Citroen C8 SX 2.0 HDi

cambelt broke at 66,000 miles cost of repair around £3,000 two garages refused to replace belts as job was too time consuming. In the end I had to replace whole engine as special injector pullers are required. My 10 year old Rover with perkins diesel still goes like a dream. I will never ever buy French again.

I bought this car as a family car in 2006.

Since then it has been at the garage for 6 months total.

New (automatic) gearbox at 156 000 km.

Particulate filter every 500 km - the car almost lose all power and getting back suddenly for 20 km. "Nice" in the winter...

Sliding doors doesn't always work - and my three year old girl almost broke her leg because the door didn't stop (child safety only works *after* the engine starts)

Electric windows doesn't always work.

Rear sensors changed several times.

Lost engine power in general.

All eletric wiring replaced.

Air mass sensor made the car stop at the road - replaced.

Engine leeking oil.

Several parts in suspension changed.

+++

All together: don't buy Citroen...

I have owned my Citrone C8 for 3.5 years, upgraded to top model larger car with a view to keeping it longer than the 2 years we usually keep them. Having all the added extras made it a special car to be in. Have had to change the brakes twice and every six months I have to change tyre due to wear, but apart from that it has run fine until the first day of the Easter holidays, when the engine just stopped. Green Flag towed me to a local garage, where i was told if it was the timing belt not as bad as the cambelt, but then it went down hill from there. Two garages refused to touch it as the job would take to long. Current garage has advised timing belt will have ruined rockers and to remove injectors need to come out and you never get all four out without them breaking, and then has to be sent away. Estimate of at least £2,500. I have no cash, can not work without my car and weeks until I know the extent of the final bill. I have been offered £1,500 for scrap!! I owe more than this on finance. The car is 5 year old, but only has 45,500 on the clock.

Have read numerous reviews since this problem, only wish I had read them earlier and got rid of the car for the £5,000 it is worth earlier. LOVE THE CAR, HATE THE REPAIR BILL!!

i have had my citreon c8 2.0 136hpi since new in 08 use it for a private hire taxis have now done 60k and every day starts first time never let me down comfortable didnt have sat nav system as dont have postcodes otherwise top of range i must say do not service every 20 thousand as recommended only leave 12thou miles electric doors are great comfortable seats plenty leg room for tall people and would always change cam belt at 60 thou never what recommended better to be safe than sorry

Since having the C8 it has been sat on the drive for two months unable to tart due to Engine immobiliser fault whch could cost £1000 - £3000 as they are unable to pin pont the fault. Befrore this had a particulate filter issue £900 and the electrics on the doors have a mind of their own. Now the good points easy to get the kids out with the sliding doors when it works and the space for a pram and shopping.

Would i buy another? Never in a million years

Would i reccommend a citroen? Not ever

I bought the C8 2.2 HDI, which was an Ex. fleet company car. At the time I bought it did 130000, but had just been fully serviced and with a new timing belt. It has made just over 35000 miles since then, and recently the timing belt broke. I do not know the extent of the damage yet. It is a nice car to drive, but seem to be very fragile, especially electrically, and the FAP fluid system which is a non-sense. The SATNAV is very erratic, windows open at times all together, poor quality seat mechanism (made out of plastic parts), as they break easily; as a matter of fact one of my seats is jammed and I can not move it or slide it. Rear exhaust has gone quickly. In short, I do not understand why they put so many small plastic parts which are annoying and they do not last, but they are expensive to replace because they are in awkward places. Electrically, this is the seventh time I replace the indicator bulb, but recently I discovered that there was nothing wrong with them, except that after few weeks of driving, their system becomes dislodged slightly and the contact is lost, and you have to keep readjusting them constantly; it is just very annoying.

Having said that, the car is very nice to drive, but is let down by poor quality parts and expensive repairs, which is annoyingly frustrating.

I am yet another victim, with a snapped timing belt, my car had done 72,000 miles, I had owned it just 12 weeks, even had a warranty (useless) Dealership accepted no reponsibility, legal action out of the question due to solicitors fee's. Car has been broken 14 weeks now, due back tommorow after a garage in edinburgh (im near middlesbrough) repaired it for £1720, another garage before this one caused a lot of damage trying to get the injectors out.

Awful, awful experience we paid £6000 for the car and our choices were to scrap it (offered £400) or pay the repair bill, very sad that Citroen are not admitting responsibility. Karen

My c8 has been a great family car until the timing belt went at 70,000 mile not due to be changed until 110,000 miles this seems like a very common issue with the car would not buy a citroen again!!!

Had the C6 2.2SX HDi from new for 5 years. Performed brilliantly throughout with only few faults.I had one apparently big electrical problem of doors opening on own, ABS lights and other warning lights coming on. Eventually I found it was in need of a new battery after just 2 years. If the amperage drops too low, even if the car will start it upsets the engine management system. A new battery totally cured the problem.

2 years later the same symptoms appeared and again a new battery fixed the problem. This time I fitted a higher rated battery and problem has not reoccurred.

I did 50,000 miles in the 5 years without breakdown or mishap.

I have now bought a new C8 2.0 HDi 138bhp which is the replacement engine for the 2.2 HDi but has slightly higher power.

Our C8 packed in at the weekend. Currently in garage and we've been told bill to fix it could be between £1000 and £6000 depending on exactly what they have to do to it. Problem seems much the same as everyone else is talking about. What I want to know is; has anyone managed to get Citroen to pay up? Has anyone had any joy taking the issue to BBC Watchdog? Your comments/advice will be gratefully received.

Before I made this purchase I would like to have known that Citroen C8's clearly have a major design fault.