Used car guide · 1998–2026

Citroen Berlingo known problems and what to check

What goes wrong on a used Citroen Berlingo, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides and what to check before you buy one.

59,881on the UK register
3known faults across all years

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

What usually goes wrong with a Citroen Berlingo?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Timing belt that runs in oil (PureTech petrol)

    Cars registered 2012–2026 · 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol

    The 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol engines use a timing belt that runs in the engine oil (a “wet belt”). It can break down early and shed rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some also burn too much oil. Stellantis now covers earlier engines for belt and oil-burning problems for up to 10 years or 112,000 miles, as long as the car has been serviced on schedule.

    At the viewing: Ask for a full service history showing the right oil, and when the belt was last checked or changed. Check the oil level on the dipstick, and that no oil-pressure or engine warning light stays on.

    Source: Parkers: Stellantis wet belt compensation, and the cars at risk, Stellantis: compensation policy for earlier PureTech 1.0 and 1.2 engines (7 May 2025)

  • Water getting in and electrical shutdowns

    Cars registered 2008–2018 · All engines

    Water getting in has caused sudden electrical shutdowns, and the infotainment, air con, headlights and electric windows can fail.

    At the viewing: Look for damp and test every electrical item.

    Source: What Car?: used Citroen Berlingo Multispace (2008-2018) reliability

  • Steering, alignment and suspension noises

    Cars registered 2008–2018 · All engines

    Owners report steering and wheel alignment problems, and squeaks and rattles from the suspension.

    At the viewing: Check it drives straight and listen over bumps.

    Source: What Car?: used Citroen Berlingo Multispace (2008-2018) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Citroen Berlingo

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. When was the timing belt last checked or changed, and has it had the right oil at every service? Is the car still within Stellantis’ extended PureTech cover?
  2. Has it had any water leaks or electrical faults?
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Citroen Berlingo?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score