The timing belt/chain question rather depends on which engine you’re talking about, but economy will work out at around 35mpg for the petrol models, or 45-50mpg for a diesel.

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Hi Piotr,

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Hi Jakub,

Right, here’s what we’ve gleaned with a little help from Nissan and a dive into its archives…

There were basically two specifications of Primera from 2002 to 2008. The entry model was an SE, which came with a full colour display in the centre of the dash, trip computer, colour reversing camera (one of the first cars to deploy this tech, as I recall), climate control, power steering, front and rear electric windows, electric mirrors, height-and-lumbar adjustable driver's seat, CD player stereo with six speakers, ABS with EBD and brake assist, six airbags, front pretensioners for the seatbelts, remote central locking, alarm, 16-inch alloy wheels, front fogs, chrome door handles and body coloured mirrors.

The T-Spec model got all of that and added auto dimming rear view mirrors, auto wipers, leather trim, power and heated seats, steering wheel audio controls, premium audio system, active headrests, cruise control (for the 1.8 petrol model) and 17-inch alloys.

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Hi Eoin,

The rear wiper is an easy one to start with as it's very common with this car. The wiring loom gets broken near the hinge for the hatchback so you'll need a good mechanic or auto electrician to fix that one, but it shouldn't cost a fortune to do.

It's trickier to assess your fogging-up problem from afar. It essentially means there is moisture in the car somewhere, though sometimes simply cleaning the inside of all the windows properly sorts this out. Other than that, avoid using recirculation of the interior air, do use the air conditioning if you have it and, if all else fails, consider leaving a dehumidifier running for a while in the cabin to take out moisture.

Hope that helps

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Hi Danny,

While the Frontera is cheap to buy and not bad off-road, it really is not a 4x4 we'd recommend due to its lack of quality and poor reliability record. The weak points are the engines and electrics. If it has not been serviced then best to walk away. The steering and suspension systems have also had problems and the Frontera is prone to rust.

Sorry not to have better news!

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Hi Paraic,

First and foremost is the running costs, but I guess they're on the same level as any large SUV-based commercial with an automatic gearbox - they're heavy on fuel and tyres, etc.

Other than that, while the Discovery 3 is proving to be more reliable than its predecessor, it's hardly the most dependable truck of its type. Some cars are perfect, but others have loads of issues, from the electrics to the air suspension and even to full engine failure.

Don't settle for anything less than a full service history and make sure you have the car checked out by someone that knows what they're looking at too.

Hope that helps

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Hi John,

In general the Peugeot 308 is proving quite reliable - especially the 1.6-litre HDi diesel engine. The 308 suffers the occassional electrical glitch so check that all switches and systems are working as you'd expect. Make sure that the particulate filter light comes on when you turn no the ignition, but goes out again when or soon after you start the engine.

Other than that, there were a few recalls affecting the early examples (as the 2007 one is) so run the chassis number by your local Peugeot dealer to ensure the car has had all the recall work done.

Let us know how you get on.

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Hi David,

We can't find any information on a known issue so I would suggest you bring the car to a good auto-electrician or in-car entertainment specialist to have it sorted out.

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Hi Ceppie,

We're assuming you mean the model replaced in 2008, as the older version was very unreliable. The newer car has not so far been plagued with the same electrical and suspension issues, but of course get any model you're considering checked out in detail.

The 1.6 HDi diesel engine's timing belt should be changed every 240,000 kilometres according to Citroen, though we'd recommend doing it earlier.

Hope that helps

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Hi Evan,

There's not a lot of difference between your car and the 2003 model so anything you've had go wrong with your own could happen to that - if there has been anything.

You should already be familiar with how hard the X5 is on its brakes, tyres and suspension so make sure they're all in good condition in any car you're looking at. There have been a few relatively minor engine issues too causing flat spots in the power delivery when accelerating so if you test drive a car and it has that best to walk away unless the seller agrees to fix it. Owners also report some problems with electrics so make sure you thoroughly check every button and switch in the car.

Hope that helps