Citroen C5 2.0 SX 16V Review

Overall Rating

A comfortable drive

All of it

I read one of the reviews about the Citroen C5, and likewise I am disgusted with the safety issues.

I purchased my C5 just over a year ago, and I paid £6500 for it. Citroen have put right under warranty £5500 worth of faults, this includes the following:-

1. Throttle cable came loose, and nearly ended up costing me my life in a pile up.
2. Driver window motor has had to be replaced
3. 2 brand new clutches, note that I have only ever driven 8 cars in my 18 years of driving and never had to replace a clutch or gearbox
4. Gear box replacement
5. Petrol cap lock replaced
6. Driver door lock replaced
7. Passenger door lock replaced
8. Both rear door locks replaced
9. Constant central locking problems. Tomorrow, the 26th of November will be the 24th visit to the dealer to repair this fault, the car locks and unlocks itself of its own accord
10. Engine oil leaks
11. Seat kept lowering itself automatically
12. In cross winds the car is very unstable
13. Constant wiring problems
14. Driver window now opens and closes of its own accord
15. Passenger window and motor no longer operating
16. Headlights switch off for 2 to 3 seconds while driving before coming back on, very dangerous on motorways

I fought to get an extension on my warranty for the central locking for a further 6 months, and I am now battling with my car insurance as they are looking not to insure me any longer because of the central locking problems. The car has even locked me inside, I had to climb out of the driver window to exit the vehicle. It has locked my 3 year old daughter inside the car twice. On the 21st visit, Citroen Peterborough assured me that they had fixed the car, but when I opened it the rear doors failed, and the sales staff stood and laughed at the window. I am just pleased that I had my daughter with me, otherwise I might have been locked up.

I paid for the car using the credit card, the bank have even refused to take my case up.

I have been advised by a solicitor that I cannot sell the car as I can be sued if the next occupants are involved in a crash and killed or seriously injured. Basically I am stuck with a dud.

I have written to Citroen UK, and their response was... if you have a problem sort it out with the dealer, we do not get involved with customer issues/complaints.

Members' Comments onRobert36's Review

• paddleman on 5th Nov 2005

  Intersting!! I bought my C5 2ltr HDi SX 10 days ago.. Paid £6K for it and has only 40K on the clock. However it's now back at the garage and I may try and get my cash back (some hope!) list of problems as follows.
  a) Will not engage reverse 1st thing in the morning. or if left all day .. last thing at night!
  b) Left trafficator will not work, though it does when locking/unlocking car!
  c) Passenger window sundenly goes down ..then up.. then down half way again..and stops!
  d) suspension has a mind of its own and will act like Herbie on occasions!
  
  Thats just after 10days mind you .. so what will happen in the next 4 years I had hoped to keep it God only knows!
  
  Great comfy ride all the same and great MPG But at what price!