2001 Citroen Berlingo Multispace Forte from UK and Ireland - Comments

Fuel gauge stopped working.

Cord for rear seat release catch broken.

Rear door seals have come unglued.

Airbag light sometimes stays on.

Rear wheel arch liner came loose and rubbed on tyre.

Rear wheel brake slave cylinder seized on.

The car is comfortable and spacious, it's great for carrying big loads, and the rear seats and front passenger seat are easily unbolted. It drives well.

However, the build quality is poor in places, particularly the electrics which show many minor intermittent faults; definitely below the standard of my previous 15 year old Volvo.

I still own this car, problems haven't developed fúrther and am very happy with it. The original exhaust lasted 5 years / 50k miles! Only other problems were failed rear wiper. My parents have bought one as well, there seem to have been a number of improvements from the 2001 to 2006 model:-

- rear side doors simpler to operate

- tailgate closes more easily

- number plate light bulbs easier to change

- Better indication of rear screen heater being on

- Radio controls on steering column

- Rubber gutter strips above doors held by plastic clips (the 2001 ones are glued and keep falling off)

- 2 Rear fog lights.

The only retrograde steps are:-

- Instruments difficult to read in day-time if illumination (i.e. side / headlights) on

- Pedal layout has changed (the accelerator arm is now plastic!) and even with size 8 feet I can press the accelerator (via the arm) and the brake pedal together!

I have modified my 2001 car as follows:-

- Extra light on dash to indicate rear screen heater on.

- Variable speed intermittent wipe fitted as an alternative to speed sensitive system.

-Tried to enable 2nd rear fog light, but due to the relay circuit used for the towing socket, this has not yet been successful (I need to fit an extra relay: if the towing socket circuit detects a load of 2 bulbs it thinks a trailer is plugged in and extinguishes the car fog light!)