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Before you buy a used Renault Kadjar.

2015–2022 · Petrol / Diesel · 5 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 Kadjar, real photo of this generation
Vauxford · 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 5 of its engines.

  • 1.2 TCe chain, R-Link, EDC and campaigns on the KadjarKnown weak points
    Period mentioned
    2015–2022
    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 TCe (H5Ft)

Petrol

1.3 TCe (H5Ht) · 1.6 dCi (R9M) · 1.7 Blue dCi (R9N)

1.3 TCe (H5Ht) (Petrol) · 1.6 dCi (R9M) (Diesel) · 1.7 Blue dCi (R9N) (Diesel)

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

1.5 dCi / Blue dCi (K9K)

Diesel

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Renault Kadjar
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
1.2 TCe (H5Ft)Petrol31 with conditions5
1.3 TCe (H5Ht)PetrolFewest documented11 with conditions5
1.5 dCi / Blue dCi (K9K)Diesel21 with conditions5
1.6 dCi (R9M)DieselFewest documented11 with conditions5
1.7 Blue dCi (R9N)DieselFewest documented11 with conditions5

According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 1.3 TCe (H5Ht) (Petrol), 1.6 dCi (R9M) (Diesel), 1.7 Blue dCi (R9N) (Diesel).

By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: Diesel.

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 (2015–2021)Brakes

How to check it: Check the recall by VIN; inspect and replace the part named in the recall. With a brake fault, do not drive.

View full entry
Renault airbag recalls (2016–2024)Airbags and seat belts

How to check it: Check the recall by VIN; carry out the inspection, reprogramming or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Renault seat-belt and anchorage recalls (2015–2020)Airbags and seat belts

How to check it: Check the recall by VIN; inspect buckles and anchorages and tighten or replace as the recall requires.

View full entry
Renault engine, emissions and software recalls (2015–2025)Powertrain and engine management

How to check it: Check the recall by VIN; carry out the reprogramming or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Renault seat and child-lock recalls (2015–2024)Passive safety / seats

How to check it: Check the recall by VIN; inspect and reinforce or replace the part named; check the child lock stays on.

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 4 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.

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: A 1.2 TCe chain that can jump and oil consumption; direct-injection carbon; R-Link losing GPS or freezing; an EDC that jerks on pull-away; headlamps, oil leaks and exhaust at the roadworthiness test; on diesels, injectors and turbo at high mileage.

    Ask them to check: Listen to the chain when cold and measure consumption (1.2 TCe); check the campaigns by VIN; test the EDC.

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:

P0016

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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