1998 Citroën Xsara problems
The 1998 Citroën Xsara was sold with an engine that we have documented: the 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5. The 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5 has serious faults that affect the cars of that year. Outside the engine, 4 documented faults affect 1998 cars, such as wear of the rear axle and its bearings on the Citroën Xsara.
1998 Citroën Xsara score: acceptable reliability
Calculated using only 9 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. How it is calculated
- Engine6.45 faults
- Gearbox9.31 fault
- Suspension8.31 fault
- Brakes7.00 faults
- Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
- Steering4.40 faults
- Electrical system8.22 faults
- Headlights and lights7.30 faults
- Electronics and infotainment10.0No documented faults
- Climate control10.0No documented faults
- Bodywork and interior7.70 faults
- Airbags and safety10.0No documented faults
What changes compared with the 1997 Citroën Xsara
The same engines and the same documented faults as in 1997.
1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5 engine in the 1998 Citroën Xsara
Names: 1.4i · 1.6i · 1.6 16v
- Buy
TU3 1.4 75 hp 8v (TU3JP/TU3KFX, 1994-2014)
75 hp · TU3JP, TU3KFX
It is the simplest version, with the least electronics in the whole family: with no turbo or direct injection, its most cited faults according to owners (coil, sensors) are cheap to repair and do not compromise the engine if dealt with in time.[4][5]
- Buy
TU5 1.6 88-90 hp 8v (TU5JP, from 1994)
88–90 hp · TU5JP
It shares the mechanical simplicity of the 1.4: no turbo or complex electronics, with the advantage of a little more power and torque for getting around town and on the road with ease.[2][6]
Faults that affect 1998 cars
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalCylinder head and blockHead gasket damaged after overheatingThe head gasket fails mainly as a consequence of previous overheating -from a coolant leak or a faulty thermostat- and not as a factory defect: it appears in a minority of engines, almost always between 30,000 and 180,000 km, with coolant loss, emulsified oil or white smoke.Appears at around 30,000 km
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonIgnitionIgnition 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
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalCoolingThermostat stuck open or closedThe thermostat -the controlled "calorstat" on the more recent versions- can stick: if it closes, the engine overheats; if it stays open, it is slow to reach temperature and uses more fuel. It is one of the cooling faults owners of these engines cite most.
- Low severityFrequency: CommonElectronicsSensors that fail: lambda sensor and temperature sensorThe lambda sensor and the coolant temperature sensor are, along with the coils, the components most cited as faulty: they cause an unstable idle, the engine warning light coming on or a cooling fan that does not behave normally.Appears at around 25,000 km
- Low severityFrequency: CommonLubricationOil 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
Faults outside the engine in the 1998 Citroën Xsara
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonSuspensionWear of the rear axle and its bearings on the Citroën XsaraThe rear axle is the most cited fault on the Xsara: around 90 mentions out of 495 owner reports on fiches-auto.fr, with uneven tyre wear, noises and a floaty rear end; the repair may require reconditioning the whole axle. No public recall is recorded.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalElectrical systemIntermittent faults caused by the door and boot wiring looms on the Citroën XsaraAccording to fiches-auto.fr, the Xsara's door and boot looms cause around 54 mentions of intermittent electrical faults (locking, instrument cluster, lights, wipers), made worse by damp. No public recall is recorded.
- Low severityFrequency: OccasionalElectrical systemElectric window and door cable failure on the Citroën XsaraThe electric windows are a typical fault on the Xsara: around 46 mentions out of 495 owner reports on fiches-auto.fr, with motors, cables and door connectors that fail; one window jammed at around 100,000 km because of a severed wire. No public recall is recorded.
- Low severityFrequency: OccasionalGearbox and clutchWear of the clutch and release bearing on the Citroën XsaraThe Xsara's clutch wears and becomes heavy, especially on diesels and in town use, according to fiches-auto.fr, which counts between 82 and 100 mentions of clutch and gearbox out of 495 owner reports. No public recall is recorded.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Citroën Xsara reliable?
The 1998 Citroën Xsara was sold with an engine that we have documented: the 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5. The 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5 has serious faults that affect the cars of that year. Outside the engine, 4 documented faults affect 1998 cars, such as wear of the rear axle and its bearings on the Citroën Xsara.
Is the 1998 Citroën Xsara better than the 1997?
Going by the documented faults, they are the same: the same engines and the same faults affect the 1997 and 1998 cars. Choose on condition, mileage and maintenance history.
What is the best year for the Citroën Xsara?
According to our score, the best are 2006 and 2005 (8.4/10). The year with the worst score is 1997 (6.7/10). Each year's score counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those cars.
What faults does the 1998 Citroën Xsara have?
The most important ones documented for 1998 cars are: head gasket damaged after overheating (1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5, high severity), ignition coils that fail and cause jerking (1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5, medium severity), thermostat stuck open or closed (1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5, medium severity), wear of the rear axle and its bearings on the Citroën Xsara (suspension, medium severity) and intermittent faults caused by the door and boot wiring looms on the Citroën Xsara (electrical system, medium severity).
Own a 1998 Citroën Xsara? Tell us what faults you have had and at how many kilometres. Report your fault.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Citroën XsaraWikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Citroën XsaraWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Tous les problèmes sur Citroën Xsara (témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 206 (témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 307 (témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Peugeot 206Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish