Faults:

Safety bag warning light comes on for no reason. The dealer has 'fixed' it twice, but the problem recurs each winter. I gather this is a common problem. There is, apparently, no fault with the safety bags, but simply a fault in the warning light circuit - and this is intermittent.

General Comments:

This is a good family car with a huge boot. The principal disadvantage is rear visibility - caused, presumably, by the high line of the boot lid.

For a diesel engine in a fairly small car, the fuel consumption is not outstanding. At best one can achieve about 50mpg.

Faults:

Radiator after a 350000kms.

General Comments:

The car is great as a taxi. very comfortable and low-price. the garage tough is OK. but yet expansive for me. here in IL.

Faults:

The car's ABS brakes do not work when the clutch is pushed in.

Under emergency braking situations, if the clutch is depressed, the engine stops, cutting the power to the brakes, and to the steering.

General Comments:

The Citroen Xsara is a great car to drive. Before I bought it I drove a Volkswagen Golf, a Honda Civic, and Peugeot 206. The Peugeot was closest, but the Citroen handles much better than the others.

Even though it is front-wheel drive, it has very neutral grip, and a well sorted chassis.

Faults:

Car is on its third fuel pump as they keep blowing fuses.

Engine will not run in hot weather and stalls whenever the clutch is dipped. 4 dealers have failed to rectify this with costs approaching four figures!

Seats are rattly and don't go forwards. Dealer rectification totalled spraying WD40 on the rails, stinking out the car completely and this meant driving with the windows open for a week.

Front fog-lamps didn't work when car was purchased, and took 4 return visits to dealer to rectify.

Airbag warning lamp came on at 28000 miles necessitating a replacement switch in the steering column. Over £100 to fix.

Fuel tank has become distorted somehow, meaning that the car does not always fill with fuel as forecourt pump cuts out continuously. Also fuel gauge does not work correctly. It shows the car as being full, but within a couple of miles shows the tank as only three quarters full. The fuel low warning doesn't work either.

Drivers window rattles unless wound fully down.

All of these faults have been have been reported to Citroen UK customer services by both phone and e-mail many weeks ago and no response has received.

The catalytic converter failed and spat its innards out ruining the entire exhaust system and necessitating a complete replacement. The car had done about 9000 miles and I was told the warranty didn't cover the exhaust!

General Comments:

Performance is excellent. Out-accelerates cars with much bigger engines, which is good fun.

Handling is very good as long as you don't push too hard. This car will bite back!

Faults:

The pre-delivery service from the dealer was appalling. They had damaged the window switch surround, the rear window washer spray only went half way up the screen, and there was a scratch on the front fender.

Around 10 000km the airbag light came on. This was fixed by the dealer, although the repairs are noticeable, with a wire running outside of the normal loom.

The trim around the passenger side seat belt housing came loose. This was fixed by the dealer.

The louver adjustment on the passenger side for the air conditioning vent has been pushed in, and is yet to be fixed by the dealer.

General Comments:

The car is very comfortable to both drive in and be a passenger, although rear leg room is limited for people over 6'4" or 190cm tall.

The performance is adequate, no more.

Engine is vibration free throughout the rev range.

Rear visibility is limited due to the shape of the car.

Radio in Australian spec is rather fiddly, but easy to learn with a quick read of the instruction manual.

Paint is very easily scratched, even following proper washing procedures.

The car can be fitted with 16" wheels with almost no reduction in ride quality.