e-C4 "Electric traction system fault"

[JT99]

2022 e-C4 MK2.

I have an orange spanner permanently on, and at start up or if I call up vehicle test from the menu I get an orange triangle and the message "Electric traction system fault: repair needed" (Then it tries to route me to the nearest dealer). This all started following a gentle hill start leaving a car park.
The car seems to drive normally (but I have a fear that it will lock up in the middle of the road or not go into gear on a car park)

I used Car scanner to pull the codes and the active ones are


Car Scanner ELM OBD2 Version: 2.1.3/42001003/GP
DTC report Connection profile: Citroen EV Electric (Stellantis/PSA based)Date: 2/26/2026 11:38:27?AM

BSIBSI DTCs: 33
----------------------------
B1003(55) [0x900355] Status: Test failed, Confirmed
----------------------------
U1F18(88) [0xDF1888] Status: Test failed, Confirmed
----------------------------
U1003(88) [0xD00388] Status: Test failed, Confirmed
----------------------------
B178B(00) [0x978B00] Status: Test failed, Confirmed
----------------------------
B1534(64) [0x953464] Status: Test failed, Confirmed
----------------------------
U1EF3(00) [0xDEF300] Status: Test failed, Confirmed
----------------------------
U1208(29) [0xD20829] Loss of serial communications for class 2 devices Status: Test failed, Confirmed
----------------------------
P2C87(01) [0x2C8701] Status: Test failed, Confirmed
----------------------------
P26FD(01) [0x26FD01] Status: Test failed, Confirmed
============================
ClimateClimate DTCs: 1
----------------------------
B1003(55) [0x900355]
Status: Test failed, Test failed (current drive cycle), Pending, Confirmed
============================

There are no DTCs archived or active for Engine control unit, transmission control unit, ABS or SRS, so I doubt if it is a wheel sensor or it's wiring.

Unfortunately I can't find any meanings for these codes online.

I tried disconnecting the 12V battery (It was fully charged 2 days before) for half an hour, then reconnecting it and letting it stand for another half hour before turning the car on but the message & spanner persist.
The 12V battery is around a year old, and has been charged every couple of weeks- it has never gone flat. It reads 14.4V with the motor on in park, so the voltage should be adequate when driving.


Googling is no help, it appears that no-one seems to know the cause and dealers just fire the parts cannon at the car until the message goes away, which doesn't seem encouraging. The compressor for the heatpump gets mentioned, and I do have that B1003(55) code....

Any suggestions apart from get my wallet out and take it to a dealer?

[mickthemaverick]

I can't offer any help here I'm afraid, the car is far too new for me and of no knowledge in me as it has no suck, squeeze, bang, blow sequence to play with!

[JT99]

Thanks.

It is going to have to go to Stellantis, as no-one seems to post anything regarding fixing them. (I should have gone for a Zoe or a Leaf, loads of info on them)

I'd just like to know how big the bill is likely to be, and how much chance there is of it being a permanent fix.

[Richard_C]

Long shot, you might find something on a Peugeot forum, does the E208 use the same system? Or planete citroen the French forum.

Google translate plus some common sense *. works OK on that and you don't have to register just to read (*Tortoise mode, but I don't have a tortoise .... Ah, limp home mode ..)

Good luck with it.

[Sloppysod]

Not being a bringer of bad news, but this model/year wouldn't be one of the early ones that suffered from On-Board Charger (OBC) failures would it?

Have you tried plugging it in and seeing if it charges?

OBC's are ££££'s but, i think Citroën arranged extra warranty for some cars due to these OBC failures. Definitely worth investigating to see if your car is covered.

It's a dealer job, or at least a HEVRA diagnostics garage to confirm.
Good luck.

[JT99]

I haven't charged it since the message came up, but it charged fine 3 days before.
I limit the AC charging to 16A to try and not blow up the OBC. (Yes it is the one that fails, it hasn't had one of the later chargers fitted as they didn't come out until after I bought the car AFAIK)

If it is warm tomorrow I'll see if I can top it up.

I suppose I ought to get rid this year, it is like driving a ticking time bomb waiting for the charger to fail.

[Sloppysod]

I haven't charged it since the message came up, but it charged fine 3 days before.
I limit the AC charging to 16A to try and not blow up the OBC. (Yes it is the one that fails, it hasn't had one of the later chargers fitted as they didn't come out until after I bought the car AFAIK)

If it is warm tomorrow I'll see if I can top it up.

Definitely try to charge it, before it gets to low to get to the dealership. Especially as it will be weeks before a tech will be able to look at it. No charger = 90% OBC failures.

I suppose I ought to get rid this year, it is like driving a ticking time bomb waiting for the charger to fail.

Yes, but think of the next owner, trade it in to PSA/Stellantis garage, so they will get some warranty.

[JT99]

It charged, I took it to 76%.

Apparently there is a charger fault that means it won't go above 80%, but I'm not likely to find that out as I don't dare go above 80% anyway unless I have a 100 mile journey to make immediately.

[JT99]

It is booked in.
First available appointment- 16th April!

As it is a yellow I expect it will reset itself by then if it clocks up enough drive cycles. £180 diagnostic, at least I have another payday before then.....

[JT99]

I got rid, so I will never know the fault! (Yes I did declare the fault at trade in, doubtless they factored in the repair cost with the trade-in offer)

The smart money is on it being the aircon pump, even though it is a MK2. It didn't seem to cool the cabin much when we had that recent warm weather. Apparently the MK1 has a massive labour cost to change the pump, on my MK2 it was right at the top of the motor, no doubt the bolts are inside the motor casing though

I suspect they will just regas it and charge as it is "wear & tear/a consumable".

[Sloppysod]

I got rid, so I will never know the fault! (Yes I did declare the fault at trade in, doubtless they factored in the repair cost with the trade-in offer)

Could you add the last three letters of the registration number to this thread so if a forum member buys it, they do not get fobbed off untill the warranty expires ?