The Citroën C4 Cactus is a subcompact crossover/SUV designed and built by the French automaker between 2014 and 2022. The C4 Cactus is intended as a youthful, cool, authentic family car that can do both city driving and long-distance journeys. The C4 Cactus is widely regarded as an SUV, yet it shares many of its underpinnings with smaller Citroën models.
When it comes to reliability, the C4 Cactus seems to be okay in general, but there are some issues worth talking about in more detail. For starters, the car’s DPF (diesel particulate filter) is known to fail early on which can be a real hassle. Some equipment-related issues are also common with the C4 Cactus, especially with exterior body panels.
The automatic gearbox suffers from actuator issues in addition to sometimes being hesitant, slow, and jittery. Electrical issues can cause minor interior niggles, but they can also cause a fire if the issue is associated with the car’s starter motor. Finally, we also have to mention that some C4 Cactus models suffer from fuel leaks which can be really dangerous as well.
All in all, the C4 is better than some of its predecessors, but that does not make it all that reliable. Many of these issues can be catastrophic which means that you need to pay a great deal of attention if you are interested in buying one used.
Citroën C4 Cactus – DPF filter issues
The DPF (Diesel particulate filter) is designed to convert toxic diesel gases into less harmful substances before releasing them through the car’s exhaust system. If this system performs as intended, the car is going to be more eco-friendly which seems to be incredibly important these days, especially with diesel-powered cars.
However, Citroën C4 Cactus models produced between January and May of 2018 might be packing a damaged DPF which isn’t as efficient. If you are interested in buying a C4 Cactus, be sure to inspect this as it is likely going to need a replacement DPF which costs quite a bit of money.
Citroën C4 Cactus – Equipment issues
The Citroën C4 Cactus also suffers from a wide variety of equipment-related issues such as those related to the car’s bumper trim which is known to fall off. This issue is caused by an improperly glued component which can easily get unstuck. To fix this, you will have to take the car to the dealer where they can re-glue it with better glue.
Other C4 Cactus equipment related-issues also include problems with the hood latch. It seems like the 2014-2015 early models are all affected by this issue. Be sure to inspect it carefully because you are risking the change of the trunk opening while driving at higher speeds.
Citroën C4 Cactus – Automatic gearbox issues
It seems like some 2016 C4 Cactus suffer from fairly serious issues with the automatic gearbox actuator which can affect how well the car goes through gears. If this issue is not solved in due time, it can cause serious gearbox damage. If that is indeed the case, you will either have to replace the actuator or even the complete transmission in some cases.
Other gearbox-related issues include jittery shifts, hesitant shifts, and sometimes even gear slipping. It seems like many Citroën models suffer from these issues, yet many people deem this to be normal even though it isn’t.
Citroën C4 Cactus – Electrical issues
The Citroën C4 Cactus also suffers from a wide variety of electrical issues that can affect a wide variety of in-car systems. The most serious C4 Cactus electrical issue is related to the starter motor. In rare circumstances, the electrical relay can overheat to such a degree that it can even start a fire. 2016 C4 Cactus models seem to be the ones most affected by this issue.
Other electrical issues include problems with certain in-car systems such as phone connectivity and infotainment-related issues. Some owners have also complained about problems with the power windows and power locks.
Citroën C4 Cactus – Fuel leak issues
It seems like many Citroën C4 Cactus models manufactured between 2016 and 2017 suffer from fuel leaks which can indeed be catastrophic. The issue is due to a worn-out fuel hose which tends to deteriorate due to it being nearby hot engine components. In theory, these can result in flames, but it seems like issues such as these didn’t really happen all that often or not at all.
FAQ Section
Should I buy a Citroën C4 Cactus?
If you are interested in a subcompact SUV/crossover primarily designed for family use, the Citroën C4 Cactus could be a good choice. This car is designed to be fairly affordable which means that most families out there should be able to afford one. It is a car that does all the family duties really well and is often on par or even better than most of its competitors.
On the other hand, the C4 Cactus isn’t really a good-looking car as many Citroën models. The added plastic panels on the car are completely unnecessary and make the car look too much like a toy. However, if you like the design, you should consider the entire car.
Is the Citroën C4 Cactus a good family car?
The Citroën C4 Cactus is one of the most popular Citroën family cars which means that it truly is a good family car. It offers lots of interior seating space without hampering the overall available trunk space. The car gets many family-friendly features that make the car easy to live with.
Besides being well-equipped, the C4 Cactus is also a really safe car because it is a 5-star safety-rated car. It also gets a bunch of modern-day software safety systems which make it on par with even some more expensive cars out there.
How long can a Citroën C4 Cactus last?
It depends on how well you maintain it. If you do everything that needs doing at the right time, there is absolutely no reason to think that the C4 Cactus is going to fare any worse than all the other cars out there. As such, 100,000 to 200,000 miles is a very realistic estimate.