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Emergency

Before you buy a used Dacia Sandero (III).

2020–2026 · Petrol / LPG / CNG · 3 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 Sandero (III), real photo of this generation
Alexander-93 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 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 3 of its engines.

1.0 SCe (B4D)

Petrol

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

1.0 TCe (H4Dt)

Petrol

  • Dacia Sandero (III) 1.0 TCe (H4Dt): known faults of the engine according to L'argusEngine
    Period mentioned
    2020–2026
    Mileage mentioned
    What the sheet says: According to the brand's technical notes reported by L'argus (each date shows up to when the affected cars were built): 1) Coolant leak (up to 30/06/2021): Water outlet housing. 2) Lack of power or torque, will not start, jerking, rattling (up to 19/01/2022): Dual-mass flywheel. 3) OBD light, "risk of engine failure" message, stalling or hard starting (up to 26/07/2022): Reprogram the injection control unit. 4) Lack of power, stalling and jerking caused by oil in the spark plug well (up to 24/11/2022): Rocker cover. 5) "Check injection" message and/or risk of engine failure (up to 21/06/2023): Rocker cover sealing and downstream oxygen sensor to be replaced. 6) Loss of power or torque, shaking, flat spots when accelerating (up to 01/08/2023): Reprogramming or boost pressure regulator valve. 7) Lack of power (from 16/01/2020 to 01/08/2023): Turbo air pipe, turbo air control valve or control unit reprogramming (on ECO-G). 8) Will not start and abnormal noise (H4D 470 or 480 engine) from a crankshaft manufacturing defect (up to 23/09/2023): Engine to be replaced. 9) Coolant leak and engine overheating (up to 15/05/2024): Turbo water inlet pipe to be replaced. 10) Loss of power and OBD light on (up to 01/10/2024): Throttle body to be replaced. 11) Coolant leak (up to 08/09/2024): Water pump. 12) Lack of power, stalling and jerking caused by coolant in the ignition coil well, on the H4D 470 and 480 (up to 05/08/2024): Engine to be replaced. 13) Metallic rattle from the engine at the turbo linkage: Turbo to be replaced, 100% covered up to 5 years or 200,000 km. 14) Battery drains (up to 29/11/2021): Reprogram the protection and switching unit. 15) Particulate filter and OBD lights on, "check injection" message (up to 30/01/2023): Upstream/downstream particulate filter temperature sensor. 16) Particulate filter light on (up to 08/03/2023): Reconnect the particulate filter differential pressure sensor. 17) Emergency braking and ABS lights on (up to 30/04/2025): Clutch pedal to be replaced.

1.0 TCe ECO-G (GLP)

LPG / CNG

  • Dacia Sandero (III) 1.0 TCe ECO-G (GLP): known faults of the engine according to L'argusEngine
    Period mentioned
    2020–2026
    Mileage mentioned
    What the sheet says: According to the brand's technical notes reported by L'argus (each date shows up to when the affected cars were built): 1) [1.0 Eco-G] Stalling, jerking and lack of power (up to 05/10/2023): Reprogram the injection control unit or replace the LPG rail (Landi Renzo). 2) Coolant leak (up to 30/06/2021): Water outlet housing. 3) Lack of power or torque, will not start, jerking, rattling (up to 19/01/2022): Dual-mass flywheel. 4) OBD light, "risk of engine failure" message, stalling or hard starting (up to 26/07/2022): Reprogram the injection control unit. 5) Lack of power, stalling and jerking caused by oil in the spark plug well (up to 24/11/2022): Rocker cover. 6) "Check injection" message and/or risk of engine failure (up to 21/06/2023): Rocker cover sealing and downstream oxygen sensor to be replaced. 7) Loss of power or torque, shaking, flat spots when accelerating (up to 01/08/2023): Reprogramming or boost pressure regulator valve. 8) Lack of power (from 16/01/2020 to 01/08/2023): Turbo air pipe, turbo air control valve or control unit reprogramming (on ECO-G). 9) Will not start and abnormal noise (H4D 470 or 480 engine) from a crankshaft manufacturing defect (up to 23/09/2023): Engine to be replaced. 10) Coolant leak and engine overheating (up to 15/05/2024): Turbo water inlet pipe to be replaced. 11) Loss of power and OBD light on (up to 01/10/2024): Throttle body to be replaced. 12) Coolant leak (up to 08/09/2024): Water pump. 13) Lack of power, stalling and jerking caused by coolant in the ignition coil well, on the H4D 470 and 480 (up to 05/08/2024): Engine to be replaced. 14) Metallic rattle from the engine at the turbo linkage: Turbo to be replaced, 100% covered up to 5 years or 200,000 km. 15) Battery drains (up to 29/11/2021): Reprogram the protection and switching unit. 16) Particulate filter and OBD lights on, "check injection" message (up to 30/01/2023): Upstream/downstream particulate filter temperature sensor. 17) Particulate filter light on (up to 08/03/2023): Reconnect the particulate filter differential pressure sensor. 18) Emergency braking and ABS lights on (up to 30/04/2025): Clutch pedal to be replaced.
  • "Check injection" message on the LPG 1.0 ECO-G, fixed with a new calibrationIntake / engine management
    Period mentioned
    2020–2022
    Mileage mentioned
    The sheet does not mention a mileage.

    Applies if: Only cars built from 30/6/2020 to 1/11/2022.

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Dacia Sandero (III)
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
1.0 SCe (B4D)PetrolFewest documented51 with conditions2
1.0 TCe (H4Dt)Petrol61 with conditions2
1.0 TCe ECO-G (GLP)LPG / CNG72 with conditions2

According to the data we have, the engine with the fewest documented faults is the 1.0 SCe (B4D) (Petrol).

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.

