Renault Kadjar common problems & fixes (2015–2018 original, 2019–2022 facelift)

Written by the C4R team from DVSA data and owner reports. Fact-checked 2026-10-13.

30-second verdict

A used Renault Kadjar is a roomy, economical SUV built on Nissan Qashqai underpinnings. Check 1.2 TCe petrols for oil use and confirm recalls are done. It suits families who value a big boot and low running costs over driving fun. The faults that matter most are oil burning on the 2015–2018 1.2 TCe 130, flat batteries with false alarms, and a slow or freezing touchscreen. Cars built from June 2015 to March 2018 also fall inside a rear child-lock recall. Our safe pick is a 2019-on facelift with the 1.3 TCe 140 petrol and a full service history. If you cover big mileages, a 1.5 dCi diesel makes sense, but ask for proof of its cambelt change.

Generations at a glance

The Kadjar shares its platform with the Nissan Qashqai, and the RAC says around 60% of its parts are common to the Nissan. The 1.3 TCe that replaced the 1.2 was developed with Daimler and is also used in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Auto Express found the 140 version much stronger than the old 1.2, and Car Mechanics picks the Qashqai's later 1.3 petrol with the dual-clutch gearbox as the best buy in that car. The only four-wheel-drive facelift is the 1.7 diesel.

Known issues

Overall reliability is middling rather than poor. What Car?'s reliability survey placed the Kadjar 21st of 34 family SUVs. Carbuyer reports that it finished 65th of 75 in the 2020 Driver Power owner survey, and says transmissions and electrics were the most common problem areas. MotorEasy warranty data published by The Car Expert rates it better than average, although it says engine repairs have been fairly common and averaged more than £1,200.

1. 1.2 TCe 130 petrol burning oil (2015–2018)

Label: Reported by owners and independent specialists

• What you notice: The oil level drops between services with no sign of a leak. Worse cases bring an engine warning light, unusual engine noise or exhaust smoke.
• Which cars: Pre-facelift Kadjars with the 1.2 TCe 130 petrol, 2015–2018, manual or EDC. Nissan used the same engine as its 1.2 DIG-T. A Renault and Nissan service fix targeted engines built before 25 July 2015, but Auto Express advises checking the oil regularly on any Kadjar 1.2.
• Why: A published summary of the manufacturer bulletin says low intake pressure at light loads stopped the second piston ring sealing properly, so oil was drawn into the cylinders and burnt.
• Fix: Renault worked in stages. First came an engine-software update. If the car still used too much oil over a set distance, the piston rings were replaced. A noisy engine could need a new chain tensioner, a short engine or a complete engine. Auto Express reports that some Kadjar owners needed replacement engines.
• DIY difficulty: 5/5 for the repair; 1/5 for checking the oil level.
• Check when buying: Pull the dipstick before the engine is started. A low level on a recently serviced car is a warning sign. Ask how often it needs topping up, look for invoices for software updates or engine work, and ask why if there is a bottle of oil in the boot. Listen to a genuine cold start for chain rattle, watch the exhaust and make sure no warning lights stay on.
• Evidence: Auto Express's used Kadjar guide covers the oil use and the replacement engines. AustralianCar.Reviews summarises the Renault and Nissan bulletin for this engine. Car Mechanics, writing about the Nissan Qashqai, separately reports owner complaints of heavy oil use and piston failures on the same 1.2 engine, and says its timing chain can become noisy.

2. Child-lock and airbag recalls not done

Label: Confirmed recalls R/2020/235, R/2016/070 and R/2017/172

• What you notice: Usually nothing. A rear child lock that was set may be found switched off, and the airbag faults would only show in a crash.
• Which cars: R/2020/235 covers cars built 29/06/2015–02/03/2018, and DVSA lists 45,023 vehicles. R/2016/070 covers cars built 01/07/2015–31/03/2016. R/2017/172 covers cars built 20/09/2016–30/11/2016.
• Why: Under R/2020/235, the rear child lock could release after being set. Under R/2016/070, the airbag control unit could misread the side-impact sensors, so a side airbag might not fire or the one on the other side might fire. Under R/2017/172, a curtain airbag's igniter could have the wrong charge mix and fail to deploy.
• Fix: A Renault dealer fits a retaining clip to the door locks, reprogrammes the airbag control unit, or checks the curtain airbag's serial number and replaces the airbag if needed. Recall work is normally done free of charge.
• DIY difficulty: 5/5: this is dealer recall work only.
• Check when buying: Run the registration through the GOV.UK recall checker and ask a Renault dealer to confirm each campaign is closed against the VIN. Set the child lock on each rear door and try the inside handle.
• Evidence: DVSA recalls data; Auto Express's used guide lists the same campaigns.

