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Photo: Cutlass, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Used Citroën C3 III: the buying guide

City car · 2016–2024 · Petrol, Diesel

✓ 27 sources cited · updated on 13 October 2026

Extra caution
Reliability
2.5/5
Estimated monthly cost
€415/month
Indicative prices
€5,200 – €11,300

4 known faults

Photo: Cutlass, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 1 of 5

Citroën C3 III, front three-quarter view

Photo: Cutlass, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Verdict

Extra caution

City car with a 300 L boot, rated 4 Euro NCAP stars in 2017. Its Stellantis engines have serious, recognised faults: timing belt and oil consumption on the 1.2 PureTech, timing chain on the 1.5 BlueHDi, and a recall for fire risk on 82 hp PureTech engines built from 2022 to 2024. Demand complete, invoiced servicing and proof that recalls have been carried out.

Reliability
2.5/5
Indicative prices
€5,200 – €11,300
Monthly cost
€415
Euro NCAP
4/5

Which version to choose

Versions to favour: PureTech 110.

  • PureTech 68

    Petrol · Manual · 68 hp · Crit'Air 1

    68 hp three-cylinder 1.2 PureTech, manual gearbox, offered at launch in 2016. Affected by the PureTech belt faults.

    Engine: Stellantis 1.2 PureTech (EB2)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • PureTech 82

    Petrol · Manual · 82 hp · Crit'Air 1

    82 hp, 118 Nm 1.2 PureTech, 5-speed manual gearbox.

    Engine: Stellantis 1.2 PureTech (EB2)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • PureTech 83

    Petrol · Manual · 83 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Entry-level version of the C3 facelifted in 2020, 5-speed manual gearbox. Cars built from 2022 to 2024 are affected by the oil jet nozzle recall.

    Engine: Stellantis 1.2 PureTech (EB2)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • PureTech 110

    ✓ Recommended

    Petrol · Manual · 110 hp · 6.1 L/100 km · 138 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 1

    110 hp, 205 Nm turbo 1.2 PureTech, manual gearbox (6 speeds after the 2020 facelift). Prefer a car built after June 2022 (new-generation belt) and properly serviced.

    Engine: Stellantis 1.2 PureTech (EB2)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • PureTech 110 EAT6

    Petrol · Automatic · 110 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Same 205 Nm engine with the 6-speed EAT6 automatic gearbox.

    Engine: Stellantis 1.2 PureTech (EB2)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • BlueHDi 100

    Diesel · Manual · 100 hp · Crit'Air 2

    1.5 diesel with 250 Nm, arrived in August 2018 replacing the 1.6 BlueHDi; 5-speed manual gearbox, then 6-speed from 2020. Affected by the timing chain recall: check that it has been carried out.

    Engine: Stellantis 1.5 BlueHDi (DV5)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first

Market prices

€5,200 – €11,300

Indicative range: 2016 to 2024, yearly medians of 584 online listings collected by iAutos (years with at least 3 listings).

Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.

Known faults

Degraded 'wet' timing belt (1.2 PureTech)

Severity 3/3 · Serious

On the 1.2 PureTech, the timing belt runs in oil and can break down. Its debris clogs the oil strainer, which causes oil pressure to drop and can destroy the engine. Stellantis extended the belt warranty to 10 years or 175,000 km, subject to servicing conditions, and introduced a new-generation belt in June 2022.

Versions
PureTech 68, PureTech 82, PureTech 83, PureTech 110, PureTech 110 EAT6
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Premature wear of the timing chain (1.5 BlueHDi)

Severity 3/3 · Serious

On the 1.5 BlueHDi (DV5), the 7 mm camshaft chain can wear prematurely because of oil carbonisation and high contact pressure, then break, causing the engine to stop abruptly. C3 cars with the 1.5 BlueHDi built between 4 October 2017 and 31 January 2023 are subject to a recall (Citroën code NY5): the chain is replaced by a reinforced 8 mm chain.

