Citroën Xsara
PSA entry-level diesel with common-rail injection. Economical and reliable, but low on power. Timing chain is maintenance-free.
Modest Xsara diesel
68 hp 1.4 HDi in the Xsara — commuter diesel with no ambitions. Slightly underpowered for the car class; reliable but dull.
Engine Weaknesses 6
Injectors seize in their bores through heat and carbon deposits. Removal requires specialist tools; in severe cases of seizure a replacement cylinder head is often needed.
Symptoms: Smoking exhaust, power drop, diesel smell in engine bay, misfires
Soot particles and oil coke deposits clog the turbocharger oil strainer filter. Insufficient lubrication causes bearing failure. Excessively long oil change intervals (over 15,000 km) significantly aggravate the problem.
Symptoms: Whistling or rattling turbo noise, blue smoke, lack of power, oil loss
The EGR valve becomes heavily coated with soot from exhaust gas recirculation in urban driving. A blocked valve worsens engine running, increases fuel consumption and can damage the turbocharger through oil contamination.
Symptoms: Hesitation in part-load range, increased consumption, engine warning light, poor driveability
The DV4's additive FAP filter only regenerates from around 500 °C. These temperatures are not reached in urban driving; the filter clogs prematurely. The Eolia additive in the tank extends regeneration intervals but is no substitute for motorway driving.
Symptoms: Particulate filter warning, power drop, rising oil level from fuel entry during regeneration attempts
The electric actuator on the variable geometry turbocharger sticks due to soot deposits from the exhaust. Typical on short-trip use where sufficient burn-off does not occur. Engine enters limp mode.
Symptoms: Sudden power loss, engine warning light, vehicle in limp mode with severely restricted performance. Occasional whistling from the turbo.
Glow plugs on the 1.4 HDi corrode and break off during removal. Failure rate increases from around 150,000 km. Cold-start problems caused by defective or broken glow plugs are difficult to remedy.
Symptoms: Poor cold-start behaviour, engine hard to start at temperatures below 5°C, fault code P1351 (glow plug relay circuit).
Vehicle Weaknesses 5
On the Xsara the electric thermal switch for the radiator, which should activate the cooling fan when water temperature rises, frequently fails. Without timely fan operation the engine risks overheating.
The Xsara's braking system receives poor marks at MOT inspections: wear and insufficient braking performance are frequently flagged. Handbrake and footbrake performance in particular stand out.
Oil loss at the engine block is a classic Citroën problem that was not resolved in the Xsara. Typical is oil seepage upper right on the engine block from a leaking head gasket — should be checked before purchase.
At 12.8% of all Xsara vehicles presented at the MOT, lighting defects are flagged — the single most common fault. Blown bulbs, corroded sockets, and failed headlight adjusters are typical causes.
The air conditioning on older Xsara models regularly loses refrigerant through aged seals. On vehicles over 10 years old annual top-ups are often necessary. Air conditioning compressors can also cause problems.
