Jerking or juddering when accelerating on Citroën: causes by model

• High severityFrequency: Occasional1.5 BlueHDiSeizure of the high-pressure pump and injection systemSome early 1.5 BlueHDi engines have suffered seizure of the Bosch high-pressure pump, with juddering or the engine stalling on the road, sometimes before 50,000 km. The repair means replacing the entire injection system and the fuel tank.

In Berlingo III, C-Elysée, C3 III, C3 Aircross I, C4 III and C4 Cactus and 3 more models

• High severityFrequency: Occasional1.2 PureTechSpark plug breakage on the 130 hp 1.2 PureTech turboOn the 130 hp 1.2 PureTech/e-THP turbo the original spark plugs can break; if a fragment falls into the cylinder it can damage the engine. Autojournal cites a 2015 recall to replace them on the 308 II.

In Berlingo II, C3 II, C3 III, C3 Aircross I, C3 Picasso and C4 II and 2 more models

• High severityFrequency: Occasional2.2 HDiPiezo injector wear and failureThe 2.2 HDi uses third-generation common-rail injection with piezo injectors at up to 1,800-2,000 bar. Fiches-auto documents injector cases across several power outputs, without it being the most repeated fault, with symptoms of hard starting, jerking or higher fuel consumption.

In C-Crosser, C5 I, C5 II, C6 and C8

• High severityFrequency: OccasionalAL4 / DP0Degraded oil: harsh shifts, slipping and overheatingYes: as with any automatic gearbox, if the AL4/DP0 oil degrades or drops in level, harsh shifts, slipping and overheating appear. We have not found a specific change interval from PSA or Renault, but several sources recommend checking it even if the manufacturer does not list it as necessary.

In C3 I, C4 I and Xsara Picasso

• High severityFrequency: Occasional2.0 BlueHDiInjector and high-pressure pump wearThe injectors and the high-pressure pump on the 2.0 BlueHDi are among the documented faults, although in a minority of the cases recorded compared with AdBlue or the DPF. When the pump fails, metal particles can contaminate the whole circuit and make the repair far more expensive.

In C4 Picasso II, C5 Aircross and Jumpy III

• High severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C4 Picasso IBMP6 robotised gearbox faults: jerks and actuatorThe listing records 81 reports on the BMP6 robotised gearbox, with jerks, slow gear engagement and actuator failures at around 120,000 km.

• High severityFrequency: OccasionalAisin TF-80SCValve body and solenoid valves: knocks between gears, slipping and limp modeOver the years the valve body and the solenoid valves can wear and the gearbox knocks between gears, slips or goes into limp mode. A remanufacturer documents this on the Ford TF-81SC, and fiches-auto records it on Volvo and Peugeot with this gearbox.

In C5 II

• High severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C6Jerking and hydraulic block faults in the Citroën C6 six-speed automatic gearboxAccording to fiches-auto.fr, 23 of 151 C6 owner reports cite six-speed automatic gearbox faults: jerking, hesitation when changing gear and locking in P; one case puts the hydraulic block at around €2,200.

• Medium severityFrequency: Common1.6 HDiDirty EGR valve and EGR cooler leaksThe 1.6 HDi EGR valve gets dirty easily, especially in town use, and causes jerking and stalling at idle. On the 8V engines the EGR cooler also fails, consuming coolant with no visible leaks.

In Berlingo II, C-Elysée, C3 I, C3 II, C3 Picasso and C4 I and 6 more models

• Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5Ignition coils that fail and cause jerkingThe ignition module -a rail with two twin coils, no distributor- is the electrical fault owners cite most across all models with this engine: it usually fails between 40,000 and 150,000 km and causes jerking, an unstable idle or the engine warning light coming on.Appears at around 40,000 km

In AX, Berlingo I, C2, C3 I, C4 I and C15 and 4 more models

• Medium severityFrequency: Common1.6 HDiJerking and injection faults on the 1.6 e-HDi 112/115 (Continental injectors)The 112 and 115 hp 1.6 HDi/e-HDi built between late 2011 and February 2014 can jerk and turn on the engine warning light because of an internal electrical defect in their Continental injectors. PSA covered their replacement depending on age and mileage.

In Berlingo II, C3 II, C3 Picasso, C4 II, C4 Picasso I and C4 Picasso II and 1 more model

• Medium severityFrequency: Common2.0 HDiEGR valve blocked by sootThe 2.0 HDi's EGR valve gets coated in soot and sticks, especially on the 107/120 and 136/138 hp versions; it causes jerking, limp mode and the engine warning light, although it can usually be solved by cleaning it.Repair (garage): €200–€350

In Berlingo II, C4 Picasso I, C5 II and Xantia

• Medium severityFrequency: Common1.6 THPHigh-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure on the turbo versionsThe high-pressure pump that feeds the direct injection of the turbo (THP) versions can fail. MINI, which uses the same block in the Cooper S, extended the warranty on this part in 2010 to 10 years or 192,000 km for 2007-2009 models in the US, without the need for a recall.