3. Flat battery, false alarms and key-card faults

Label: Reported by owners and independent specialists

• What you notice: The alarm goes off for no obvious reason, sometimes soon after locking or in the night. The battery is flat after the car has stood, or a key card is not recognised.
• Which cars: Reported on early cars and again on facelifted cars; all engines.
• Why: Auto Express says a battery that is losing charge can set the alarm off, and so can faulty tilt sensors. On Autocar's long-term 1.5 dCi EDC, re-aiming the interior alarm sensors stopped the false alarms for only a couple of days, and the writer later put the fault down to over-sensitive cabin pressure sensors. Auto Express also says the key card's button cell rarely lasts more than two years.
• Fix: Test the battery and charging system first, then the alarm sensors, and fit fresh cells to both key cards. A battery that keeps going flat needs a proper current-drain check rather than a string of new batteries.
• DIY difficulty: 2/5 for key-card cells and a battery test; 4/5 for tracing an electrical drain.
• Check when buying: Ask whether the battery has been replaced and whether the alarm has ever misbehaved. Try both key cards, including hands-free entry where fitted. Lock the car and stay nearby for a few minutes to check the alarm stays quiet.
• Evidence: Auto Express's used guide and Autocar's long-term report independently describe the alarm problem. What Car?'s owner feedback mentions electrical and battery faults that took several dealer visits to fix. The RAC's 2018–2022 review mentions batteries that do not hold their charge.

4. EDC or X-Tronic automatic: judder or warnings

Label: Inspection point

• What you notice: Hesitation or judder when pulling away, jerky changes at low speed, or a gearbox warning or overheating message.
• Which cars: EDC dual-clutch automatics on the 1.2 TCe, the 1.5 dCi and the facelift engines, and the X-Tronic CVT offered on some 1.6 dCi 130s.
• Why: Little Kadjar-specific detail has been published, so treat this as a check rather than a known defect. Owners in the 2020 Driver Power survey reported transmission faults among the most common problems, and one Carbuyer owner of a 2017 1.5 dCi described a gearbox overheating warning. Car Mechanics says low-speed judder is common on the Xtronic CVT in the related Nissan Qashqai, that a temperature warning can appear on long uphill drives, and describes the later dual-clutch gearbox as more dependable.
• Fix: Have the car scanned for stored gearbox faults and ask a Renault dealer about software updates before agreeing to any repair. Clutch, control-unit or CVT work is a job for a specialist.
• DIY difficulty: 5/5.
• Check when buying: Drive from cold. Creep in slow traffic, pull away on a hill, reverse into a space and, if you can, hold a long climb. Walk away from a car with gearbox warnings unless the seller can show the repair invoice.
• Evidence: Carbuyer's reliability page and owner reviews; Car Mechanics' Qashqai J11 buying guide; Auto Express's used guide, which rates the EDC as much nicer to use than the X-Tronic.

5. Worn front suspension joints and broken rear springs

Label: Inspection point

• What you notice: Knocks from the front over bumps, a clonk from the back, the car pulling to one side or uneven front tyre wear.
• Which cars: All versions, especially older, higher-mileage cars. Two analyses of DVSA MOT results put worn front suspension joints and broken springs at the top of the failure lists for 2015 and 2016 cars.
• Why: Front ball joints and bushes wear with mileage and potholes, and rear coil springs can crack. Car Mechanics reports the same pattern on the Nissan Qashqai, which shares the Kadjar's platform.
• Fix: Replace the worn arm, joint, bush or spring, then check the wheel alignment.
• DIY difficulty: 3/5.
• Check when buying: Drive over speed humps with the radio off. Look for a broken coil on each rear spring, check the inner edges of the front tyres and read the MOT history for suspension advisories.
• Evidence: MOT Data (2024 tests) and Motorwise (2025 tests), both working from DVSA MOT data; Car Mechanics on the Qashqai; the RAC's 2015–2018 review, which advises checking the front alignment.

6. 1.5 dCi diesel cambelt overdue

Label: Inspection point

• What you notice: Usually nothing until the belt fails, so the paperwork matters.
• Which cars: The 1.5 dCi 110 and the facelift 1.5 Blue dCi 115. Auto Express says the 1.5 dCi is the only Kadjar engine with a cambelt.
• Why: The belt has to be changed on time. Auto Express gives the Kadjar interval as five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. Car Mechanics quotes a longer official interval for the diesel in the related Nissan Qashqai and says some owners change it early, so confirm the schedule for the exact car.
• Fix: Replace the cambelt kit at the interval Renault sets for that car. A Renault dealer can confirm it from the VIN.
• DIY difficulty: 4/5.
• Check when buying: Ask for an invoice showing the date and mileage of the last cambelt change. Treat a 1.5 diesel that is five or more years old with no record as due.
• Evidence: Auto Express's used Kadjar guide, running-costs section; Car Mechanics' Qashqai J11 buying guide.

