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A popular used car personality has taken to YouTube to warn viewers against buying a pair of well-known models, with many suffering from serious issues.
Craig runs the YouTube channel Scottish Car Clan and fronts videos in which he shares the best used cars to buy and reacts to the latest automotive stories.
In a popular video, Craig shares a number of used cars that motorists should by weary of, stating that some Ford Kugas came with a component in the transmission that is prone to failure.
He advised: “I know, it’s a well-loved car and we see them all the time on the roads. But, if you want to avoid a big bill, avoid the automatic Kugas before 2016 – I cannot say that any more plainly for you, avoid the automatics before the facelift.
“Let me tell you why. So, prior to 2016, Ford fitted these with their PowerShift gearbox. Now, this automatic gearbox used plastic retainers inside it. I know, it doesn’t take a genius to know that the plastic is probably going to go brittle and start to break, which is exactly what it does. It gets chewed up by the gearbox, gets absolutely everywhere on the inside until it eventually fails.”
In particular, Craig recommended that drivers should avoid all automatic Ford Kugas from the first generation, and second-generation models built between 2013 and 2016.
Debuting on the Ford Kuga, this six-speed twin clutch transmission aimed to offer plenty of power and refinement. However, some owners reported problems with the gearbox after as little as 60,000 miles.
In addition, some have complained that early versions of the Ford Kuga has poor interior build quality and lacks the levels of space found in competitors, including the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage.
Another popular used model that Craig suggested drivers would be wise to avoid is the first-generation Peugeot 208, stating it has faced a number of recalls.
He added: “Next up, in the small car category, is the Peugeot 208, and this one tops the list for the sheer number of recalls issued, and not for trivial stuff either. These have an issue where the front anti-roll bar bushings wear out and can actually stop the brakes from working if that recall hasn’t been performed on it.
“Adding to that, there were recalls for the steering column, the ECU [Engine Control Unit], the engine, even some of the body panels. They are just not worth the hassle. If you need a small, economical car like this, honestly, my money would go towards something like a Toyota Yaris.”
Whilst the latest-generation Peugeot 208 is widely acclaimed for its wide range of powertrains and attractive styling, the original model faced an unfortunate 28 issues that required examples to be called back to dealerships.
These faults included the risk of air entering the braking system via worn anti-roll bar bushes, preventing drivers from stopping the vehicle in very extreme cases.
Drivers who are interested in buying a second-hand Peugeot 208 should check with the seller that there are no outstanding recalls on the vehicle in order to stay safe and prevent costly issues.
