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Suspension, steering, brakes and wheels

Problems with air suspension: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 42 faults with air suspension in 42 cars. The most important by severity and frequency: loss of ride height, leaks and failure of the Hydractive suspension (Citroën C5 II), air suspension failure: compressor, air springs and valves (Land Rover Range Rover III) and air suspension failure: compressor, air springs and air leaks (Land Rover Range Rover Sport I).

Documented faults
42
12 of high or critical severity
Cars analysed
42
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
42
car generations in our database
Garage repair
No data
No reliable published costs

How we work

How it works and why it fails

Air and hydropneumatic suspension

Air suspension replaces the springs with air bellows that a compressor inflates and deflates to regulate ride height and firmness; Citroën's hydropneumatic system (Hydractive) does the same with spheres of gas and pressurised fluid. They are more comfortable than conventional suspension, but have more parts that can fail: the compressor, the bellows, the valves and the height sensors.

What to do

If the car sits lower on one side in the morning, takes a long time to rise after starting, a suspension warning lights up or you hear the compressor running for a long time, have it checked soon: a leak forces the compressor to overwork until it burns out. When buying a car with this system, check that it rises to its normal height in a short time.

General explanation by MotorFiable. The specific faults of each engine and car, with their sources, are on the linked pages.

Common symptoms

The symptoms that come up most often in the documented faults with air suspension. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems with air suspension by car

Faults documented on specific cars, which occur with any engine. From most to least important.

