Citroën C3 Picasso 1
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
90–120 PS
1.6L VTi Benzin
Adequately powered
Decent100–110 PS
1.2L PureTech Turbo Benzin
7 weaknesses
Stay Away!Engine Overview
The Citroën C3 Picasso 1 is available with 6 engine variants — from 68 to 120 hp.
The Citroën 1.6L HDi 109 (Diesel, 109–114 PS) has the DV6-109 (1.6L HDi 109) — rated: "Stay Away!", 6 known weaknesses.
The Citroën 1.6L HDi 92 (Diesel, 90–92 PS) has the DV6-92 (1.6L HDi 92) — rated: "Stay Away!", 6 known weaknesses.
The Citroën 1.2L PureTech (Petrol, 82 PS) has the EB2-NA (1.2L PureTech) — rated: "Stay Away!", 6 known weaknesses.
The Citroën 1.2L PureTech Turbo (Petrol, 110 PS) has the EB2-DT (1.2L PureTech Turbo) — rated: "Stay Away!", 7 known weaknesses.
The Citroën 1.4L VTi (Petrol, 95 PS) has the EP3 (1.4L VTi) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Citroën 1.6L VTi (Petrol, 114–120 PS) has the EP6-VTi (1.6L VTi) — rated: "Stay Away!", 6 known weaknesses.
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Alternatives
Known Problems and Issues
A total of 37 weaknesses have been documented for the Citroën C3 Picasso 1 (2009–2017). 5 problem engines: EP6-VTi (1.6L VTi), EB2-NA (1.2L PureTech), EB2-DT (1.2L PureTech Turbo), DV6-92 (1.6L HDi 92), DV6-109 (1.6L HDi 109).
C3 Picasso (DV6-92, 2009–2015) — Stay Away!: VNT turbo: vanes seized by oil coke, Injectors leaking — oil and fuel contaminate turbo, EGR valve blocked: limp mode and starting difficulties. Power: 90–92 PS.
C3 Picasso (DV6-109, 2009–2015) — Stay Away!: VNT turbocharger: vanes seized — most common failure, Injectors seized — cylinder head damage possible, EGR cooler leaking — coolant ingress. Power: 109–114 PS.
C3 Picasso (EP3, 2009–2015) — Be Careful: Faulty chain tensioner — timing chain jumps, Oil consumption from valve stem seals, Thermostat housing failure — coolant loss. Power: 95 PS.
C3 Picasso (EP6-VTi, 2009–2015) — Stay Away!: Timing chain rattle due to tensioner wear, Chain tensioner failure — timing chain rattles, Torn oil separator diaphragm in valve cover. Power: 114–120 PS.
C3 Picasso (EB2-NA, 2012–2017) — Stay Away!: Wet belt disintegration in oil bath (timing belt in oil), Fuel entry into engine oil (oil dilution), Oil-bathed timing belt — belt disintegration. Power: 82 PS.
C3 Picasso (EB2-DT, 2015–2017) — Stay Away!: Wet belt deterioration in oil bath, Elevated oil consumption from coked piston rings, Turbocharger failure due to oil pressure problems. Power: 110 PS.
What to watch out for with the Citroën C3 Picasso? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee