Citroën Xsara recalls

17 official safety recalls for the Citroën Xsara from NHTSA (United States), DVSA (United Kingdom) and the EU Safety Gate, newest first. Recall repairs are normally free at the maker’s dealers.

Whether your car is affected and still needs the repair depends on its VIN or registration. Check it on the official site for your country:

  1. Rear damper lower fixing bolts may loosen

    Reported October 9, 2009Model years 2009DVSA recall R/2009/099162 vehicles affected

    The rear damper lower fixing bolts may become loose. Their conformity will be checked and they will be replaced if necessary.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    REAR DAMPER MAY BECOME INSECURE
    Defect
    The rear dampers lower fixing bolts may become loose.
    Remedy
    Recall affected vehicles to check conformity of damper lower fixing bolt and replace if necessary

  2. Front seat frame weld may be weak

    Reported December 19, 2008Model years 2008DVSA recall R/2008/196238 vehicles affected

    A weld near the front right seat buckle may be too weak, reducing restraint in a crash. The seat frame will be checked and replaced if it is from the affected batch.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    SEATBELT RESTRAINING ABILITY MAY BE AFFECTED
    Defect
    Welding on front R/H seat frame may not be robust enough by the seat buckle. Restraining ability may be impaired in an impact.
    Remedy
    Recall affected vehicles to check and replace seat frame if in affected batch.

  3. Accelerator pedal fixing nuts may loosen

    Reported July 1, 2008Model years 2008DVSA recall R/2008/09130 vehicles affected

    Incorrectly specified nuts may loosen, making the accelerator pedal feel insecure. The three pedal plate fixing nuts will be replaced.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY WORK LOOSE
    Defect
    The accelerator pedal plate may have been fitted with nuts that are not of the correct specification. In time the nuts may work loose making the pedal feel insecure.
    Remedy
    Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected to replace the three accelerator pedal plate fixing nuts.

  4. Engine may fail due to a lubrication circuit fault

    Reported June 8, 2006Model years 2004DVSA recall R/2006/095127 vehicles affected

    A cylinder head may have a non-conforming lubrication circuit, which could cause engine failure. The camshaft carrier marking will be checked, and the engine replaced if it is within the affected range.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    ENGINE MAY FAIL
    Defect
    It has been identified that on a small number of vehicles the engine may have been fitted with a cylinder head where the lubrication circuit is not in conformity. This could result in failure of the engine.
    Remedy
    Recalled vehicles will have the marking on the camshaft carrier checked and if found to be within the effected range the engine will be replaced.

  5. Suspension spring may contact the tyre if it breaks

    Reported July 13, 2005Model years 2000–2003DVSA recall R/2005/095490,338 vehicles affected

    If a suspension spring breaks, it may contact the vehicle tyre. A suspension cup will be fitted to each side of the front suspension.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    SUSPENSION SPRINGS MAY BREAK
    Defect
    In the exceptional event of a spring breaking there could be a risk of the spring making contact with the vehicle tyre.
    Remedy
    Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and fit a suspension cup to each side of the front suspension.

  6. Diesel fuel return pipe may leak

    Reported April 25, 2005Model years 2004DVSA recall R/2005/0572,572 vehicles affected

    The fuel return pipe may seep fuel over time because of a manufacturing defect. It will be replaced with a quality-assured pipe.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    DIESEL FUEL RETURN PIPE MAY LEAK
    Defect
    The diesel fuel return pipe of the injection system for 1.6 HDI ( DV6) engines carries the risk that over time seeping of fuel may occur due to nonconformity in manufacture.
    Remedy
    Recalled vehicles will have the return pipe replaced with a quality assured item.

  7. Dashboard wiring may chafe and short circuit

    Reported February 7, 2005Model years 2003DVSA recall R/2005/0164,806 vehicles affected

    The dashboard wiring harness may chafe, causing electric window malfunctions and, in extreme cases, a short circuit. A plastic clip will be fitted to the window switch wiring harness.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    ABNORMAL WEAR ON THE DASHBOARD HARNESS
    Defect
    The dashboard harness on some vehicles may chafe which could cause random malfunctioning of the electric windows and in extreme cases could lead to a short circuit.
    Remedy
    Recall the vehicles that are likely be affected and fit a plastic clip to the window switch wiring harness.

  8. Accelerator pedal may disengage

    Reported October 27, 2003Model years 2003DVSA recall R/2003/1685,872 vehicles affected

    The accelerator pedal could disengage from its support linkage, resulting in loss of acceleration. The pedal clips will be replaced.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    POSSIBLE LOSS OF ACCELERATION
    Defect
    There is a possibility of disengagement of the accelerator pedal from the support linkage which could result in loss of acceleration
    Remedy
    Recall affected vehicles and replace accelerator pedal clips

  9. Side airbag wiring may be transposed

    Reported August 6, 2003Model years 2002–2003DVSA recall R/2003/1298,321 vehicles affected

    The left and right side airbag wiring connections may be transposed, which could cause the wrong airbag to deploy in a collision. Dealers will check the connections and correct them where needed.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    TRANSPOSED WIRING CONNECTIONS AT AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT.
    Defect
    The wiring connections to the left and right side lateral airbags may have been transposed. This could result in deployment of the incorrect airbag in a collision.
    Remedy
    Check the wiring connections and correct them where found necessary.

