KNOWN FAULTS · Citroën

Known faults for the Citroën C4 (II).

2010–2018 · Petrol / Diesel

Sources are not verified in real time and no entry confirms that your car is affected.

4 known faults with sources

Engines: 1.2 PureTech (Petrol)

Oil-bath timing belt degradationTiming / lubrication

Engine / equipment: 1.0 / 1.2 PureTech (EB2) in the Peugeot 208/2008/308/3008/5008, Citroën C3/C4/C5 Aircross, DS 3, Opel Corsa/Crossland/Grandland
Period mentioned: 2012 – approx. 2022
Symptoms: Oil pressure warning, hard brake pedal or reduced assistance, oil consumption, blue smoke, squeal at the front of the engine, turbo whistles or loses power.
Possible cause described: The timing belt runs in oil and degrades (especially with short trips and fuel dilution). Debris clogs the oil pump strainer, the brake vacuum pump filter, the turbo oil feed and the variable valve timing solenoids. Stellantis announced compensation for affected owners in 2025.
Check for the garage: Measure the belt through the oil filler opening with the manufacturer's tool. Confirm whether the vacuum pump campaign was done.
Cost cited in the source: Vacuum pump: €500–800; belt with oil system cleaning: considerably moreA rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 1.6 THP (Petrol)

1.6 THP chain and tensionerTiming system

Engine / equipment: 1.6 THP / VTi (EP6, PSA-BMW “Prince” engine): Peugeot 207/208/308/3008/5008/508/RCZ, Citroën C4/C5/C4 Picasso, DS 3/4/5
Period mentioned: Approx. 2007–2018
Symptoms: Metallic rattle for several seconds after a cold start; engine light for timing deviation.
Possible cause described: The chain stretches and the tensioner is soft. Later units have a revised chain and tensioner, which reduce but do not eliminate the fault.
Check for the garage: Listen to a cold start and check whether the chain was replaced with the revised parts.
Cost cited in the source: Approx. €800–1,500 (converted from dollars)A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 1.6 HDi (Diesel)

Turbo oil starvation from injector carbonTurbo / injection

Engine / equipment: 1.6 HDi DV6 (Peugeot 207/308/3008/Partner, Citroën C3/C4/Berlingo; same engine as the Ford 1.6 TDCi)
Period mentioned: Approx. 2004–2015
Symptoms: Loud turbo whistle, power loss, blue or black smoke, oil that gets dirty very quickly. Before the failure, often a puffing or ticking from the cylinder head and an exhaust smell from an injector.
Possible cause described: The injector clamp bolts work loose, the gas leak forms carbon that gets into the oil and clogs the mesh filter in the banjo bolt feeding the turbo. The turbo is starved of oil. Replacing only the turbo does not fix it.
Check for the garage: Check injector bolt torque and carbon at their base, the turbo banjo bolt and the sump strainer.
Cost cited in the source: Turbo + full oil system cleaning: approx. €900–2,000 (estimate)A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 1.6 BlueHDi (Diesel)

AdBlue system failure (start countdown)Exhaust and emissions (AdBlue)

Engine / equipment: 1.5 / 1.6 / 2.0 BlueHDi with AdBlue (Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Opel)
Period mentioned: Approx. 2014 onwards
Symptoms: Emission system fault message and a “starting impossible in X km” countdown, AdBlue/UREA warning and engine light.
Possible cause described: Failure of the AdBlue tank pump module (circuit board, pressure sensor or heater) or of the AdBlue injector. The engine does not stop while driving, but once the countdown reaches zero it will not restart.
Check for the garage: Diagnose with Diagbox or equivalent: AdBlue pressure, flow test and tank temperature.
Cost cited in the source: Complete module or tank: approx. €600–1,500 (estimate)A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.