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What to check: Citroen C5 Aircross

ABy miles

Ranked across all years of the Citroen C5 Aircross, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 1.6% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 0.2%

ExhaustListen along the exhaust at cold idle for blowing or chuffing, and give the tailpipe a push to check nothing hangs loose. Small blows only get louder.Recorded on 0.8% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 0.1%

A binding brakeAfter the test drive, hold the back of your hand near each wheel hub. One wheel running much hotter than the rest is a sticking caliper. A car that slows itself down when you lift off on a flat road is saying the same thing.Recorded on 0.7% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 0.2%

Lights and horn walkroundWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 0.6% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 0.3%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourRuns high on this modelCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 27.2% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 16.6%

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 11.9% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 7.0%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 1.2% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 1.4%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Start the car cold, before you drive it, and listen closely to the engine for any rattle.A rattle on a 1.2 PureTech points at wet belt wear; walk away or get it inspected before buying.

Check the service history for a wet belt or timing belt change on 1.2 PureTech cars.No record of a belt change by 60k miles is a red flag on this engine.

On diesel models, check the dash for a DPF warning light and ask when it last did a full regen.Frequent warnings or forced regens mean expensive DPF work is likely coming.

On an automatic, pull away from a junction and brake back down through the gears.Jerky or hesitant shifts at low speed match the EAT8 judder owners report.

On a PHEV, check the recall history via the registration and ask about real-world electric range.An unactioned recall or range well under the claimed figure both point at battery issues.

Drive over a speed bump or rough patch of road and listen for a thud or knock from the suspension.A harsh, thuddy ride on a car marketed for comfort suggests the hydraulic cushions have degraded.

Use the touchscreen for a few minutes, try CarPlay or Android Auto, and check for freezes or slow response.Sluggish or freezing infotainment is a known weak point, though rarely worth walking away over on its own.

Full Citroen C5 Aircross reliability report