  10. Brake servo vacuum pipe may detach

    Reported June 23, 2003DVSA recall R/2003/103202 vehicles affected

    The vacuum pipe may detach, reducing brake servo assistance. The pipe will be replaced.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    BRAKE SERVO VACUUM PIPE MAY DETACH
    Defect
    Vacuum Servo Pipe may become detached resulting in loss of servo assistance
    Remedy
    Replace vacuum pipe

  11. Airbag wiring may trigger deployment on the wrong side

    Reported May 14, 2003Model years 2002–2003DVSA recall R/2003/0828,297 vehicles affected

    Transposed wiring may cause a side airbag to deploy on the opposite side from an impact. The wiring connections will be corrected.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    INCORRECT WIRING CONNECTIONS TO AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT
    Defect
    Transposed wiring connections to the side air bags control unit will result in deployment of the air bag on the opposite side of an impact.
    Remedy
    Correct the wiring connections.

  12. Fuel heater circuit may short circuit

    Reported May 14, 2003Model years 2002–2003DVSA recall R/2003/0815,488 vehicles affected

    A maxi-fuse may be fitted to the fuel heater circuit on vehicles without the optional diesel-fired heater, creating a risk of a short circuit and fire. The maxi-fuse will be removed.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    POSSIBLE SHORT CIRCUIT
    Defect
    Vehicles with the HDI engines but without the optional diesel fired heater may be fitted with the maxi-fuse supplying the fuel heater circuit. This can in certain cases lead to a short circuit and a consequential fire risk.
    Remedy
    Remove the maxi-fuse.

  13. Brake linkage may disconnect

    Reported February 25, 2002Model years 2000DVSA recall R/2002/01677,595 vehicles affected

    A locking clip on one or more of the five footbrake relay linkage pins may be incorrectly fitted. If the linkage disconnects, service braking will be lost. All five clips will be checked to ensure they are secure.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    SERVICE BRAKE LINKAGE MAY BECOME DISCONNECTED.
    Defect
    A locking clip may not have been fitted correctly to one or more of the five clevis pins connecting the footbrake relay linkage inside the cabin. Disconnection of the linkage will result in the loss of service braking.
    Remedy
    Recall affected vehicles to check that all five locking clips are secure.

  14. Vacuum pump drive dog may fail

    Reported November 20, 2000Model years 1999–2000DVSA recall R/2000/1212,611 vehicles affected

    The vacuum pump drive dog may fail, reducing brake assistance. The drive dog will be replaced on vehicles equipped with a Magneti Marelli vacuum pump.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    POTENTIAL LOSS OF BRAKE VACUUM ASSISTANCE
    Defect
    Possibility of failure of the vacuum pump drive dog leading to a loss of brake assistance.
    Remedy
    Recall the potentially affected range of vehicles and replace the drive dog on those equipped with a Magneti Marelli vacuum pump.

  15. Suspension ball joint may disengage

    Reported September 25, 2000Model years 2000DVSA recall R/2000/1003,648 vehicles affected

    Incorrect machining of the pivot's ball joint clamp bolt hole may allow the ball joint to disengage. The remedy is to check the pivot and replace it if needed.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    SUSPENSION BALL JOINT MAY DISENGAGE
    Defect
    There is a possibility that due to incorrect machining of the suspension ball joint clamp bolt hole on the pivot the ball joint may disengage.
    Remedy
    Recall affected vehicles and check and replace pivot if necessary.

  16. Passenger airbag may remain active when switched off

    Reported April 12, 2000Model years 1999DVSA recall R/2000/040569 vehicles affected

    A fault in the control switch may prevent the passenger airbag from being deactivated when switched off. The switch will be checked and replaced if defective.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MIGHT REMAIN ACTIVE WHEN THE DEACTIVATE MODE HAS BEEN SELECTED
    Defect
    Due to a possible fault within the control switch the passenger air bag may not be deactivated when the switch is in the off position.
    Remedy
    Likely to be affected vehicles will be recalled and the function of the deactivation control switch checked. Should a defective switch be found it will be replaced with a quality assured unit.

  17. Brake servo valve may cause loss of assistance

    Reported February 1, 2000Model years 1999DVSA recall R/2000/00527,264 vehicles affected

    The brake servo valve may not function correctly, causing loss of braking assistance. The valve will be inspected and may be replaced.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    POSSIBILITY OF LOSS OF BRAKE SERVO ASSISTANCE
    Defect
    There is a possibility that the brake servo valve may not function correctly resulting in loss of servo assistance to the braking system.
    Remedy
    Recall affected vehicles for the inspection and possible replacement of the brake servo valve.

Sources: NHTSA (US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), DVSA (UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) and the EU Safety Gate (European Commission) recall data. Each recall covers vehicles sold in that market; models sold elsewhere may differ.

Back to the Citroën Xsara