Citroën C2
PSA entry-level diesel with common-rail injection. Economical and reliable, but low on power. Timing chain is maintenance-free.
Economy diesel in a small car
68 hp HDi in the C2 — frugal at the pump and frugal with performance. A typical commuter diesel with no pretension to driving enjoyment.
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
The coil springs on the C2 snap in numbers due to inadequate corrosion protection. Citroën offers goodwill cover up to 84 months and 150,000 km. The front axle springs are particularly affected.
Brake discs on the C2 wear above average and need frequent replacement. Braking efficiency is regularly flagged at the MOT. Anti-roll bar links and tie rod ends also show noticeably premature wear.
The tailgate rusts at the lower edge from inside, and door flanges are also prone to corrosion. Rust blisters on the tailgate and door lower edges are typical on older examples from 7–10 years.
Ball joints and tie rod ends wear out early on the C2 and are regularly flagged at the MOT. Exhaust brackets also break frequently, causing annoying rattling and droning.
The C2 regularly shows electrical faults on the central locking, window regulators and lighting. Occasionally the lights or central locking fail completely.
