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Before you buy a used Dacia Duster (I).

2010–2017 · Petrol / LPG / CNG / Diesel · 4 engines

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.

Dacia Duster (I), real photo of this generation
M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 DE · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

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 4 of its engines.

1.6 16V (K4M) · 1.6 16V GLP

1.6 16V (K4M) (Petrol) · 1.6 16V GLP (LPG / CNG)

We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.

1.2 TCe (H5Ft)

Petrol

1.5 dCi (K9K)

Diesel

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Dacia Duster (I)
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
1.6 16V (K4M)PetrolFewest documented11 with conditions1
1.2 TCe (H5Ft)Petrol31 with conditions1
1.6 16V GLPLPG / CNGFewest documented11 with conditions1
1.5 dCi (K9K)Diesel42 with conditions1

According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 1.6 16V (K4M) (Petrol), 1.6 16V GLP (LPG / CNG).

By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: LPG / CNG.

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.

  1. 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.
  2. Ask an official Dacia 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.
  3. 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.
Badly tightened nuts in the fuse boxElectrical and electronic systems

How to check it: Check the recall by VIN; replace all fuse-box nuts with the correct type and tighten to torque.

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On 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 6 checked

Engine

  • Look out for: Oil needs topping up often; the level can reach the minimum with no warning on the dashboard. In advanced cases, timing noise, loss of power or serious engine damage.

    Ask them to check: Measure oil consumption with the dipstick over several thousand km, ask the dealer for a diagnosis and the calibration update, and keep every maintenance invoice to request support.

Timing system

  • Look out for: Metallic chain rattle, especially when cold or at idle; engine light with a crankshaft–camshaft correlation code; in serious cases the chain jumps and damages the valves.

    Ask them to check: With any chain noise or a P0016 code, diagnose straight away: measure the stretch and check the tensioner and guides before the timing jumps. Shorten oil-change intervals.

  • Look out for: Noise or squeal around the belts; if the timing belt breaks, the engine stops suddenly and can be badly damaged.

    Ask them to check: Keep to the timing-belt interval and always replace the full kit (belt, rollers and pulleys); check the auxiliary belt and its pulley.

Exhaust and emissions

  • Look out for: Particulate-filter or emissions warning, limp mode with loss of power and frequent regenerations.

    Ask them to check: Read the soot load with a diagnostic tool, run a forced regeneration at the garage and check the differential-pressure sensors and EGR. Make long road trips now and then.

Known weak points

  • Look out for: On the 1.6 16V, lambda sensors and sometimes the catalytic converter; on the 1.2 TCe, a chain with a risk of serious failure and oil consumption; a fuel gauge stuck at half, central locking, air conditioning, cracking windscreens; rust on early Indian-built cars; a jerky EDC gearbox.

    Ask them to check: Check the campaigns by VIN; on the 1.2 TCe, listen to the chain and measure consumption; check the underbody and fuel gauge.

Injection / turbo

  • Look out for: Injection warning light on and a «Check injection» message; the car usually drives normally. Fault codes 03DB12 or 03DB25 («cylinder pressure sensor out of range»).

    Ask them to check: Read the codes with diagnostic equipment compatible with Renault and Dacia; if 03DB12 or 03DB25 appear, ask the garage about technical note 66633 before replacing injectors or sensors.

OBD codes worth looking for

If they let you read the fault memory with an OBD reader, these are the codes mentioned in this model's sheets:

P001603DB1203DB25

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

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