1996 Citroen Xantia LX from UK and Ireland - Comments

The problem with the Xantia Estate is that the door hinge welds break away and the doors drop making it almost impossible to use. Citroen know of this but won't admit it.

The clip joining the clutch pedal to the cable is plastic, it breaks often, and is almost impossible to fit.

Electrics are erratic.

Water gets in the back door, leading to pools of water under the seats.

The door hinge problem appears to be more prevalent with the estate. I now know of 4 of my friends with this problem.

It is a comfortable ride and the engine is OK.

I have a web site to show my thoughts:

http://www.citroendont.fsnet.co.uk

I've looked at your site. Joking apart, If reliability is what your after look no further than a Nissan. Okay, they may not be the most forward thinking of companies in terms of flair and design but believe they don't half make decent cars. We have 2 Bluebirds in our household, one F reg, the other D reg. The D reg one has been with us for 12 years and the only thing needed was a power-steering rack, nowt else (apart from wear and tear brakes, exhaust, battery). I was actually looking into owning a Xantia 1.9VSX Diesel because I do a fair amount of mileage but your site and other reader comments are putting me off! Is there anyone out here with a good thing to say about the Xantia? I know someone he does have one and he is very pleased with it and its done over 120,000 miles!

I agree about the Nissan. Reliable straightforward, economic cars. I have changed from a 17 year old Sunny to a 5 year old Xantia which, while in the garage for the umpteenth time, I was loaned a Bluebird. Memories of reliable cheap motoring came flooding back. What a mistake I had made!

I have now owned a Xantia 1.8i 16V LX saloon for four months. In this time I have had to replace the engine management system, oxygen sensor, multi function relay, coolant sensor, injection coil system, as well as spark plugs and oil. Would I buy another... NO.

My Citroen Xantia Dimension 1.8 needed work on the clutch at 57,000 miles. I have also noticed that the electrics can be erratic. The alarm system turned on while I was driving, I looked like a police car.

I changed to a Xantia after owning three different Nissans. I have no regrets. The 1.6 Bluebirds are sluggish to say the least and need thrashing to get them going (and I'm no boy racer).The Xantia has got pace and is far more fun to drive. After owning two 1.6 Nissans I went for a 2.0i, but the fuel costs were astronomical. I get the same performance from my 1.9tdi at half the fuel costs. Yes the Nissans felt better built, but when they needed parts, it was time for a second mortgage. I have never had problems with the door hinges (and my current car is a Xantia estate). Might I suggest you hold on to them a little tighter in the wind. While being a contented Xantia owner I must admit you can't take liberties with them, but if they are well maintained and looked after, they are as good (if not better) than a lot of other cars on the market.

The clip attaching the clutch cable to the pedal is indeed flimsy, plastic and impossible to replace without first removing the brake pedal. Also Citroen's response is "clutch needs replacing if clip breaks!!!". Now that has to be a money spinner. So suggest to Citroen they make the clip out of metal aluminum or steel.

Hi, I have had 3 Xantias and have commented elsewhere here regarding them.

Would I buy another? I'd buy them all! I've had a series I 1.9td SX, a beaut. Sold it with 154,000 miles on it. All that ever went wrong was a clutch clip and a radiator core replacement. Both well written on issues.

Next was a 2.0 16v Sporting version. 1998 model. great machine. Zero issues. Until the timing belt went. My fault, 14 bent valves... ouch! Such a car to go, did not feel like only 135-138hp, Citroen mechanic reckoned it was closer to 145 territory after head was rebuilt. Put in C5 spheres too and it was just lovely then.

Sold it as I also had a series II HDi 90, which I still have. 145k and going like a train.

These cars are more reliable than BMW or Audi, the last of the Xantia. Watch out for the common faults, such as pulleywheel going, rear lift pump failing, and change your spheres and fluids on time. Do your fluid checks religiously, do not add any injector cleaner and use good fuel as the HDi jets are very very sensitive too bad ownership.

Other than that, watch out for the heater matrix, another known problem if buying an old one; see if its been done and then you're definitely sorted.

One more thing, watch out for the biggest fault of all, the problem of not being able to drive boring conventional-sprung cars afterwards! A Xant showed with 205s and a HDi 110 (Tuned to 130) or an Activa (tuned to 200) will outrun most cars you care to throw at it on Irish roads. And then double up as a holdall / jeep for country jaunts. I've put mine in places I would not drive a soft SUV like a CRV. And you either know class or you don't. French cars have it at 15 years old, Germans don't at any age. Sorry! There are the facts.

I own a 1.8 16v Xantia, always runs, but as soon as I stop at a roundabout or junction, it tries to stall, and the rev counter goes up and down. After a few seconds it runs normal again, any ideas what the problem is???

Sounds like the stepper-motor (idle control valve), take it out and give it a good clean with wd40 and see how it goes.

Thanks, I will try that.

Hi, I'm the poster about stepper motor. I had same problem as you, same car and engine. I gave the stepper motor a clean and all was well, plus its free to try!

The motor should have "magnetti marrelli" written on it and is held in by 2-torx screws. It is located underneath the air pipe. Whilst you're in that region, give the throttle body a good clean too.

We've had a 98 Xantia estate for six years now, it's a petrol 1.8i 16v on 170,000 miles. It's been such a good workhorse we would never complain. We would happily have another.

Although we have had the door hinge problem, the boot seal is letting in water and the suspension went solid about 1 year ago, although £180 worth of new spheres solved the problem. The alarm is also now dead after setting itself off repeatedly.

We would also say that it hasn't worn as well as the passat we had before it did.

Still the ride comfort is great and the seats are very comfortable. Great stereo and speakers and big boot. Great for going through small floods with the height adjustable suspension too.

It was also much cheaper than any other estates of that age and was in like new condition.

Mat.