MajorCommonBrakes

Citroen C5: Electric parking brake failure (X7)

Electric parking brake failure (X7) is a common brakes fault on the Citroen C5 on the 2008–2017 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $400 to $2,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 15 documented faults on the Citroen C5.

Vehicle: Citroen C5
Years: 2008–2017
System: Brakes

This page covers the Citroen C5 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Citroen C5 faults15 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Brake disc and pads yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The 2008-2017 C5 X7 has an electric parking brake that fails in several ways: the electric motors in the rear calipers die at higher mileage, the cables seize, and the parking-brake ECU (a slave to the ABS/ESP unit) loses calibration or communication - producing clicking from the rear calipers without the brake applying, or a brake that will not release. Faults strand the car or fail a WOF. Repair ranges from a recalibration to caliper motor/cable replacement.

What you would notice

'Parking brake fault' message with ABS/ESP lights
Loud clicking from a rear caliper but brake not applying
Parking brake won't release
Auto-apply/auto-release stops working

How to check it

Where to look. Rear brake calipers (integrated electric motors), cables, and parking brake ECU

Apply and release the parking brake several times, including the automatic function on a hill start. Listen at the rear wheels for clicking without engagement. Any parking-brake warning on the dash means budget for caliper motors or diagnosis. Check WOF history for parking-brake failures.

Parts involved: Brake disc and pads.

What it costs to put right

$400 to $2,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the electric parking brake ever faulted or been repaired?”
“Does it auto-apply and release properly on hills?”

Now check the Citroen C5 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

French Car Forum threads 'C5 (X7) Electronic Parking Brake problem' and 'C5 X7 2.0 hdi auto electronic parking brake problem'
Elektroda - Citroen C5/X7 electric handbrake failure discussion

Citroen C5 buyer questions

Is electric parking brake failure (x7) serious on a Citroen C5?

We rate it major and common on the Citroen C5. The 2008-2017 C5 X7 has an electric parking brake that fails in several ways: the electric motors in the rear calipers die at higher mileage, the cables seize, and the parking-brake ECU (a slave to the ABS/ESP unit) loses calibration or communication - producing clicking from the rear calipers without the brake applying, or a brake that will not release. Faults strand the car or fail a WOF. Repair ranges from a recalibration to caliper motor/cable replacement.

How much does it cost to fix on a Citroen C5?

$400 to $2,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Citroen C5 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2008–2017 Citroen C5. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.