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Hi
This is my first ever forum post, so bear with me, but I've been looking at the forum for support over the last few days and now want to share my story....
December 2011
I contacted Citroen in Southampton to enquire about purchasing a car they were advertising online. The salesman informed me that it was definitely for sale, but had had an engine issue and was therefore awaiting a replacement engine. I was assured that the process was underway and that, if I bought the car, it would not be long until I
received it. I paid £1000 deposit and awaited further information.
February 2012
After several phone calls asking for updates I was informed that Citroen had been investigating the problems with the car and that these had determined that a new engine
was not necessary. I went ahead with the sale after the assurance that the problems had been resolved by a software upgrade. The car was delivered on 8 February 2012.
Summer 2012
I had some instances that caused me concern in the following months; but none that resulted in warning lights or failure. In August 2012 the engine failed on a dual carriage way. The warning message read ‘engine fault, repair needed’. The AA were unable to diagnose a fault. They escorted me to the nearest Citroen garage (Kendal) where the
car remained for approximately 6 weeks undergoing fault diagnosis, receiving a new top half of engine and ultimately a completely new engine.
July 2013
The car was recalled for the MWD recall. I was advised that some adjustments had been made.
Autumn 2013
Several incidences related to a gap in power followed by a shuddering to get going again.
December 2013
On a motorway the engine suffered an obvious gap in reaction time, accompanied by a shuddering sensation, sufficient to make me check my rear view mirror for
negotiating my way back to the hard shoulder in the event of complete failure. In the rear windscreen I saw a large amount of (white) emissions as if the shudder was a
blockage that had been released. This was the most severe incident since I received the new engine.
January 2014
The car went to Citroen in Morecambe, a fault was diagnosed, the inlet manifold was removed and the dynamic cleaning of engine valves was undertaken. When I asked how this might be avoided in the future I was advised to always use premium unleaded fuel. I questioned why I had not been advised of that at point of sale (from Citroen in
Southampton) or when the replacement engine was put in (by Citroen in Kendal) or when the MWD recall had been undertaken by Citroen in Morecambe. Since that date
I have only used premium fuel as advised.
February 2014
The car was booked to return to Citroen in Morecambe due to engine issues. Upon tickover at traffic lights the fuel was not running through constantly as heard by a change
in engine note which sounded like a shiver every 5 or so seconds. When moving it felt that my foot was trembling on the accelerator when it was not. Before the garage
could fit my car in the engine gave up on the M6 motorway. Once again it slowed dramatically and flashed up ‘engine fault, repair needed’. Thankfully it was only 200m from the services and the AA could once again recover me. The car was left with Citroen in Morecambe on 26 February. I have informed Citroen that I will not accept it back again as I do not believe it is fit for purpose, I do not believe they can fix the issue and I do not believe it is safe.
I have a case number and a Customer Support Manager. She reassured me that I could contact her anytime on her direct line. I emailed this morning to request an update, which was not acknowledged. I have spent most of this afternoon trying to call her; over 30 times over a 3 hour period. The line was busy (or off the hook) the entire time.
The call at 5.01pm went straight to answerphone.
My online research on the forums and websites has shown that I am not alone. I am in contact with the car’s previous owner who rejected it due to the engine problem. He
received a second DS3 Racing which was also rejected. Only a few DS3 Racings were allocated for the UK market and many of them are experiencing engine faults or are on their replacement engines. Citroen have to acknowledge that there is an integral problem with the design of the engines and that the dealerships are treating the symptoms but not the cause. Today I was informed that my cylinder head would be removed, the valves cleaned again, some new parts fitted and it would be ‘fine’. I am certain that it will not be ‘fine’ and that the valves will again end up covered with gunk. I cannot have a car that requires this kind of work every 2000 miles, nor a car that is not covered
by warranty.
I would be grateful for any helpful comments that anyone can give me, particularly with regard to dealing with Citroen on the issue.