  1. 1High severityFrequency: CommonCitroën C5 IILoss of ride height, leaks and failure of the Hydractive suspensionIn a reliability survey with 650 reviews of the C5 II (2008-2017), the suspension and shock absorbers account for 62 cases; a German used-car guide adds leaks from the hydropneumatic sphere cylinders and hydraulic block failures beyond a certain mileage on versions with Hydractive 3+ suspension.Appears at around 90,000 km
  2. 2High severityFrequency: CommonLand Rover Range Rover IIIAir suspension failure: compressor, air springs and valvesAccording to the testimonials collected by fiches-auto.fr, it is the most repeated weakness outside the engine: leaking air springs, a worn compressor and a faulty valve block or height sensors, with cases between 100,000 and 185,000 km. No official campaign is recorded.
  3. 3High severityFrequency: CommonLand Rover Range Rover Sport IAir suspension failure: compressor, air springs and air leaksAccording to fiches-auto.fr, air suspension is the most cited non-engine fault on the Sport I (17 suspension mentions out of 65 testimonies): failed compressor, air leaks and the car sagging. One testimony cites more than €2,500 for the repair.
  4. 4Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Crafter ICracks in the rear axle mounting plates on air-suspension modelsIn 2014, Safety Gate was notified (alert A12/0673/14) that on the Crafter with air suspension (5 t types 2EKZ and 2FJZ) the rear axle mounting plates can crack, with a risk of a self-steering effect and an accident. It covers units built from October 2006 to February 2014.
  5. 5High severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi A6 C6Failure of the adaptive air suspension compressor (equipped versions)On cars with the optional adaptive air suspension (standard on the allroad quattro), gebrauchtwagenberater.de documents compressor failures that can make the car settle completely; fiches-auto.fr records a case of the rear air springs being replaced along with the compressor.
  6. 6High severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi A8 D4Leaks in the air suspension and failure of the compressor or height sensorsA buyer's guide notes bellows that sag or leak, and compressors or height sensors that fail with age, on A8 D4s with adaptive air suspension.
  7. 7High severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Discovery 3Air bellows leaking and compressor failure in the Discovery 3's air suspensionThe air bellows age and crack; the leak makes the compressor work too hard, and it eventually fails. You notice it when the car sits low at one corner in the morning, through a suspension warning on the dashboard, or when the compressor will not stop running.
  8. 8High severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Discovery 4Air suspension bellows leaks and compressor failure on the Discovery 4The air bellows age and crack; the leak makes the compressor work too hard, and it eventually fails. It shows up as the car sagging on one corner overnight, the suspension warning on the dashboard or a compressor that never stops.
  9. 9High severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Range Rover IVAir suspension leaks and failures on the Range Rover IVThe French testimony page cites the air suspension among the weak points of the 2012-2022 Range Rover: leaks in the bellows, compressor and height sensors that cause the car to drop, squeaks or safety mode. One testimony mentions wear of the arms at around 65,000 km.
  10. 10High severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase S W222Airmatic air suspension faultsThe Airmatic air suspension on the S-Class W222 can lose air through leaks in the air struts and overwork the compressor. Second-hand buying guides agree it is the first thing to check when buying.Appears at around 80,000 km
  11. 11High severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz CLS C219Airmatic air suspension faults: air struts and compressorThe Airmatic air suspension is the most-cited chassis complaint on the CLS C219 on fiches-auto.fr (23 cases): front air struts and compressor. One case cites around 3,500 euros at the main dealer at 105,000 km.
  12. 12High severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen PhaetonAir suspension leaks on the VW Phaeton: the car sinks and repairs are costlyCarWiki states that air suspension leaks on the Phaeton are more frequent at high mileage and that repairs are expensive; Wikipedia confirms that every Phaeton had the AIRMOTION air suspension.
  13. 13Medium severityFrequency: CommonBMW Serie 5 Gran Turismo F07Leaks in the rear air suspension bellowsYes: the rear air suspension bellows are the most frequently reported weak point of the 5 Series GT. They show up as the car leaning or sitting low at the back, with a compressor that runs constantly.
  14. 14Medium severityFrequency: CommonMercedes-Benz Clase S W220Airmatic air suspension leaks and levelling faults on the Mercedes S-Class W220Yes: AUTO BILD and AutoScout24 report leaks in the W220's Airmatic air suspension (mainly 1998-1999) and levelling faults; on fiches-auto, 20 out of 100 owners mention the suspension.
  15. 15Medium severityFrequency: CommonMercedes-Benz GLC X253Recurring failures of the AIRMATIC air suspension compressorThe (optional) AIRMATIC air suspension compressor on the GLC X253 fails repeatedly: several owners document its replacement on different cars between 51,000 and 165,000 km, with the body sagging, noise and harshness as warning symptoms.Appears at around 51,000 km
  16. 16Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi Q7 4LAir suspension leaks and compressor wearThe Q7 4L's air suspension can lose height through leaking bellows, valves, level sensors or a compressor that wears out working against a leak. One workshop regards it as the most common issue for the range; another guide sees it as less frequent.
  17. 17Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 5 F10Failure of the air springs and compressor in the Touring's (F11) rear air suspensionAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the rear air suspension bellows on the 5 Series Touring burst relatively often from around 110,000-210,000 km, and there are also cases of a failed compressor. There is no known official campaign.Appears at around 110,000 km
  18. 18Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW X5 E53Shock absorber and air suspension failure on the X5 E53According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr (206 for the 2000-2007 X5), there are 18 cases of shock absorber and suspension problems, including air suspension failures.
  19. 19Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C4 Picasso ILeaking rear air suspension bellowsAccording to the listing, the rear air suspension bellows (boudins) can become porous at around 80,000-120,000 km. We have not verified the figure in another source.
  20. 20Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C5 IHydractive suspension failure: spheres, pump and hydraulic block on the Citroën C5According to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the Hydractive suspension of the C5 (2001-2008) gives trouble in 58 of 447 cases: faulty height sensors, worn spheres, hydraulic leaks and pump failures.
  21. 21Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C6Hydractive suspension faults on the Citroën C6: leaks, height sensors and spheresAccording to the fiches-auto.fr owner reports, 16 of 151 C6 owners cite Hydractive suspension problems: leaks, faulty height sensors, incorrect ride height and excessive firmness; repairs of around €350 to €1,090 depending on the case.
  22. 22Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Discovery 5Air suspension compressor failure: the car ends up leaning to one sideCarbuyer lists the air suspension among the Discovery 5's weak points: the air pumps can fail with age and leave the car leaning to one side, which the magazine calls dangerous to drive. This is a warning from the British press, not an official campaign, and fiches-auto.fr records no cases on its model page.
  23. 23Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Range Rover VelarAir suspension locked or faulty and noises from suspension componentsThis is an occasional fault: fiches-auto.fr records 8 mentions of suspension out of 59 testimonies, with air suspension locked on a P300, a replacement at about 62,000 km on a D240 and a failure at 153,000 km on a D300, and What Car? cites noises from suspension components.
