Citroën C5 2
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
241 PS
3.0L HDi V6 Diesel
V6 diesel saloon
Fun to Drive!140–211 PS
1.6L THP Benzin
7 weaknesses
Stay Away!Body Variants
The Citroën C5 2 is available as Sedan and Wagon — choose your body type for specific insurance data:
Generations
Engine Overview
The Citroën C5 2 is available with 10 engine variants — from 126 to 241 hp. 1 variants had engine changes — the model year is crucial.
The Citroën 2.0L BlueHDi 180 (Diesel, 181 PS) has the DW10-BlueHDi180 (2.0L BlueHDi 180) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Citroën 2.0L HDi 126 (Diesel, 126 PS) has the DW10-126 (2.0L HDi 126) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Citroën 2.0L HDi 136 (Diesel, 136–140 PS) has the DW10-136 (2.0L HDi 136) — rated: "Stay Away!", 6 known weaknesses.
The Citroën 2.0L HDi 163 (Diesel, 163 PS) has the DW10-163 (2.0L HDi 163) — rated: "Stay Away!", 6 known weaknesses.
The Citroën 2.0L HDi/BlueHDi 150 (Diesel, 150 PS) has the DW10-150 (2.0L HDi/BlueHDi 150) — rated: "Stay Away!", 6 known weaknesses.
The Citroën 2.2L HDi (Diesel, 163–204 PS) comes with 2 different engines: DW12 (2008–2012, Be Careful) and DW12 (2008–2012, Be Careful). Pay attention to the model year for the 2.2L HDi!
The Citroën 2.7L HDi V6 (Diesel, 204 PS) has the UHN (2.7L HDi V6) — rated: "Stay Away!", 6 known weaknesses.
The Citroën 3.0L HDi V6 (Diesel, 241 PS) has the UHZ (3.0L HDi V6) — rated: "Stay Away!", 6 known weaknesses.
The Citroën 1.6L THP (Petrol, 150–156 PS) has the EP6-THP (1.6L THP) — rated: "Stay Away!", 7 known weaknesses.
The Citroën 3.0L V6 (Petrol, 211 PS) has the ES9 (3.0L V6) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
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Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Hydractive 3+ suspension: spheres and cylinders leaking The optional Hydractive 3+ suspension (standard on Exclusive trim) in the C5 II starts leaking at spheres and cylinders from around 80,000 km. A 'Suspension defective' message appears and the car limits top speed to 90 km/h. Symptoms: Suspension defective message, 90 km/h speed limit, vehicle does not rise to normal ride height, very hard suspension from 100,000 km | High |
Alternatives
Known Problems and Issues
A total of 66 weaknesses have been documented for the Citroën C5 2 (2008–2017) — 61 engine-related and 5 vehicle-related. 6 problem engines: EP6-THP (1.6L THP), DW10-136 (2.0L HDi 136), DW10-150 (2.0L HDi/BlueHDi 150), DW10-163 (2.0L HDi 163), UHZ (3.0L HDi V6), UHN (2.7L HDi V6). Typical issues affect Suspension, Steering, Gearbox, Electronics.
C5 (DW10-136, 2008–2017) — Stay Away!: Timing belt — interference engine, high risk of engine damage, Common rail injectors — leakage and wear, Dual-mass flywheel — premature wear from 80,000 km. Power: 136–140 PS.
C5 (DW10-150, 2008–2017) — Stay Away!: Timing belt — interference engine, DPF/FAP — clogging from short-trip use, Turbocharger — bearing damage from carbon. Power: 150 PS.
C5 (DW12, 2008–2012) — Be Careful: Sequential bi-turbo system — wear and failures, FAP/DPF — difficult regeneration, known weak point, Head gasket — cracks at high mileage. Power: 163–170 PS.
C5 (DW12, 2008–2012) — Be Careful: Sequential bi-turbo system — wear and failures, FAP/DPF — difficult regeneration, known weak point, Head gasket — cracks at high mileage. Power: 204 PS.
C5 (UHN, 2008–2009) — Stay Away!: Injection system — pump and injector wear, VNT turbocharger — vane blockage and actuator fault, Timing chain stretches, camshaft timing inaccurate. Power: 204 PS.
C5 (DW10-126, 2008–2012) — Be Careful: Timing belt — interference engine with high damage risk, Common rail injectors — wear and leakage, Turbocharger — bearing failure from oil starvation. Power: 126 PS.
C5 (DW10-163, 2009–2017) — Stay Away!: Timing belt — interference engine, very strict maintenance required, Turbocharger — early failures under high load, FAP/DPF — regeneration failure. Power: 163 PS.
C5 (UHZ, 2009–2010) — Stay Away!: Turbocharger — bearing wear in commercial use, Injector seals — leakage under high load, DPF/FAP — blockage in van short-trip operation. Power: 241 PS.
C5 (DW10-BlueHDi180, 2015–2017) — Be Careful: AdBlue/SCR system — tank and pump failure, Timing belt — interference engine requiring special tooling, DPF — regeneration failure and oil dilution. Power: 181 PS.
C5 (EP6-THP, 2008–2017) — Stay Away!: Timing chain stretch and camshaft sprocket slippage, Extreme oil consumption from piston ring and valve stem seal wear, Turbocharger failure due to oil supply problems. Power: 150–156 PS.
C5 (ES9, 2008–2017) — Be Careful: Timing belt — complex replacement on V6, Pencil coil failure, Camshaft cover oil leak. Power: 211 PS.
What to watch out for with the Citroën C5? 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