With thanks,
Lucinda
This is my first ever forum post, so bear with me, but I've been looking at the forum for support over the last few days and now want to share my story....
December 2011
I contacted Citroen in Southampton to enquire about purchasing a car they were advertising online. The salesman informed me that it was definitely for sale, but had had an engine issue and was therefore awaiting a replacement engine. I was assured that the process was underway and that, if I bought the car, it would not be long until I
received it. I paid £1000 deposit and awaited further information.
February 2012
After several phone calls asking for updates I was informed that Citroen had been investigating the problems with the car and that these had determined that a new engine
was not necessary. I went ahead with the sale after the assurance that the problems had been resolved by a software upgrade. The car was delivered on 8 February 2012.
Summer 2012
I had some instances that caused me concern in the following months; but none that resulted in warning lights or failure. In August 2012 the engine failed on a dual carriage way. The warning message read ‘engine fault, repair needed’. The AA were unable to diagnose a fault. They escorted me to the nearest Citroen garage (Kendal) where the
car remained for approximately 6 weeks undergoing fault diagnosis, receiving a new top half of engine and ultimately a completely new engine.
July 2013
The car was recalled for the MWD recall. I was advised that some adjustments had been made.
Autumn 2013
Several incidences related to a gap in power followed by a shuddering to get going again.
December 2013
On a motorway the engine suffered an obvious gap in reaction time, accompanied by a shuddering sensation, sufficient to make me check my rear view mirror for
negotiating my way back to the hard shoulder in the event of complete failure. In the rear windscreen I saw a large amount of (white) emissions as if the shudder was a
blockage that had been released. This was the most severe incident since I received the new engine.
January 2014
The car went to Citroen in Morecambe, a fault was diagnosed, the inlet manifold was removed and the dynamic cleaning of engine valves was undertaken. When I asked how this might be avoided in the future I was advised to always use premium unleaded fuel. I questioned why I had not been advised of that at point of sale (from Citroen in
Southampton) or when the replacement engine was put in (by Citroen in Kendal) or when the MWD recall had been undertaken by Citroen in Morecambe. Since that date
I have only used premium fuel as advised.
February 2014
The car was booked to return to Citroen in Morecambe due to engine issues. Upon tickover at traffic lights the fuel was not running through constantly as heard by a change
in engine note which sounded like a shiver every 5 or so seconds. When moving it felt that my foot was trembling on the accelerator when it was not. Before the garage
could fit my car in the engine gave up on the M6 motorway. Once again it slowed dramatically and flashed up ‘engine fault, repair needed’. Thankfully it was only 200m from the services and the AA could once again recover me. The car was left with Citroen in Morecambe on 26 February. I have informed Citroen that I will not accept it back again as I do not believe it is fit for purpose, I do not believe they can fix the issue and I do not believe it is safe.
I have a case number and a Customer Support Manager. She reassured me that I could contact her anytime on her direct line. I emailed this morning to request an update, which was not acknowledged. I have spent most of this afternoon trying to call her; over 30 times over a 3 hour period. The line was busy (or off the hook) the entire time.
The call at 5.01pm went straight to answerphone.
My online research on the forums and websites has shown that I am not alone. I am in contact with the car’s previous owner who rejected it due to the engine problem. He
received a second DS3 Racing which was also rejected. Only a few DS3 Racings were allocated for the UK market and many of them are experiencing engine faults or are on their replacement engines. Citroen have to acknowledge that there is an integral problem with the design of the engines and that the dealerships are treating the symptoms but not the cause. Today I was informed that my cylinder head would be removed, the valves cleaned again, some new parts fitted and it would be ‘fine’. I am certain that it will not be ‘fine’ and that the valves will again end up covered with gunk. I cannot have a car that requires this kind of work every 2000 miles, nor a car that is not covered
by warranty.
I would be grateful for any helpful comments that anyone can give me, particularly with regard to dealing with Citroen on the issue.
With thanks,
Lucinda
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