In C4 I, C4 II and C5 II

• Medium severityFrequency: Occasional1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12Faulty ignition coilsIgnition coils are the fault reported by the press (gebrauchtwagenberater.de, CarsGuide) and by 16 of the 170 owner reviews of the 2.0 EW10; they also appear on the 2.2. A weak coil causes misfires, jerking and the engine warning light coming on.

In C4 I, C4 Picasso I, C5 I, C5 II, C8 and Xsara and 1 more model

• Medium severityFrequency: Occasional1.6 THPSpark plugs and ignition coils that wear out early on the 1.6 THPOn the 1.6 THP turbo a noticeable minority of owners replace spark plugs and coils earlier than expected: fiches-auto.fr records ignition warnings in 12% of opinions on the 200 hp THP. It causes judder and the engine warning light.

In C4 I, C4 II and C5 II

• Medium severityFrequency: Occasional2.0 BlueHDiEGR valve blocked by carbon depositsThe EGR valve on the 2.0 BlueHDi can get clogged with carbon deposits and stick, causing juddering and limp mode. Specialists place the greatest risk in the earlier 120 and 136/138 hp versions without AdBlue; at 150-180 hp the documented cases are in the minority.Repair (garage): €200–€350

In C4 Picasso II, C5 Aircross and Jumpy III

• Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën Berlingo IIIDifficulty engaging gears in the manual gearbox and clutch vibrationA reliability survey documents 4 cases of difficulty engaging gears (mainly 3rd, 4th and reverse) from 35,000 km, and 2 cases of clutch vibration or seizing with premature flywheel cracking from 28,000 km.Appears at around 28,000 km

• Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C2Sensodrive automated gearbox faults on the Citroën C2C2 owners with the Sensodrive automated gearbox describe jerking, hesitation when engaging a gear and refusal to select a gear, according to the reports on fiches-auto.fr. There is no known public recall.

• Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C3 IJerks, gear rejection and lock-ups in the SensoDrive robotised gearboxOn versions fitted with the optional SensoDrive robotised gearbox (a manual with an automated clutch), fiches-auto.fr documents that the gearbox can jerk badly, refuse to engage a gear or get stuck in neutral; it records 29 gearbox problem cases among the owners consulted.

• Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAisin TF-80SCJerking, knocks and shift flare from aged gearbox oilIf the gearbox oil is not changed, this six-speed automatic jerks and flares on shifts: Volvo did not include the ATF change in its official servicing and Total Renting advises it every 60,000 km. According to that site, the change costs between €120 and €350.Repair (garage): €120–€350Appears at around 60,000 km

In C5 II

• High severityFrequency: Rare1.2 PureTechTiming misalignment from the camshaft sprocket bolts (chain-driven generation)On the third-generation 1.2 (chain-driven) built up to 17 February 2024, the camshaft sprocket bolts could be incorrectly fitted and throw the timing out: engine warning light, loss of power and, in the worst case, contact between pistons and valves.

In C3 IV, C3 Aircross II, C4 III, C4 X, C5 Aircross and C5 X

• Low severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5Oil leak from the rocker cover gasketThe rocker cover gasket dries out with the years and lets oil seep into the spark plug wells: besides the oil stain on the engine, it can soak the spark plugs or the ignition module and cause misfires.Appears at around 120,000 km

In AX, Berlingo I, C2, C3 I, C4 I and C15 and 4 more models

• Low severityFrequency: Occasional1.8 and 2.0 XURough idle and low-rev stumblingCaradisiac records low-rev stumbling in the 8-valve 1.8 and 2.0 engines built until late 1998 or mid-1999, which is corrected by reprogramming the ECU, and PistonHeads attributes the rough cold idle of the 2.0 16v to the idle valve and its stepper motor.

In Berlingo I, Xantia, Xsara and ZX

• Low severityFrequency: OccasionalAL4 / DP0Jolt or sharp thud when engaging a gear from a standstillIt is a symptom described in general terms for automatic gearboxes with degraded oil: a jolt or a sharper thud than normal when moving from park or neutral into gear, especially when cold. We have not found sources confirming whether the AL4/DP0 suffers from it more than other gearboxes of its era.

In C3 I, C4 I and Xsara Picasso

• Low severityFrequency: Occasional1.0 PureTechIgnition coil and spark plug failureOn the 68 hp 1.0 VTi/PureTech, failure of the ignition coils or spark plugs occurs occasionally. It shows up as jerking when accelerating and an engine warning light. It can appear even at low mileage and is fixed without touching the engine.

In C3 II