  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 fitted fuel hose (Sandero III)Fuel system

How to check it: Check the recall by VIN; check the fuel system and replace the pipe.

View full entry
Hard gear changes: engine software update (EEB3)Gearbox

How to check it: Check recall EEB3 by VIN and have the injection ECU reprogrammed at the dealer; related clutch repairs are covered under warranty.

View full entry

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 8 checked

Gearbox

  • Look out for: [6-speed manual] Hard or impossible to change gear (JT4 gearbox) (up to 19/04/2024); [6-speed manual] Gears will not engage (up to 24/05/2024); [6-speed manual] Clutch pedal stays on the floor (up to 28/05/2024)

    Ask them to check: Compare your symptom and your car's build date with this list. If they match, tell the workshop and ask them to check that part first before replacing others. The brand or a warranty extension covers some repairs: ask the dealer with the car's details.

Suspension and steering

  • Look out for: Front noise on rough roads (up to 25/05/2023); Front noise at idle or low speed (up to 31/07/2024); Rear axle noise from a faulty weld (up to 22/10/2024); Front noise on rough roads (up to 02/10/2024); Front noise or vibration every time you brake; Brake light on (up to 15/01/2025)

    Ask them to check: Compare your symptom and your car's build date with this list. If they match, tell the workshop and ask them to check that part first before replacing others. The brand or a warranty extension covers some repairs: ask the dealer with the car's details.

Electrical and electronic systems

  • Look out for: Active emergency braking light on (up to 14/03/2022); Automatic climate control switches off after one or two hours (up to 21/06/2022); Screen black at times or frozen on the reversing camera image (MediaNav ULC 4.5 or later) (up to 01/05/2023); MediaNav faults, black or frozen screen at start-up (up to 01/04/2024); Ventilation or air conditioning faults (up to 13/12/2021); All dashboard lights stay on after switching the ignition on or off (up to 31/05/2025)

    Ask them to check: Compare your symptom and your car's build date with this list. If they match, tell the workshop and ask them to check that part first before replacing others. The brand or a warranty extension covers some repairs: ask the dealer with the car's details.

Bodywork

  • Look out for: Excessive wind noise from the windscreen (up to 15/02/2024)

    Ask them to check: Compare your symptom and your car's build date with this list. If they match, tell the workshop and ask them to check that part first before replacing others. The brand or a warranty extension covers some repairs: ask the dealer with the car's details.

Engine

  • Look out for: Coolant leak (up to 30/06/2021); Lack of power or torque, will not start, jerking, rattling (up to 19/01/2022); OBD light, "risk of engine failure" message, stalling or hard starting (up to 26/07/2022); Lack of power, stalling and jerking caused by oil in the spark plug well (up to 24/11/2022); "Check injection" message and/or risk of engine failure (up to 21/06/2023); Loss of power or torque, shaking, flat spots when accelerating (up to 01/08/2023); Lack of power (from 16/01/2020 to 01/08/2023); Will not start and abnormal noise (H4D 470 or 480 engine) from a crankshaft manufacturing defect (up to 23/09/2023); Coolant leak and engine overheating (up to 15/05/2024); Loss of power and OBD light on (up to 01/10/2024); Coolant leak (up to 08/09/2024); Lack of power, stalling and jerking caused by coolant in the ignition coil well, on the H4D 470 and 480 (up to 05/08/2024); Metallic rattle from the engine at the turbo linkage; Battery drains (up to 29/11/2021); Particulate filter and OBD lights on, "check injection" message (up to 30/01/2023); Particulate filter light on (up to 08/03/2023); Emergency braking and ABS lights on (up to 30/04/2025)

    Ask them to check: Compare your symptom and your car's build date with this list. If they match, tell the workshop and ask them to check that part first before replacing others. The brand or a warranty extension covers some repairs: ask the dealer with the car's details.

  • Look out for: [1.0 Eco-G] Stalling, jerking and lack of power (up to 05/10/2023); Coolant leak (up to 30/06/2021); Lack of power or torque, will not start, jerking, rattling (up to 19/01/2022); OBD light, "risk of engine failure" message, stalling or hard starting (up to 26/07/2022); Lack of power, stalling and jerking caused by oil in the spark plug well (up to 24/11/2022); "Check injection" message and/or risk of engine failure (up to 21/06/2023); Loss of power or torque, shaking, flat spots when accelerating (up to 01/08/2023); Lack of power (from 16/01/2020 to 01/08/2023); Will not start and abnormal noise (H4D 470 or 480 engine) from a crankshaft manufacturing defect (up to 23/09/2023); Coolant leak and engine overheating (up to 15/05/2024); Loss of power and OBD light on (up to 01/10/2024); Coolant leak (up to 08/09/2024); Lack of power, stalling and jerking caused by coolant in the ignition coil well, on the H4D 470 and 480 (up to 05/08/2024); Metallic rattle from the engine at the turbo linkage; Battery drains (up to 29/11/2021); Particulate filter and OBD lights on, "check injection" message (up to 30/01/2023); Particulate filter light on (up to 08/03/2023); Emergency braking and ABS lights on (up to 30/04/2025)

    Ask them to check: Compare your symptom and your car's build date with this list. If they match, tell the workshop and ask them to check that part first before replacing others. The brand or a warranty extension covers some repairs: ask the dealer with the car's details.

Fuel system

  • Look out for: A fuel smell in the engine bay or petrol stains; in the worst case, fuel leaking in the engine bay.

    Ask them to check: Check the recall by VIN; with a fuel smell, do not drive and take it to the garage.

Intake / engine management

  • Look out for: "Check injection" message with the orange warning light on, especially when running on LPG.

    Ask them to check: Note whether it happens on LPG or petrol, and in hot weather. At the dealer, ask about the special recalibration operation before replacing injectors or the LPG reducer.

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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