Automatic gearbox Citroën: problems by model and engine

Documented faults, from most to least important

Severity × frequency. Below each one, the Citroën models it appears in.

- High severityFrequency: OccasionalAL4 / DP0Degraded oil: harsh shifts, slipping and overheatingYes: as with any automatic gearbox, if the AL4/DP0 oil degrades or drops in level, harsh shifts, slipping and overheating appear. We have not found a specific change interval from PSA or Renault, but several sources recommend checking it even if the manufacturer does not list it as necessary.
In C3 I, C4 I and Xsara Picasso
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalEAT6/EAT8Valve body failure leading to immobilisation or gearbox replacementYes, though in a minority of cases: there are documented failures of the EAT6/EAT8 valve body with limp mode, and several owners have had to replace the whole gearbox after very few kilometres, from around 4,200 km in one case.Repair: €2,000–€9,000
In C4 III, C5 Aircross and C5 X
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C6Jerking and hydraulic block faults in the Citroën C6 six-speed automatic gearboxAccording to fiches-auto.fr, 23 of 151 C6 owner reports cite six-speed automatic gearbox faults: jerking, hesitation when changing gear and locking in P; one case puts the hydraulic block at around €2,200.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonEAT6/EAT8Jerking and hesitation when changing gear, especially when coldYes: several owners of EAT6/EAT8 models describe jerking or hesitation when changing gear, more often with a cold gearbox. It is usually down to valve body pressure or calibration, and the dealer often fixes it, though not always completely, with a software update to the control unit.Repair (garage): €1,000–€2,000
In C4 III, C5 Aircross and C5 X
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonEAT6/EAT8Gearbox oil advertised as "lifetime" that is best changed preventivelyThe manufacturer does not include a scheduled EAT6/EAT8 oil change in the official maintenance, but several specialists recommend renewing it every 60,000-80,000 km: it degrades with heat and mileage even if sold as everlasting, and ageing fluid contributes to the jerking of the related fault.Repair (garage): €150–€400
In C4 III, C5 Aircross and C5 X
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonCitroën Berlingo ISelf-adjusting clutch cable breaking or going out of adjustmentThe self-adjusting clutch cable is the most frequently cited non-engine fault on the fiches-auto.fr page for the Citroën Berlingo I (103 reports): a heavy pedal or a broken cable, generally around 40,000-90,000 km in urban use according to the Partner page.
- Low severityFrequency: OccasionalAL4 / DP0Jolt or sharp thud when engaging a gear from a standstillIt is a symptom described in general terms for automatic gearboxes with degraded oil: a jolt or a sharper thud than normal when moving from park or neutral into gear, especially when cold. We have not found sources confirming whether the AL4/DP0 suffers from it more than other gearboxes of its era.
In C3 I, C4 I and Xsara Picasso

By Citroën model

Open yours to see only the faults that affect it, by engine and by year.

Engines and gearboxes involved

Frequently asked questions

What faults with the automatic gearbox do Citroën cars have?

In 8 models from Citroën there are 7 documented faults with the automatic gearbox. The most important: degraded oil: harsh shifts, slipping and overheating, valve body failure leading to immobilisation or gearbox replacement and jerking and hydraulic block faults in the Citroën C6 six-speed automatic gearbox. Each fault has its own page with the affected years and versions, the symptoms and the repair cost.

Which Citroën models have the most problems with the automatic gearbox?

Citroën C5 Aircross (3 faults), Citroën C4 III (3 faults), Citroën C5 X (3 faults) and Citroën Xsara Picasso (2 faults).

Which Citroën engines have faults with the automatic gearbox?

EAT6/EAT8 (3 faults) and AL4 / DP0 (2 faults).