Before you buy a used Renault Modus / Grand Modus.
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 4 engines.
- 1 of them depends on the equipment or the production date: ask what this car has.
- 4 official recalls on record: ask for the chassis number (VIN) and confirm they have been done.
- According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 1.2 16V (D4F) (Petrol), 1.2 TCe (D4Ft) (Petrol), 1.4 / 1.6 16V (K4J / K4M) (Petrol).
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 4 of its engines.
- Period mentioned
- 2004–2012
- 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) · 1.2 TCe (D4Ft) · 1.4 / 1.6 16V (K4J / K4M)
Petrol
We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.
1.5 dCi (K9K)
Diesel
- Connecting-rod bearing wear on the 1.5 dCiEngine (rod bearings)
- Period mentioned
- Approx. 2001–2006
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
- 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 | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2 16V (D4F)PetrolFewest documented | 11 with conditions | 4 |
| 1.2 TCe (D4Ft)PetrolFewest documented | 11 with conditions | 4 |
| 1.4 / 1.6 16V (K4J / K4M)PetrolFewest documented | 11 with conditions | 4 |
| 1.5 dCi (K9K)Diesel | 41 with conditions | 4 |
According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 1.2 16V (D4F) (Petrol), 1.2 TCe (D4Ft) (Petrol), 1.4 / 1.6 16V (K4J / K4M) (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.
- 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.
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 entryRenault steering, suspension and axle recalls (2001–2014)Suspension and steering
How to check it: Check the recall by VIN; inspect and replace, reprogram or correct the part named in the recall.
View full entryRenault seat and Isofix recalls (2006–2010)Passive safety / seats
How to check it: Check the recall by VIN; inspect and replace, reprogram or correct the part named in the recall.
View full entryOther 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 entryOn 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 (rod bearings)
Look out for: Engine knocking, especially when cold; low oil pressure; at worst, engine failure.
Ask them to check: Listen to the engine from cold, measure oil pressure and check the oil-change history. If it knocks, do not keep driving.
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: Noise on start-up on older 1.6s: a failing camshaft phaser; central locking that locks and unlocks by itself (moisture); a Quickshift automated gearbox with faults and a broken hydraulic gearchange piston; on early 1.5 dCi, a sticking EGR (rough running or turbo damage); if the battery is replaced or disconnected, the power steering loses its coding.
Ask them to check: Listen on a cold start; test the locking and the Quickshift gearbox; after a battery change, have the steering recoded at the garage.
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.
- Connecting-rod bearing wear on the 1.5 dCi
- 1.5 dCi pump and injectors with Delphi system
- 1.5 dCi timing belt or pulley failure
- 1.6 phaser, dCi EGR, central locking and Quickshift gearbox on the Modus
- Renault brake recalls (2000–2014)
- Renault steering, suspension and axle recalls (2001–2014)
- Renault seat and Isofix recalls (2006–2010)
- Other Renault recalls: tyres, body, gearbox and electrics (2000–2014)
More Renault buying guides
- Renault Espace (IV)2002–2014
- Renault Trafic (II)2001–2014
- Renault Clio (III)2005–2014
- Renault Clio (II) / Clio Campus2000–2012
- Renault Scénic (II) / Grand Scénic (II)2003–2009
- Renault Twingo (II)2007–2014
- Renault Mégane (II)2002–2009
- Renault Laguna (III)2007–2015