Why some Renault engines score below 68/100
Renault engines are a mixed bag — some are genuinely excellent, and some are best avoided entirely. The worst offenders tend to be the early turbocharged petrol units and specific diesel generations with injector and DPF problems.
The pattern
Renault's worst engines share a common theme: ambitious downsizing without the durability testing to match. The TCe turbo petrol units from the early 2010s and specific dCi generations with injector rail and DPF problems are the main offenders. The K-series naturally aspirated engines and modern 1.3 TCe (developed with Daimler) are significantly better.
P9X — 52/100 (CAUTION)
P9X 3.0 dCi V6
Found in: Espace
Known problems
| Issue | Severity | Typical cost | Onset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing chain (rear of V6) | critical | €4.000 | 100.000 km |
| Injector failure (6 injectors) | high | €3.000 | 100.000 km |
TCe 1.2 (H5F) — 62/100 (CAUTION)
1.2L Turbo I4
Found in: ASX, Arkana, Austral, Captur, Captur 1.2 TCe, Clio, Clio 1.2 TCe, Dokker
Known problems
| Issue | Severity | Typical cost | Onset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil consumption — piston rings | high | €3.000 | 40.000 km |
| Timing chain stretch | high | €1.500 | 60.000 km |
| Thermostat failure | moderate | €500 | 60.000 km |
Full TCe 1.2 (H5F) reliability report →
G9T — 62/100 (CAUTION)
G9T 2.2 dCi
Found in: Espace, Laguna
Known problems
| Issue | Severity | Typical cost | Onset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Injector failure | high | €1.500 | 80.000 km |
| DPF blockage | high | €1.200 | 60.000 km |
R9M — 64/100 (CAUTION)
R9M 1.6 dCi
Known problems
| Issue | Severity | Typical cost | Onset |
|---|---|---|---|
| DPF blockage in city use | high | €1.500 | 60.000 km |
| Premature timing chain wear | high | €2.000 | 80.000 km |
L7X — 65/100 (CAUTION)
L7X 3.0 V6
Found in: Clio, Laguna
Known problems
| Issue | Severity | Typical cost | Onset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing belt V6 (expensive) | high | €1.200 | 60.000 km |
What to buy instead
Not all Renault engines are problematic. These score well:
- 1.5 dCi (K9K) — 82/100 (BUY)
- K7J/K7M — 82/100 (BUY)
- D4F — 80/100 (BUY)
- E7J — 80/100 (BUY)
Generated from EngineScope's reliability database. Reviewed by the editorial team. Methodology →