Mercedes-Benz Citan known problems and what to check
What goes wrong on a used Mercedes-Benz Citan, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides and what to check before you buy one.
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz Citan
Too few Mercedes-Benz Citan cars first registered in 2021 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Mercedes-Benz Citan as a whole.
What to check on a 2021 car
- MOT history
Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.
- Service history
Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.
- Finance and write-offs
MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.
- Test drive
Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.
Other years
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).
What usually goes wrong with a Mercedes-Benz Citan?
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.
- Cars registered 2013–2018 · 1.2 TCe / DIG-T turbo petrol
Oil burning (1.2 TCe / DIG-T petrol)
The 1.2 turbo petrol shared by Renault and Nissan (TCe or DIG-T) can burn oil, and some owners have needed a replacement engine. Running low on oil makes it worse.
At the viewing: Check the oil level on the dipstick, look for blue smoke from the exhaust, and ask how often it needs topping up. It should be checked every 1,000–2,000 miles.
Source: Auto Express: used Renault Kadjar (2015 on) review, Car Mechanics: buying and owning the Nissan Qashqai J11 (2013-2021)
Questions to ask the seller before buying a Mercedes-Benz Citan
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- How often does it need oil between services, and has there been any engine work?
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at a Mercedes-Benz Citan?
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