Before you buy a used Renault Scénic (II) / Grand Scénic (II).
Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.
The essentials.
- 7 documented, sourced faults across its 5 engines.
- 3 of them depend on the equipment or the production date: ask what this car has.
- 4 official recalls on record: ask for the chassis number (VIN) and confirm they have been done.
- According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 1.4 / 1.6 16V (K4J / K4M) (Petrol), 2.0 16V (F4R) (Petrol), 1.9 dCi (F9Q) (Diesel).
Typical faults by engine
The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.
All versions
Sheets the catalogue links to all 5 of its engines.
- Period mentioned
- Approx. 2003–2009
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Only with the automatic electric parking brake.
- “Card not detected”: the car does not recognise the key cardElectrical and electronic systems
- Period mentioned
- Approx. 2003–2009
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Only with a key card (keyless start).
1.4 / 1.6 16V (K4J / K4M) · 2.0 16V (F4R) · 1.9 dCi (F9Q)
1.4 / 1.6 16V (K4J / K4M) (Petrol) · 2.0 16V (F4R) (Petrol) · 1.9 dCi (F9Q) (Diesel)
We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.
1.5 dCi (K9K)
Diesel
- Connecting-rod bearing wear on the 1.5 dCiEngine (rod bearings)
- Period mentioned
- Approx. 2001–2006
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
- 1.5 dCi pump and injectors with Delphi systemInjection / turbo
- Period mentioned
- Approx. 2001–2011
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
- EGR valve sticking with deposits on the 1.5 dCiExhaust and emissions
- Period mentioned
- No specific period published
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
- Period mentioned
- No specific period published
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Only if the injection pump is a Delphi (it says so on the pump): depending on the version, the 1.5 dCi has Delphi or Siemens/Continental.
2.0 dCi (M9R)
Diesel
- Seized injectors and stretched chain on the 2.0 dCi (M9R)Timing / injection
- Period mentioned
- Approx. 2005–2023
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Which engine has the fewest documented faults?
| Engine | Documented faults | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4 / 1.6 16V (K4J / K4M)PetrolFewest documented | 22 with conditions | 4 |
| 2.0 16V (F4R)PetrolFewest documented | 22 with conditions | 4 |
| 1.5 dCi (K9K)Diesel | 63 with conditions | 4 |
| 1.9 dCi (F9Q)DieselFewest documented | 22 with conditions | 4 |
| 2.0 dCi (M9R)Diesel | 32 with conditions | 4 |
According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 1.4 / 1.6 16V (K4J / K4M) (Petrol), 2.0 16V (F4R) (Petrol), 1.9 dCi (F9Q) (Diesel).
By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: Petrol.
We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.
Official recalls: ask before you pay
A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.
- Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
- Ask an official Renault dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
- Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
Renault brake recalls (2000–2014)Brakes
How to check it: Check the recall by VIN; inspect and replace, reprogram or correct the part named in the recall.
View full entryRenault airbag, seat-belt and pretensioner recalls (2000–2012)Airbags and seat belts
How to check it: Check the recall by VIN; inspect and replace, reprogram or correct the part named in the recall.
View full entryRenault steering, suspension and axle recalls (2001–2014)Suspension and steering
How to check it: Check the recall by VIN; inspect and replace, reprogram or correct the part named in the recall.
View full entryRenault seat and Isofix recalls (2006–2010)Passive safety / seats
How to check it: Check the recall by VIN; inspect and replace, reprogram or correct the part named in the recall.
View full entryOn the test drive: what to look and listen for
Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.
0 of 7 checked
Engine (rod bearings)
Look out for: Engine knocking, especially when cold; low oil pressure; at worst, engine failure.
Ask them to check: Listen to the engine from cold, measure oil pressure and check the oil-change history. If it knocks, do not keep driving.
Injection / turbo
Look out for: Injection warning, jerking, rough idle, loss of power, smoke and sometimes a no-start.
Ask them to check: Read the codes (e.g. P0087, low rail pressure) and look for filings in the diesel filter. If the circuit is contaminated, replace pump, rail and injectors and clean the tank and lines.
Exhaust and emissions
Look out for: Uneven idle, jerks when accelerating, lack of power or the engine going into limp mode, sometimes with the engine warning light on.
Ask them to check: At the workshop: read the codes with diagnostic equipment (EOBD P0400 to P0404 or P0172; Renault DF077, DF084 or DF241), test the valve electrically and its opening with the engine warm, and find where the oil comes from (breather, turbo, level). Pierburg advises against cleaning it, as it can be damaged: it is replaced if faulty, and an engine ECU update sometimes solves it.
Timing / injection
Look out for: Chain noise at high mileage; loss of power and emissions warnings in town use; injectors that will not come out when removed.
Ask them to check: Listen to the chain from cold, check injection and emissions codes, and before removing injectors have extraction tools ready. Keep oil changes up to date.
Brakes
Look out for: Parking-brake warning on, brake that will not release or stays locked on both wheels, codes DF043 / DF049.
Ask them to check: Read the codes with a diagnostic tool; if the brake stays locked, use the manual release (in the boot, next to the spare wheel). After the repair, relearn the slope sensor.
Electrical and electronic systems
Look out for: The cards stop opening or starting the car, hands-free and with the buttons, and “Card not detected” appears; sometimes it clears by itself after a few minutes.
Ask them to check: Try the other card and its battery; at the dealer or with a diagnostic tool, check the UCH and relearn both cards.
Inyección
Look out for: Hard to start or will not start, stalls, loses power or jerks; sometimes air bubbles show in the clear fuel pipe.
Ask them to check: At the workshop, in this order: look for air and leaks in the low-pressure circuit and prime it; check the fuel filter bowl for metal swarf (if there is any, the whole injection system is replaced); measure the rail pressure, the IMV regulator's resistance (4.8–5.8 Ω) and each injector's return flow (25 ml at most in the test). A new injector's code must be written into the ECU.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.
- Connecting-rod bearing wear on the 1.5 dCi
- 1.5 dCi pump and injectors with Delphi system
- EGR valve sticking with deposits on the 1.5 dCi
- Seized injectors and stretched chain on the 2.0 dCi (M9R)
- Electric parking brake stuck or warning (Scénic II)
- “Card not detected”: the car does not recognise the key card
- Delphi injection on the 1.5 dCi: air in the fuel, metal swarf, regulator or injectors
- Renault brake recalls (2000–2014)
- Renault airbag, seat-belt and pretensioner recalls (2000–2012)
- Renault steering, suspension and axle recalls (2001–2014)
- Renault seat and Isofix recalls (2006–2010)
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