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Before you buy a used Renault Espace (IV).

2002–2014 · Petrol / Diesel · 6 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.

Renault Espace (IV), real photo of this generation
Rudolf Stricker · CC BY-SA 3.0 · 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 6 of its engines.

  • Front axle, brakes, 3.0 dCi V6 and turbo on the Espace IVKnown weak points
    Period mentioned
    2002–2014
    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.

2.0 16V / 2.0 Turbo (F4R / F4Rt) · 3.5 V6 · 1.9 dCi (F9Q) · 2.2 dCi (G9T) · 3.0 dCi V6

2.0 16V / 2.0 Turbo (F4R / F4Rt) (Petrol) · 3.5 V6 (Petrol) · 1.9 dCi (F9Q) (Diesel) · 2.2 dCi (G9T) (Diesel) · 3.0 dCi V6 (Diesel)

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

2.0 dCi (M9R)

Diesel

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Renault Espace (IV)
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
2.0 16V / 2.0 Turbo (F4R / F4Rt)PetrolFewest documented11 with conditions2
3.5 V6PetrolFewest documented11 with conditions2
1.9 dCi (F9Q)DieselFewest documented11 with conditions2
2.0 dCi (M9R)Diesel21 with conditions2
2.2 dCi (G9T)DieselFewest documented11 with conditions2
3.0 dCi V6DieselFewest documented11 with conditions2

According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 2.0 16V / 2.0 Turbo (F4R / F4Rt) (Petrol), 3.5 V6 (Petrol), 1.9 dCi (F9Q) (Diesel), 2.2 dCi (G9T) (Diesel), 3.0 dCi V6 (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.

  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 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.
  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.
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 entry
Other Renault recalls: tyres, body, gearbox and electrics (2000–2014)Bodywork

How to check it: Check the recall by VIN; inspect and replace, reprogram or correct the part named in the recall.

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 2 checked

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.

Known weak points

  • Look out for: Joint and steering play at the roadworthiness test, early brake wear, a leaking panoramic roof, batteries, alternators, starters and injection; on the 3.0 dCi V6, coolant in the oil or being lost; on the four-cylinder diesels, turbo and clutch slave cylinder.

    Ask them to check: On the 3.0 dCi, watch coolant and oil levels and run a combustion-gas test; check campaigns by VIN, the front axle and the roof.

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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