2004 Citroen C3 diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2004 Citroen C3 diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2004 Citroen C3 diesel than on all cars registered in 2004.

• Rust around suspension or steering mountings2.3× usual
  Citroen C3

  14.1% All 2004 cars

  6.1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 8.5%, against 2.9% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

  At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

• Side repeaters5× usual
  Citroen C3

  9.5% All 2004 cars

  1.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Individual direction indicators3× usual
  Citroen C3

  10.3% All 2004 cars

  3.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4.9%, against 1.5% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

• Headlight aim1.8× usual
  Citroen C3

  12.6% All 2004 cars

  6.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 12.6%, against 6.9% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

  At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

• Rust in key structural areas3.6× usual
  Citroen C3

  5.1% All 2004 cars

  1.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

  At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Common 2004 Citroen C3 diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2004 Citroen C3 diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Lights and electrics
  52% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Suspension
  51% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Brakes
  36% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Tyres
  35% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Oil and fluid leaks
  19% of testsRough price £80–£600

  At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  16% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults on the 2004 Citroen C3 diesel

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Sensodrive gearbox failure

  Sensodrive

  The Sensodrive semi-automatic gearbox can fail completely, and What Car? advises avoiding these cars.

  At the viewing: Check whether it has the Sensodrive gearbox.

  Source: What Car?: used Citroen C3 (2002-2010) reliability

• Injector pump failure (early 1.6 HDi diesel)

  1.6 HDi diesel

  The injector pump fails on earlier 1.6 16v HDi diesels. Most were fixed under warranty with revised parts.

  At the viewing: Ask whether the revised parts were fitted.

  Source: What Car?: used Citroen C3 (2002-2010) reliability

• Fragile trim, electrics and front pads

  All engines

  Interior trim can break off, electrics can be unreliable, and front pads can wear fast. There was an early suspension recall.

  At the viewing: Look over the interior, test the electrics, and ask about recalls.

  Source: What Car?: used Citroen C3 (2002-2010) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2004 Citroen C3 diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Has the Sensodrive gearbox had any work?
2. Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2004 Citroen C3 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the side repeaters? (Flagged at MOT 5× as often on the 2004 Citroen C3 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the individual direction indicators? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the 2004 Citroen C3 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?