The Citroen C6 is a full-size executive sedan that was in production between 2005 and 2012. Citroen made the C6 to try and compete with already established luxury executive sedans, predominantly German ones. It’s safe to say that the C6 is a really good car, but it is not on the same level as the Audi A6, the BMW 5-Series, or the Mercedes E-Class.
When it comes to reliability, the C6 does not fare all that well as most reliability charts and surveys only gave it a decent grade at best. This means that most C6 customers reported a bunch of issues with the C6, so much so that the car is now known as one of the least reliable Citroen models to ever come out.
The most common Citroen C6 issues are associated with various equipment issues, engine issues, suspension issues, gearbox issues, and electrical issues. Some of these are really serious and can cost more to fix than what the car is worth today. That is why the C6 has depreciated massively as not many people are brave enough to buy it.
However, the C6 is actually a really interesting can underneath all those issues because it looks interesting inside and out, and is a really comfortable car. All in all, you could buy one used, but you need to make a pre-purchase inspection at the very least.
The most common Citroen C6 equipment issues are associated with water ingress into the car’s cabin and trunk space. Many owners reported that the trunk lid on the C6 is misaligned from the factory which leads to water leaking into the trunk space. The sunroof was also prone to leaking, especially if you don’t clean all the drains in due time.
This can all lead to corrosion problems which are extremely difficult and time-consuming to fix. The trunk lid is not the only place where the C6 tends to gather rust, but also around the rear windows. If you don’t take care of this early enough, the corrosion will spread and eventually retire the car altogether.
Citroen C6 – Engine issues
The Citroen C6 experiences quite a few relatively serious engine-related issues. The most common engine-related issue is tied to the EGR which tends to fail a few times during the C6’s lifespan. If you notice your C6 idling roughly, or you sense a substantial lack of power, chances are that the EGR valve is the reason.
Burnt-out glow plugs can make the engine extremely loud and thus ruin the overall luxury experience that the C6 tends to offer. Finally, we also need to talk about the turbochargers which are also prone to failure. If these do go out, they are not the cheapest things to fix either.
Citroen C6 – Suspension issues
The Citroen C6 is not a particularly lightweight car which means that the C6 suspension is often unable to support the car properly. If you go over a speed bump or a more serious undulation on the road, there is a great deal of chance that your sway and anti-roll bars could give out at any point.
If you hear any thudding noises, this is the likely cause. Fixing these issues isn’t overly difficult, but it also tends to cost a decent sum of money which further makes the C6 less desirable as 2nd hand car. The springs and shocks can also sometimes give out, but these issues aren’t as common.
Citroen C6 – Gearbox issues
The automatic gearbox found in the Citroen C6 is relatively smooth and enjoyable, but it also suffers from various issues. First of all, changing gears from 2nd to 3rd can be a really rough experience as that is what many owners reported. These issues are down to either contaminated transmission fluid or issues with the torque converter.
Owners also reported that the car is sometimes unwilling to engage in reverse gear at all which can be a really annoying occurrence depending on where and how you parked the car.
Citroen C6 – Electrical issues
The Citroen C6 is also prone to a whole lot of electrical issues, some of which are worse than others. For starters, many in-car accessories related to the infotainment system and the A/C are known to fail really often. The car’s headlights are prone to condensation and eventual failure. The power windows tend to fail and so do the power locks.
FAQ Section
Should I buy a Citroen C6?
The Citroen C6 is a really difficult car to recommend due to its various reliability issues that can easily retire the car altogether. Other reasons why the C6 is a bad car are associated with how expensive the car is to run, especially for a Citroen. These running costs are considered logical for many established luxury brands, but Citroen isn’t one of them.
On the other hand, the C6 is one of the most interesting cars Citroen ever did and it does come with a whole lot of features for not a whole lot of money. As such, if you know how to buy and how to take care of a car, the C6 can be a good purchase.
Is the Citroen C6 a luxury car?
The Citroen C6 is and is not a luxury car at the same time. The reason why I don’t really believe that it is a luxury car is that it does not belong to a luxury brand and because it isn’t as polished as its competitors that are in the business of making luxury cars for decades.
On the other hand, the C6 does come with loads of luxury features which certainly do elevate the driving experience to a luxury-inducing level.
Why did Citroen stop making the C6?
The reason why Citroen stopped making the C6 is that the sales were never good enough to continue making the C6. High purchase prices, but not a luxury badge are a known recipe for disaster. Even though the C6 is considered by many as a really cool and good-looking car, uninitiated people just see a car with a Citroen badge.
What is the problem with the gearbox on the Citroën C6?
The problem with the gearbox on the Citroën C6 is that it often struggles to engage from second to third gear. This can result in unusually high revs at this change as well as a lack of smoothness when switching. Additionally, there are also known issues with the gearbox’s ability to engage in reverse. To fix this issue, it may be necessary to replace or clean out the transmission fluid and/or torque converter depending on what is causing the problem. It is recommended that you take your car to a professional mechanic if these issues arise in order to properly diagnose and repair them.
