Before you buy a used Dacia Sandero (I).
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.
- 3 documented, sourced faults across its 5 engines.
- 1 of them depends on the equipment or the production date: ask what this car has.
- We have no official recalls on record for this model; ask anyway, with the chassis number (VIN).
- According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 1.2 16V (D4F) (Petrol), 1.4 / 1.6 MPI (K7J / K7M) (Petrol), 1.6 16V (K4M) (Petrol), 1.4 MPI GLP (LPG / CNG).
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.
- Coils, thermostat, valve collets and front axle on the Sandero IKnown weak points
- Period mentioned
- 2008–2012
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Weak points of this model from inspections, breakdown statistics and recalls; anything specific to one engine is stated in the sheet.
1.2 16V (D4F) · 1.4 / 1.6 MPI (K7J / K7M) · 1.6 16V (K4M) · 1.4 MPI GLP
1.2 16V (D4F) (Petrol) · 1.4 / 1.6 MPI (K7J / K7M) (Petrol) · 1.6 16V (K4M) (Petrol) · 1.4 MPI GLP (LPG / CNG)
We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.
1.5 dCi (K9K)
Diesel
- 1.5 dCi pump and injectors with Delphi systemInjection / turbo
- Period mentioned
- Approx. 2001–2011
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
- 1.5 dCi timing belt or pulley failureTiming system
- Period mentioned
- 2009–2011
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Which engine has the fewest documented faults?
| Engine | Documented faults |
|---|---|
| 1.2 16V (D4F)PetrolFewest documented | 11 with conditions |
| 1.4 / 1.6 MPI (K7J / K7M)PetrolFewest documented | 11 with conditions |
| 1.6 16V (K4M)PetrolFewest documented | 11 with conditions |
| 1.4 MPI GLPLPG / CNGFewest documented | 11 with conditions |
| 1.5 dCi (K9K)Diesel | 31 with conditions |
According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 1.2 16V (D4F) (Petrol), 1.4 / 1.6 MPI (K7J / K7M) (Petrol), 1.6 16V (K4M) (Petrol), 1.4 MPI GLP (LPG / CNG).
By fuel type, the ones with the fewest documented faults are: Petrol, 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
We have no official recalls on record for this model. Our list is not complete: ask anyway, with the chassis number.
- 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 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.
- 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.
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 3 checked
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.
Timing system
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.
Known weak points
Look out for: On the 1.2, coils and coolant loss from the thermostat housing; door locks, rust at the filler neck, an early-wearing clutch, ignition switch, starter and battery; at the roadworthiness test, suspension, steering, drive shafts, lights, brakes and exhaust mounts.
Ask them to check: Check both campaigns by VIN; watch the coolant; check the front axle, brakes and exhaust.
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:
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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