Citroen C3 Picasso problems, reliability and known faults
If you are considering buying a used Citroen C3 Picasso, these are the common problems worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 2 known faults for this model. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Is the Citroen C3 Picasso reliable?
The Citroen C3 Picasso has 2 known faults in our database, 0 of them rated high severity. The most serious are electrics (water gets into the under-bonnet fuse box and along the wiring loom) and suspension (the electric power steering fails, and the fault is the PAS motor). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
That is a count of the faults we hold, not a reliability score. Popular cars get written about more, and a newer generation has had less time to show its faults.
Generation 1 of 12 known faults · 10 owner reports · 3 good notes
Citroen C3 Picasso Mk1 (2009 to 2017) problems
ElectricalMedium severity💬 4 owner reports, 2014 to 2017
Water gets into the under-bonnet fuse box and along the wiring loom, usually washer fluid leaking from the reservoir pump or dripping onto the box, and corrodes it. The first signs are CAN bus faults with the lights, then lost dipped beams and sidelights. Repairs ran from a £300 bill on a 2010 car to a £1,400 rewire and up to £2,000 of corrosion damage. The DS3 suffers the same washer leak into its fuse box.
Rough guide
£300-2000
Typical symptoms
lights behaving oddly or dipped beams and sidelights failing
random warning lights and electrical faults
washer fluid level dropping with no obvious leak
corrosion visible inside the fuse box
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
SteeringMedium severity💬 4 owner reports, 2017 to 2019
The electric power steering fails, and the fault is the PAS motor. One owner had it on two successive C3 Picassos, both replaced under a Citroen technical service bulletin; a self-serviced 2011 car failed at 49,000 miles; a 2011 car lost assistance at 34,000 miles; and a 2012 1.6 HDi failed at 50,000 miles with the motor replaced free under the bulletin. One supplying dealer said Citroen knew of the problem and would replace a failed motor as goodwill on cars up to 80,000 miles and eight years old, though the owner's local dealer refused because he had serviced the car himself.
Rough guide
£600-1200
Typical symptoms
steering suddenly very heavy
power steering warning light
assistance coming and going
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All
Typical mileage:
30000-50000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
What owners report on the Mk1
10 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Engine · May 2019A 2010 Citroen C3 Picasso was reported to be consuming an excessive amount of engine oil.
Gearbox and clutch · May 2019The EGS gearbox on a 2011 C3 Picasso had difficulty changing up gears, requiring the driver to ease the accelerator.
Electrics · February 2019A 2016 C3 Picasso experienced moisture in its rear light clusters and headlights, with units replaced under warranty.
Gearbox and clutch · August 2017The clutch on a new Citroen C3 Picasso 1.2 Puretech 110 burned out after only 1,400 miles in four months.
Electrics · February 2017A short circuit in the particulate filter pump caused the ECU to malfunction and the airbag warning light to illuminate.
Suspension and steering · July 2016A 2009 C3 Picasso with 53,876 miles failed its MoT due to excessive play in both front roll bar ball joints.
Engine · March 2016A July 2015 C3 Picasso 1.2 PureTech 110hp lost all power and illuminated engine warning lights after 2,916 miles.
Engine · November 2013A 58,000 mile 2012 C3 Picasso 1.6 HDi displayed repeated dashboard antipollution warnings and engine cut-outs on a long journey.
Exhaust · September 2013On a 34,000 mile 2009 C3 Picasso 1.6 petrol, mild steel exhaust brackets rusted through, causing the silencer to drop.
Gearbox and clutch · September 2011Problems were reported with gearbox failures on new C3 Picasso models and difficulty obtaining replacement units.
What owners like about the Mk1
3 notes
The C3 Picasso offers ample room within its cabin, providing a comfortable environment for occupants.
The boot of the C3 Picasso is spacious and features a versatile floor for flexible storage options.
The C3 Picasso provides an easy and relaxed driving experience, making it pleasant to operate.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 6 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Citroen C3 Picasso advert and we check it in seconds.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: October 2026
Citroen C3 Picasso buying questions
What should I check when viewing a used Citroen C3 Picasso?
Ask the seller about the electrics and suspension faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for lights behaving oddly or dipped beams and sidelights failing and steering suddenly very heavy. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against its known faults before you travel. Check a Citroen C3 Picasso advert →
What is the real MPG of a Citroen C3 Picasso?
Owners report 50.2 mpg on average across the Citroen C3 Picasso engines with data, about 85% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 696 owner submissions. Citroen C3 Picasso Real MPG by engine →
Where this Citroen C3 Picasso fault data comes from
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Citroen C3 Picasso owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
Knowing what a Citroen C3 Picasso goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.