The Citroën C5 Aircross is a compact crossover SUV made by Citroën since 2016/2017 and is still in production today. The C5 Aircross is a global Citroën model which means that it can be bought in many countries, but it is not available in North America.
The C5 Aircross got a hefty refresh in 2022 thanks to loads of new parts for the front of the car in addition to loads of new features inside and out. When it comes to reliability, the C5 Aircross does seem better than many cars that came before it, but it still isn’t a thoroughly reliable car. Some rankings place the C5 Aircross in the top positions while others put it in the last positions.
Either way, the most common C5 Aircross issues are associated with various electrical systems, fuel leaks, DPF (diesel particulate filter), excessive emissions, and certain equipment-related systems and body panels. All in all, these issues aren’t a huge problem at an early stage which means that you have plenty of time to solve them.
If you fail to act quickly, there is a great bit of chance that you might face more serious issues down the line. All in all, the C5 Aircross is a decent car, but it must be maintained in order to reach its full potential.
Citroën C5 Aircross – Electrical issues
The most common Citroën C5 Aircross issues are related to the car’s electrical systems. The ECU seems to be causing rough and inconsistent idling, but this can be easily solved with a simple reprogramming of the ECU which should solve the issue. Other electrical gremlins include issues with phone connectivity and certain infotainment system niggles.
Issues with the sunroof can be stressful, and so can various issues with the car’s lighting systems. The power windows are known to fail on certain models and the interior buttons and switches aren’t always as responsive as you’d want them to be.
Citroën C5 Aircross – Fuel leaks
Some weird cabling and software issues are known to cause the C5 Aircross to leak fuel which is never really a good thing. Citroën even recalled a bunch of C5 Aircross models because of this issue, some say that the recalled number of units is between 5,000 – 10,000 which means that this certainly is a serious issue.
In order to fix this, you ought to inspect the car’s cabling and software and also locate the leak itself. You have to seal the leak and reprogram/re-adjust the wiring and software credentials in order for this issue to never happen again. A risk of fire is always present whenever your car suffers from fuel leaks.
Citroën C5 Aircross – DPF issues
The Citroën C5 Aircross is also known to suffer from certain DPF (diesel particulate filter) issues found on diesel models. The easiest way to spot issues with the DPF is to check for excessive smoke coming out of the exhaust, loss of power, and increased fuel consumption to the point where you simply cannot notice it.
Fixing a faulty DPF usually means cleaning it and restoring it to its former glory, but sometimes you will have to replace it completely which is truly expensive. Citroën also issued a recall due to DPF issues early in the C5 Aircross lifeline as it seems like you have to replace the DPF a few times before the car finally gives out.
Citroën C5 Aircross – Excessive emissions
It seems like Citroën had certain issues with computer software involved in measuring a car’s nitrogen oxide emissions which means that there are some Citroën C5 Aircross models out there that emit far more nitrogen oxide than the legal limit.
Cars built between 2020 and 2021 seem to be the ones with these issues which means that you should contact your dealer and ask if your car is part of this group. If it is, you ought to request a free repair from Citroën as this is their own fault.
Citroën C5 Aircross – Equipment issues
To finish off the list of known Citroën C5 Aircross issues, we also need to consider all the issues many Citroën models face when it comes to equipment, trim, and various body parts. Some owners have complained about many in-car panels wearing out too quickly while others complained even about water ingress.
Some body panels don’t line up properly in certain models and some owners have reported the car suffering from issues with the sunroof and the trunk lid. All in all, these issues are fairly rare, but there are many equipment-related issues that tend to happen, so that is why we had to mention them here.
FAQ Section
Should I buy a Citroën C5 Aircross?
If you want a crossover/SUV family car that does not break the bank, but is new enough and gets everything you expect from a nice family car, then the C5 Aircross is certainly a worthy consideration. On the other hand, if these cars aren’t for you, you are definitely not going to like the C5 Aircross as it does not do anything particularly interesting.
It is a Citroën made for family purposes and it does not ruffle any feathers when it comes to luxury, style, or desirability. However, some people like that, and if you are the one, you should certainly shortlist the Citroën C5 Aircross.
Is the Citroën C5 Aircross a safe car?
The Citroën C5 Aircross is indeed a really safe car because it gets a stellar 5-star crash safety rating due to its clever design and lots of software safety features. You do need to keep in mind that many of these software features are only available as part of additional equipment though.
Either way, the car itself is well protected because Citroën knows most people will use the C5 Aircross for family purposes.
How spacious is the Citroën C5 Aircross?
The Citroën C5 Aircross is a really spacious car which means that it can easily sit up to 4/5 adults with enough space in the trunk. The trunk space on the Aircross is especially impressive when you fold down the rear seats as it then offers more space than some larger SUVs do. All in all, it is a really practical car with more than enough space for most people.