Versions
BlueHDi 100
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Oil consumption (1.2 PureTech)

Severity 2/3 · Costly

Beyond belt wear, the 1.2 PureTech is known for high oil consumption, which can lead to engine damage if the level is not monitored. According to Caradisiac, engines built from 2023 onward are no longer affected.

Versions
PureTech 68, PureTech 82, PureTech 83, PureTech 110, PureTech 110 EAT6
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Defective oil jet cooling nozzles: fire risk (1.2 PureTech 82 hp, 2022-2024)

Manufacturer recall

In February 2025, Stellantis recalled in France 68,000 cars with the 82 hp 1.2 PureTech built between 2022 and 2024, including 57,000 Citroën C3s. A fault in the oil jet cooling nozzles, attributed to a supplier, causes noise and, in the worst cases, can damage an engine sensor: oil can then be sprayed onto the exhaust, with a risk of smoke or fire. The dealer repair (oil change and oil filter) takes 30 minutes.

Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).

Versions
PureTech 83
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

All faults by version and mileage →

Manufacturer recalls

See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Citroën C3”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.

Real monthly cost

Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated

Monthly cost by item
Fuel or electricity€150
Insurance€109
Maintenance€58
Depreciation€98
Total per month€415

⚠ Estimates to treat with caution

  • Consumption taken from a published range (depends on trim and tyres).
  • Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
Fuel (petrol)€150

PureTech 110 version: combined consumption of 6.1 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.14 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.

6.1 × 1.15 × 2.14 € × 10 = €150

Petrol price (SP95-E10): French national average on 7 October 2026.

Insurance€109

Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.

Maintenance€58

Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.

Depreciation€98

Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.

Inspection checklist

Things to check

  • Demand service invoices: oil changes at the correct interval with the recommended oil, and the date and mileage of the last timing belt replacement (PureTech).
  • Check the oil level when cold and ask whether oil needs topping up between changes.
  • Ask a Citroën dealer, with the serial number, which recalls have been carried out (1.5 BlueHDi chain, PureTech 82/83 oil jet nozzles) and whether the car is eligible for the warranty extensions.
  • 1.5 BlueHDi diesel: listen to the cold start; a rattle may indicate a loose chain.
  • Check the build date: new-generation belt after June 2022 on the PureTech.

Questions to ask the seller

  • Do you have all the service invoices, with the oil references used?
  • Has the timing belt (or the chain on the diesel) been checked or replaced, and at what mileage?
  • Does the car use oil between oil changes, and have the manufacturer's recalls been carried out?

Test-drive tip: read the fault codes

A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.

See OBD2 scanners on Amazon → (new tab)Partner link

Electric or hybrid equivalent

No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost

Alternatives

Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Renault Clio

V · since 2019

Good choice
Price
€10,994 – €14,990
Reliability
4/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Photo: MoCars, CC0

Peugeot 208

II · since 2019

Buy with care
Price
€8,900 – €18,000
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Photo: crash71100, CC0

Dacia Sandero

III · since 2020

Good choice, check first
Price
€10,500 – €15,600
Reliability
4.5/5
Fuel types
Petrol

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Toyota Yaris

IV · since 2020

Excellent choice
Price
€15,900 – €22,000
Reliability
5/5
Fuel types
Hybrid

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Citroën C3 III (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.

Frequently asked questions

What Euro NCAP rating does the Citroën C3 III have?

4 stars in 2017, with 88% for adult protection, 83% for children, 59% for pedestrians and 58% for safety assist. Automatic emergency braking was not available at launch.

Should I avoid the Citroën C3 1.2 PureTech?

Not necessarily, but choose a car with impeccable servicing: its timing belt, which runs in oil, can break down and clog the strainer, and the engine may consume oil. The belt warranty has been extended to 10 years or 175,000 km, subject to servicing conditions.

What is the C3 III boot capacity?

300 litres, for five seats.

Found a listing?

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