What's Bad

Owner/driver feedback welcome.

Not necessarily a bad thing, but other drivers can clearly see what speed you are doing in the high-mounted central digital speedometer.

Narrow footwell does not suit big feet.

Still no 'low washer level' despite having many other toys.

What to Watch Out For

Owner/driver feedback welcome.

On 1.6HDI, the rubber diesel engine fuel return pipes can expand and pop off.

End of plastic dipstick of 1.6 HDI engine can break and drop into sump requiring removal of sump to retrieve it.

Flexible flywheel and clutch problems on 2006 1.6 HDIs, unresolved at end of 2006 due to shortage of parts. DMFs continuing to fail in 2009.

Watch out for rejected disaster zone C4s coming back onto the market. Be particularly careful at auction.

Wiper blades can come off leaving the rest of the assembly to scratch the screen. 2006 MT cars have modified wiper blades with clips to prevent this from happening. Plastic paint wears off the stereo buttons.

One reader's list of complaints: "Glove box door disintegrated; door mirrors are happy to adjust up/down, but not laterally, some rattling trim and rear view mirror regularly falls off support. Power steering components replaced after C4 started to ' skip ' around corners. Computer often forgets date/time and the screen matrix can ' bleed ', causing a blurred display."

Solution to glovebox problem and many more at Independent owners helpsite: c4owners.org 

Another reader's problems: "Cruise control has come up Faulty (service) on the dash. Now the crusise has come up faulty again. I am having bag noises coming from the front wheels. Sounds like dry joints or something. There is also something loose in the boot lid. Maybe a screw or something worked loose. "

Yet another's problems: The paint came off the roof spoiler (common fault he was informed). Rear shock absorbers replaced (knocking). Water ingress in rear light & side repeater. Zone climate control blowing hot only drivers side. 

Problem of diesels slipping into limp home mode put down to throttle butterflies sticking or their spindles wearing prematurely causing them to stick. The throttle position sensor identifies this and sends a message to the ECU to limit the engine to limp home mode.

Have been some total disaster zone cars. One reader's saga with an 05 Citroen C4 VTR+ Coupe (2 Ltr 138BHP) bought with 18,500 miles in February 2006 and at 35,500 miles in December 2007. (This car may have already been a 'lemon' rejected by the previous owner.)

"I'd like to point out that the car has never boken down on me. It's never left me stranded, but so many things have had to be replaced, its unbelievable.

01-03-2006 - Doors Rattling and CD Changer Skipping. This required a return visit to rectify

16-05-2006 - CD Changer again, Suspension Knock on pull away, Sucking Noise when opening throttle. No faults found, nothing rectified (XYD Airbag ECU recall carried out)

28-11-2006 - A/C Leaking into Footwell, AC Whining, Rear of car 'skipping' in corners, front suspension still knocking, exhaust knock on startup, clutch becomes stiff when used a lot (town traffic, traffic jams), Brake Judder, Rear Brakes make unusual noise when reversing. FIX: Blocked AC Drain cleared, Compressor drive pulley replaced, exhaust mount replaced, rear brake pads replaced (known issue). All other problems unrectified.

22-12-2006 - Clutch heavy and 'gritty ' feeling when in traffic, Brake Judder, dulled performance and Sulphur smell, coolant leak. FIX: Clutch replaced (warranty), Radiator replaced (warranty, leaking from seam), Cat replaced (warranty, broken up), Front Brake disks replaced (not covered by warrenty) also XYT Vehicle Immobiliser Recall carried out.

02-10-2007 - Front Suspension still knocking, Airbag warning light on, Heater broken, cruise control failure, boot seal worn and paintwork damage on one side, rear suspension groaning. FIX: Both front Ball Joints excessively worn, replaced. Airbag connection remade under drivers seat, Heater mixer flap motor/gears replaced (known issue technical bulletin C4 8NO8), entire steering wheel hub switch pack replaced (cruise control), boot seal replaced and tailgate position adjusted, Rear shocks replaced, both leaking.

Hidsons Rainham have been possibly the best dealership I've ever dealt with. Seemingly much more professional, they listened to what I had to say, always provided me with a free courtesy car (even on the last visit, when I was without my car for over 1 1/2 weeks, due to Citroen failing to implement a warehouse computer upgrade successfully. All work has been covered under warrenty (except front brakes, by this time the car had 27,000 miles on the clock).

So far this car has had over £3k worth of new parts, plus all the labour costs, the car only cost me £10,500. Unfortunately, however, the clutch is still no better and the airbag light still intermittently shown itself when the drivers seat is moved.

Out of curiosity, I have visited and joined several Citroen forums and on the whole, the C4 is considered a good, well built car. Mine is maybe an odd ball, its a fairly early model so this may explain many of my problems.

Also, an ongoing problem which Kevin (Service Manager at Rainham) has raised with Citroen is, after allowing the suspension to settle, when pulling away and turning the steering wheel (pulling out of a parking space etc) the suspension seems to groan and the steering feels heavy. The car feels like its 'skating' or sliding across the road surface. Once this has happened, its ok until the suspension settles again (which can be when parked or on a long motorway stretch, its a bit disconcerting when you get to the first corner off of the motorway cause you never know what its going to do)."

Clutch life of EGS can be as short as 24k miles. This should be a warranty issue as Citroen cannot claim driver abuse for failure of an automated clutch over which the driver has no control.

Brake discs wear quickly.

Rear wiring looms can corrode, costing £480 to replace. One of the first signs is failure of the reversing lights.

5-2-2012: More reports of turbo oil starvation on 1.6HDI DV6TED4 leading to expensive catastrophes at around 100,000 miles due to carbon build up in the oil feed to the bearing. The cure is not just a new turbo, but new oil pipe, pump, pick-up, etc., etc. Failure to replace these paerts will usually result in another failed turbo within 10,000 miles. There was a Ford TSB45/2008 about this. Newer engines (2008+) have modified parts. Apparently you can get a new turbo for £350 plus £120 for a "kit" of modified pipes/pick-up unions etc. from Transitpartsuk (International Parts Ltd) to fit next week. eBay supplier TransitpartsUK

30-4-2012: Hatchback lock wiring of coupes highly prone to become faulty. May be the loom between the body of the car and the hatch.

31-5-2012: Power steering and front coil spring failure reported on 18,500 mile 2008 C4.

Recalls

14-5-2012: Citroen Recalls Website. Register to receive recall/TSB information direct from Citroen.

25-4-05: recall Picasso, C4 and C5 built 1-7-04 to 10-10-05 because diesel fuel return pipe may leak. Unspecified date: recall to make sure rear brake pipes. July 2006 check air bag computer.

7-01-2008 R/2007/191 potential loss of abs and esp functions VF7######74102211 to VF7######74553249 build 02/06/2005to 26/09/2006; VF7######74100223VF7######74461623 build 25/05/2004 to 04/04/2006; VF7######74313674 to VF7######74552935 build 07/04/2006 to 26/09/2006

05-02-2008 R/2008/017 CITROENC4 & C5 possibility of reduced braking performance VF7******74299142 to VF7******74459012 build dates 01/07/2005 to 30/03/2006

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