Used Citroën C5 Aircross 2019-present reliability
Category: Large SUV
The Citroën C5 Aircross is not the best to drive but it delivers comfort in spades and is a good used buy, too.
What should I look for in a used Citroën C5 AIRCROSS hatchback?
Most used examples of the Citroën C5 Aircross will have been well-cared-for cars and should therefore still look and feel like new. Even so, do all the usual checks for damaged alloy wheels, dents and scratches.
The interior feels reasonably well made, but some scratchy plastics could show some signs of wear and tear, so be on the lookout for any damage.
When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.
What are the most common problems with a used Citroën C5 AIRCROSS hatchback?
The C5 Aircross has been subject to five recalls. You can check that all remedial work has been done by a dealer. If a recall issue hasn't been rectified, the manufacturer will fix it free of charge.
Reason for recall
Some trailer tow ball fixing bolts may be damaged.
How the manufacturer will repair: Replace the two tow ball fixing bolts.
Number of affected vehicles: 10
Date of recall: 03/02/2020
Reason for recall
The vehicles may be affected by a defect in the urea injector which might block and lead to NOx emissions going out of the regulatory limits.
How the manufacturer will repair: Updating the ECU software to avoid the gradual blocking of the urea injector.
Number of affected vehicles: 1689
Date of recall: 19/08/2020
Reason for recall
The filtering performance of the Diesel Particle Filter (DPF) may not meet the required specification.
How the manufacturer will repair: Replace the DPF on affected vehicles.
Number of affected vehicles: 432
Date of recall: 13/11/2020
Reason for recall
The welding of the individual components of the towbar might not meet the correct specification.
How the manufacturer will repair: Check the identity label and replace the towbar if affected.
Number of affected vehicles: 23
Date of recall: 05/03/2021
Reason for recall
The engine management software calibration could be incorrect causing engine stall.
How the manufacturer will repair: Upload updated engine management software.
Number of affected vehicles: 1323
Date of recall: 26/07/2022
Is a used Citroën C5 AIRCROSS hatchback reliable?
The C5 Aircross came in 23rd place out of 33 cars in the family SUV class of our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey. It achieved a reasonable score of 90.7%, but it still finished below the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5 petrol and Toyota RAV4.
Check out the full list of brands from our latest survey here.
It should be noted, though, that we experienced a few electrical gremlins and had some issues with broken interior trim when running an example during a Citroen C5 Aircross long-term test.
Used Citroën C5 Aircross reliability: the owners' view
In our latest Reliability Survey, Citroën C5 Aircross owners said they had a mixed experience with reliability and dealer support.
Several owners reported persistent electrical issues, including warning lights appearing without clear cause. One diesel owner described multiple return visits to resolve a faulty parking sensor, while others mentioned glitches with infotainment systems. A few hybrid drivers flagged battery-related problems, although these tended to be isolated cases rather than widespread.
Dealer service drew criticism from some respondents, with complaints about slow repair times and poor communication. One owner said their local dealer took weeks to obtain the necessary parts for a relatively minor fault. However, not all feedback was negative – a handful of owners praised their dealerships for being helpful and efficient when problems did arise.
