Before you buy a used Renault Fluence.
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.
- 4 documented, sourced faults across its 3 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: 1.6 16V (K4M / H4M) (Petrol), Fluence Z.E. (Electric).
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.
1.6 16V (K4M / H4M)
Petrol
- Engines, EGR and campaigns on the Mégane IIIKnown weak points
- Period mentioned
- 2008–2016
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: The Fluence is the saloon derived from the Mégane III, with the same platform and the same 1.6 16V (K4M); the sheet covers the Mégane III.
1.5 dCi (K9K)
Diesel
- 1.5 dCi timing belt or pulley failureTiming system
- Period mentioned
- 2009–2011
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
- Clogged particulate filter on the 1.5 dCiExhaust and emissions
- Period mentioned
- 2010 onwards
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Fluence Z.E.
Electric
- Brake vacuum pump and charging lead on the Fluence Z.E.High-voltage battery
- Period mentioned
- 2012–2016
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Which engine has the fewest documented faults?
| Engine | Documented faults |
|---|---|
| 1.6 16V (K4M / H4M)PetrolFewest documented | 11 with conditions |
| 1.5 dCi (K9K)Diesel | 2 |
| Fluence Z.E.ElectricFewest documented | 1 |
According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 1.6 16V (K4M / H4M) (Petrol), Fluence Z.E. (Electric).
By fuel type, the ones with the fewest documented faults are: Petrol, Electric.
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 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.
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 4 checked
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.
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.
High-voltage battery
Look out for: Loss of brake assistance (hard pedal) due to the electric vacuum pump control unit; a Type 2 plug on the charging lead that gets warm when charging at 3.6 kW.
Ask them to check: Ask Renault whether the vacuum-pump control unit was replaced; touch the lead’s plug while charging: it must not get warm.
Known weak points
Look out for: Camshaft phaser on the 1.6 (K4M), stretched chain on the 1.4 TCe (H4J) and 1.2 TCe with a risk of serious failure, oil consumption, 1.9 dCi turbo, clogged EGR, juddering clutch; at the roadworthiness test, springs, shock absorbers, joints, lights and brakes.
Ask them to check: Listen to the chain when cold (TCe), measure oil consumption, clean the EGR; check the campaigns by VIN.
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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