  24. 24Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase E W211Leaks and compressor failures in the Airmatic air suspensionThe Airmatic air suspension, more comfortable than a conventional one, is also much more expensive to maintain: the bellows and the compressor are prone to failure, and leaks can leave the car lower than normal on one side and force the compressor to work non-stop, which can end up draining the battery.
  25. 25Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase E W212Airmatic air suspension faultsOn E-Class models with Airmatic air suspension, the compressor and bellows can fail and the car sits very low. Gebrauchtwagenberater and CarWiki cite it as a typical W212 problem.
  26. 26Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase M W164Airmatic air suspension compressor and control unit failureAccording to the owner testimonies collected by fiches-auto.fr, the M-Class W164 has around 19 cases of Airmatic air suspension failure: a failed compressor or a suspension control that stops working, often beyond 130,000 km, with repairs from around €800.
  27. 27Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase R W251Wear and failure of the Airmatic air suspensionA second-hand buying guide from Diariomotor identifies the Airmatic air suspension as the R-Class point whose good condition is decisive in avoiding costly repairs, and even recommends preferring the conventional suspension. The guide gives no figures for faults or cost.
  28. 28Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase S W221Airmatic air suspension failure (air springs and shock absorbers)It is a fault cited by W221 owners: the fiches-auto.fr page records several reports of repaired Airmatic suspension, some more than once, with bills of the order of €840 to €1,500 depending on the case. We have found no official recall.
  29. 29Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche Cayenne IOptional air suspension faults: compressor, valves and air leaksOn Cayenne I models with optional air suspension, several sources point to leaks at the valves and in the pipework, and a compressor that works non-stop to make up for them. The car sits low, a warning appears on the dashboard, or the compressor starts too often.
  30. 30Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche Cayenne IIAir suspension faults: bellows, compressor and residual pressure valvesOn Cayenne II models with air suspension, CarWiki identifies the bellows and compressors as the most common faults, and a German workshop points to the residual pressure valves as the most frequent cause of gradual pressure loss. The car loses height, makes noises, the compressor works hard and warnings appear.
  31. 31Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche Panamera ILeaks in the air suspension shock absorbers and compressor wearOn Panameras fitted with air suspension, owner reports and a technical article cite air shock absorbers that lose air or fail, and a compressor that becomes noisy and struggles to raise the car. There is no official recall: the data consists of owner reports and a workshop article, with no euro prices.
  32. 32Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalTesla Model SPremature wear of the front suspension and bushes on the Model SThe fiches-auto.fr entry records 3 suspension mentions in 21 testimonies: premature wear of front parts, collapsed air suspension and faulty bushes, with one case that required replacing the whole wishbone at 40,000 km.
  33. 33Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalToyota Land Cruiser J150Leaks from the rear air suspension bellowsOn Land Cruiser 150s fitted with rear air suspension, the bellows are wear parts that eventually lose air. Unsealed 4X4 mentions a firmer rear ride and leaks, and Авто.ру estimates their life at around 200,000 km and notes that the reservoir and valves suffer from water and road salt.Appears at around 200,000 km
  34. 34Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Touareg IAir suspension: loss of ride height, compressor or air linesAccording to the fiches-auto.fr page, the Touareg I air suspension can lose ride height because of the compressor, porous air lines or a faulty sensor; a compressor that runs non-stop indicates air leaks.
  35. 35Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Touareg IIAir suspension faults: CDC block valves, level sensors and compressorAuto Bild lists air suspension among the Touareg II's optional extras that give problems over the years, and a German workshop explains that it is often not the air shock absorber that fails but a valve in the CDC block or a level sensor. It is worth diagnosing before replacing parts.
  36. 36Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo XC90 IICompressor failures and air suspension leaks, especially in cold weatherOn the XC90 II with air suspension, both fiches-auto.fr and gebrauchtwagenberater.de document compressor failures and leaks that leave the car sitting lower than normal; the problem gets worse in sub-zero temperatures, when the system may not recover its height on start-up.
  37. 37Medium severityFrequency: RareAudi A6 C7Rear air suspension leaks and compressor failureAccording to testimonies collected by fiches-auto.fr, some A6 C7 cars with air suspension lose air in the rear bellows or need a new compressor, with cases from around 80,000 km. It is a fault cited by few owners.
  38. 38Medium severityFrequency: RareBMW Serie 7 F01Wear of the control arm bushes and air suspension bellowsAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, on the 7 Series F01 the suspension arm bushes and the air bellows "don't last long" because of the car's weight; one owner replaced the front bushes at 130,000 km. There are few cases and no official data.Appears at around 130,000 km
  39. 39Medium severityFrequency: RareBMW Serie 7 G11Rear axle air suspension failureAccording to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, one owner describes faulty air suspension on the rear wheels from around 90,000 km. It is an isolated case among only three reports, not a fault documented as general.
  40. 40Medium severityFrequency: RareBMW X5 E70Rear air suspension failure on the X5 E70According to fiches-auto.fr, the X5 E70's rear air suspension can sag because of leaking air springs and level sensor faults, which overloads the compressor. The entry does not give the number of cases.
  41. 41Medium severityFrequency: RareBMW X5 F15Rear air suspension and rear shock absorber failure on the X5 F15According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr (56 for the 2013-2018 X5), there are cases of air leaks in the rear air suspension, with the compressor working excessively and the car sagging after being parked, and of a rear shock absorber breaking at only 14,000 km.
  42. 42Medium severityFrequency: RareMercedes-Benz Clase M / GLE W166Wear of the Airmatic air suspension (adaptive dampers, air bellows and compressor)According to reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the Airmatic suspension on the 2011-2015 ML can cause problems with age: a body that sags, a noisy compressor or slow height correction. The page records 4 suspension cases out of 62 reports.

Air and hydropneumatic suspension: compare prices in shops

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Problems with air suspension by make

Frequently asked questions

Which cars have problems with air suspension?

Among those we have analysed: Citroën C5 II (loss of ride height, leaks and failure of the Hydractive suspension), Land Rover Range Rover III (air suspension failure: compressor, air springs and valves), Land Rover Range Rover Sport I (air suspension failure: compressor, air springs and air leaks), Volkswagen Crafter I (cracks in the rear axle mounting plates on air-suspension models), Audi A6 C6 (failure of the adaptive air suspension compressor (equipped versions)), Audi A8 D4 (leaks in the air suspension and failure of the compressor or height sensors), Land Rover Discovery 3 (air bellows leaking and compressor failure in the Discovery 3's air suspension) and Land Rover Discovery 4 (air suspension bellows leaks and compressor failure on the Discovery 4). In total, 42 cars with documented faults with air suspension.

What symptoms does a fault with air suspension cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: knocks or creaks from the suspension over bumps, intermittent electronic warnings or sensor faults and battery goes flat while the car is parked.