2001 Citroen C5 210 BHP from UK and Ireland - Comments

I have a Citroen C5 2001, 210bhp. The initial posts comments have been in many ways mirrored by my experience. As a long distance and heavy driver I spend a lot of time in a car and wanted one that was comfortable. The C5 is certainly that. When everything is working the C5 is one of the most comfortable rides I have ever experienced.

The problem is that most of the time everything is not working. Intermittent “ESP\ASR Fault” is frequently displayed and apparently almost impossible to fix as it remains after 2 years and numerous attempts to fix it. (which included replacement of both front suspension legs, due to leakage)

Anti pollen faults are also popular.

My rear passenger side door no longer opens and the rear drivers side door only opens from the inside. I was told at the dealership that this was a common fault with an “actuator” and they get around 10 in every week. If it is this common one wonders why Citroen has never remedied it. But at the potential cost of up to £800 to fix the door that will not open at all, well maybe economic greed prevailed.

Much of everything to do with the car is controlled by the on board computer, and so the computer needs resetting or updating with most of the work done on this car. At my local Dealership they were charging a minimum of £200, up to £400 just to reset the computer with someone else doing the work, and not including their own labour time to do this. However I found another dealership who only charged the time it took to reset it and do the work. (I installed a JVC MP3 player, still running it off of the steering wheel stalk controls. After I had done this the central locking no longer worked on the car. Apparently the computer needed reprogramming to accept the new stereo. The local dealership quoted me an initial £200 fee, with labour on top expecting it to take an hour or two to reset it. However another dealership in a nearby city installed it (I had taken it back out so I could lock the car) and reprogrammed the computer for a total cost of under £74.)

At an average of every 60,000 miles an anti-pollutant that feeds into the exhaust part of the engine runs out, needs refilling. The trouble is this cannot be refilled at all and so needs replacing instead. I am told the part alone costs £800, and that the engine needs to be taken out in order to replace it. However one mechanic at the dealership stated that it does nothing to effect car performance and is just environmentally friendly. Without this the emissions still fall with in legal limits and so he advised I simply ignore this which is what he does with his own.

My most recent problem stated battery Recharge fault, and shortly afterwards everything electric failed with faults for ABS, ESP/ASR, all airbags, brakes, speedometer failed, and every electrical display died. This has only just occurred, so I dread to think what this one will end up costing me.

In short I purchased this car in 2003, and in the 3 years I have had it I have paid out twice the cost of purchasing the car trying to address and fix numerous recurring faults. It should be noted that most parts required can only be obtained from dealerships and seem close to extortionate when compared with similar items for a Vauxhall of Ford car.

Nice ride, but unreliable and very expensive to maintain.

It seems with my C5 that it costs twice as much to keep it running as it does to actually buy it. But after spending so much to fix it, I'm reluctant to then take a loss and get a reliable banger. But when is it much too much?

The comments and responses from the mechanics and other service representatives seemed to imply that all my problems are common Re-occurrences that they receive every day. The explanation as to why faults remained after supposedly been repaired, or just reoccurred after a few months, seemed to be given in the bored monotone of someone who has repeated the same information time and time again. This totally demoralised me in terms of its reliability across the whole C5 range.

A fantastic review, I can identify with every fault that you have mentioned. I too have the Exclusive SE, 38000 miles - 6 ignition coils, 2 sets of front suspension, front tyres, sticking locks, melting steering wheel... the list goes on and on. It is the best car I have owned for spec and comfort, but, like you, I really need to cut my losses. Theres something that keeps stopping me, but I could have bought a Merc for the cost of running this unreliable heap!!!

I bought a 2001 C5 Exclusive SE 3.0 litre with 6000 miles on it and drove it until a couple of weeks ago when with 85,000 it blew a rear exhaust box. Replacement was just ove £900 so I decided it was time to cut and run as the car was worth only £2000.

I like others found the car great in most respects, but less than ideally reliable. That said, it only let me down completely once and failed to start and then eventually recovered with no fault ever being detected! I believe it picked up a signal from another vehicle. My experience includes 3 coils (they are designed to last the life of the car!), one replacement door lock (but another failing periodically), two steering wheels blistering (the third had just started), various erroneous messages and the odd fault that corrected itself (e.g. once the satnav screen remained blank for a day and then recovered!) and several bouts of squeaky brakes. The 80,000 mile timing belt service cost £850! The dealer was next to perfect - always helpful and often at short notice.

So I've replaced the car. After some considerable investigation I've bought a new look C5 but chosen the 2.2 diesel (10 months old). Reputedly, it is much more reliable. Too early to say. However, the car IS quite different with improved suspension, better road-holding, some extra toys and more lively around town than the 3.0 litre!

I looked at a number of cars - can't fit three in the back comfortably, CD changers in the boot, can't get feet under front seats when sitting in back reducing leg room, etc. I just couldn't beat it.

It sounds as if some of the dealers / garages you people are using are hosing you down something criminal, especially the one that wanted £900 for a rear exhaust box.

I have a Citroen C5 2.2HDi Exclusive on 52 plate & mileage of 26k miles. It has the following electrical faults : passenger window drops 15cm when auto wiper mode is selected, rear window will not open, driver heated seat does not work, Heater controller failed and Satnav display suffers interference - would like to switch it off! Otherwise the car is comfortable and a pleasure to drive. However I will not buy another Citroen.

I drive a 2001 C% 2.0 hdi estate bought 3 years ago with 90,000 miles on the clock. It now has in excess of 212,000 miles but I honestly cannot say they have been completely trouble free.The tailgate window worked as it was supposed to for about a week and then gave up, no amount of trying to fool the electronic catch worked.The clutch started slipping at 140,000 so needed to be replaced but in fairness was still the original.At 160,000 I experienced the "charge fault" mentioned in the top post which was the alternator, £85 for 150amp and was good as new.167,000 miles fuel pressure regulator failed, £450 later after diagnostics and repair good as gold again.209,000 miles speedometer stopped working (intermittent) although mileage is still recorded. A potential £500 for either the speedo head/ cluster or the BSI so seriously considering the cars future, but nothing comes close for load lugging, comfort, towing and interior space, especially in road tax band c!Yes, when it goes wrong it is spectacular, but count the cost for 121,000 miles and 3 years (not including normal service items) and a sense of rationality returns. I love mine but can't help thinking that I'm the only one!

I purchased a 2004 C5 2.0 litre Automatic in 2005 with 45,000 kms on the clock and a further 3 years warranty and maintenance plan. During the warranty period the agents replaced the brake pads (they squeaked constantly), the suspension cones and re-programmed the computer.

The service costs from the agents were lower than the BMW 318 iS Automatic I had previously and only every 30,000 kms against every 20,000kms.

As stated, the ride quality is amazing (and we have major potholes here in South Africa) and so is the space in this car. Fuel consumption is also amazingly low.

I have done over 80,000 kms now and apart from the computer picking up a fault on the gearbox, which required the replacement of 2 electro valves, this car has been wonderful!

I would never hesitate in getting another Citroen C5. I live in South Africa, but my car was assembled in Slough in the U.K.