Used Citroen C4 Picasso 2013-2018 reliability

This spacious and flexible family car will have been used in car parks and on tight urban routes, so check bodywork carefully for damage and alloy wheels for kerbing. Also, look at the interior for signs of wear and tear, and make sure all the seats move easily.

Fuel leak

There have been two recalls related to fuel leaks. The first relates to cars made between 4 January and 15 July 2014 due to the fuel rail allowing fuel to escape on to hot parts of the engine, potentially causing a fire. The second involves the in-built heater in the fuel filter of Picassos built from the start of production up until 2 January 2014. The heater could be faulty and melt the filter housing, allowing both excess air into the system and fuel to escape, leading to poor starting. In both cases, speak to your dealer to find out if your example is affected and whether it requires repairs.

Door might open

A problem with the door locks on some Picassos manufactured between 5 May and 21 November 2015 might lead to one or more doors opening when they shouldn't. Find out from your dealer whether your car has had this recall carried out, because the locks might need to be replaced in order to fix this issue.

Starter motor

Two recalls have been issued for problems related to the starter motor. The first is for examples made from 28 June to 15 July 2016 where the wiring harness could be damaged, leading to a short circuit. The second is for an issue with an electrical relay for the starter motor that could lead to it overheating and catching fire. Check with a dealer to find out if either of these applies to your car.

Airbags not deploying

A small number of C4 Picassos constructed between 10 and 14 November 2017 could have a problem with the computer (ECU) controlling when the airbags are triggered in a collision. As a precaution, all of these ECUs will need to be replaced on affected examples, so find out from a Citroën dealer if yours is one of those.

Engine failure

An internal problem with some engines put into vehicles made between 1 October to 30 November 2017 could lead to engine failure. Find out from a dealer if your car is part of this recall, because it'll need to be checked by a technician and have the whole engine replaced if necessary.

Front suspension failure

The bolts attaching the wishbone of the front suspension might fail on Picassos built between 26 March 2013 and 26 January 2015, leading to a loss of control. The recall might already have been carried out of your car, but it is best to check this with your dealer to make sure.

Bonnet skin

The outer bonnet skin might become detached from the internal frame to which it's attached on some examples built between 1 September 2016 and 6 April 2017. Speak to your local Citroën dealer to check if you need to bring it in for repairs, because additional adhesive will need to be applied if it is.

Oil leak

An oil leak might occur from a connection to the turbocharger of some vehicles manufactured from 25 January to 15 February 2016 and, if this isn't checked, could allow the oil level to drop to the point where engine damage occurs. Contact your nearest Citroën dealer for further information if you suspect your car is affected by this.

Engine overheating

A software problem could lead to the engine not getting sufficient cooling, leading to the engine overheating. This recall applies to Picassos built between 5 December 2012 and 21 April 2015, and if your example is affected, it'll need a software update to make sure the cooling system kicks in when it should.

Nitrogen oxide emissions

Another software problem, this time with the engine management system, which might allow the engine to produce excessive levels of nitrogen oxide emissions. Updated software can be uploaded to vehicles made between 25 September 2013 and 15 May 2016 to prevent this from happening.

Seatbelt might fail

The seatbelt straps fitted to the second row of some C4 Picassos manufactured from 14 September to 10 November 2015 could fail in a collision and not restrain the occupant as intended. Ask your local Citroën dealer for further information, because a technician will need to check the batch number of the seatbelt to determine if your car is affected by this.

Incorrect gear might be selected

Due to an issue with the reverse gear lockout on some vehicles constructed from 11 April to 13 November 2013, it might not be possible to select the correct gear. Find out from your local dealer whether your Picasso is affected by this, because a new locking collar will need to be fitted if it is.

Citroën, as a brand, finished in a disappointing 22nd position out of 31 car manufacturers in the most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, although this is an improvement over results in previous years.

If you want to read more results from our Reliability Survey, click here.