7. R-Link 2 screen freezes and DAB or Bluetooth drop-outs

Label: Reported by owners and independent specialists

• What you notice: The touchscreen is slow or freezes, functions go missing, the phone connection drops, DAB reception cuts out or the sat-nav maps are out of date.
• Which cars: Pre-facelift cars with R-Link 2, from Dynamique Nav up. The facelift's flush-mounted screen responds better, but Auto Express still found it slow to load.
• Why: Mostly software. One Carbuyer owner reported that a 2017 dealer-only update cured some faults but left others.
• Fix: Ask a Renault dealer whether software and map updates are available; What Car? suggests making sure the latest updates have been installed. Only look at new hardware if updates do not help.
• DIY difficulty: 1/5 for checks; dealer software work otherwise.
• Check when buying: Pair your phone and make a call. Tune a DAB station, enter a destination and use the reversing camera if fitted. Then switch off, restart and check that the settings are kept.
• Evidence: What Car?'s reliability page singles out infotainment niggles. The RAC's two used reviews mention glitches, out-of-date maps, DAB drop-outs and a slow screen. Carbuyer's owner reviews and Auto Express's used guide add further Bluetooth and sat-nav reports.

8. Rattles, window whistles and wind noise

Label: Reported by owners and independent specialists

• What you notice: Dashboard or trim rattles on rough roads, a whistle from a window or door seal, or wind roar at motorway speeds.
• Which cars: Both pre-facelift and facelifted cars.
• Why: Trim and seal fit varies from car to car. Auto Express's long-term car was noisy at motorway speeds with the optional roof bars fitted.
• Fix: Re-secure loose trim and adjust or replace seals. Carbuyer owner reviews describe early niggles being put right by Renault dealers.
• DIY difficulty: 2/5.
• Check when buying: Drive on a broken surface and at a steady 60–70mph with the radio off.
• Evidence: The RAC's two used reviews record dashboard rattles, window whistles and trim rattles. Carbuyer owner reviews, Auto Express's long-term test and What Car?, which lists "so-so quality" among the Kadjar's weaknesses, back this up.

Recalls (DVSA data)

The DVSA recalls file, checked on 13 October 2026, holds six Kadjar records. We summarise them below in our own words; launch dates and build windows are copied from the file. R/2016/096 and R/2016/001 have no build dates in the file. R/2016/001 is also listed under the Megane, Scenic, Trafic and Master, and R/2017/172 under the Megane and Scenic. A car built inside a window is not necessarily affected, so check each car by registration and VIN.

Run the GOV.UK vehicle recall check, and ask the seller or a Renault dealer for proof that every campaign that applies to the car has been completed.

MOT watch-points

We have not calculated our own Kadjar MOT statistics, so this guide gives no pass rates or percentages. Two independent analyses of DVSA MOT results, by MOT Data (2024 tests) and Motorwise (2025 tests), point to the same practical checks:

• Front suspension: worn pins, bushes and ball joints lead the failure lists for 2015 and 2016 cars. Listen for knocks and look for uneven front tyre wear.
• Rear coil springs: fractured or weakened springs appear among the top failures for 2015 cars in one analysis and 2016 cars in the other.
• Tyres: worn tread, damaged tyres or poor front tyre condition lead the lists for 2017–2021 cars. The RAC also advises checking the tyres.
• Brakes: pads worn below 1.5mm feature for several registration years. What Car? also describes the brakes as grabby, so check that the car pulls up straight and smoothly.
• Headlights: front headlamp faults top Motorwise's list for 2017 and 2018 cars, so check every lamp, including the beam aim.
• Exhaust: the RAC suggests checking the exhaust, so look for corrosion and listen for blows.

Read the individual car's record, including advisories, on the GOV.UK MOT history service.

Buying one? Our checklist

1. Check the registration on the GOV.UK recall checker, then ask for proof that the child-lock, airbag and any other campaigns that apply are closed.
2. On a 1.2 TCe 130, check the dipstick before starting and ask how much oil it uses between services.
3. Listen to a true cold start for chain rattle and watch the exhaust for smoke.
4. On a 1.5 dCi or Blue dCi 115, ask for the invoice for the last cambelt change.
5. Try both key cards, hands-free entry and the alarm, and ask how old the battery is.
6. Spend time on the touchscreen: pair a phone, make a call, tune a DAB station and enter a destination.
7. On an EDC or X-Tronic automatic, test from cold in slow traffic, on a hill and in reverse, and walk away from gearbox warnings.
8. Drive over rough roads and at motorway speed, listening for suspension knocks, rattles and whistles, and look for a broken rear spring coil.
9. Read the MOT history for repeated suspension, spring, tyre, brake and headlamp advisories.
10. Check the tyre repair kit is present, as Auto Express says Kadjars came with one rather than a spare wheel, and insist on an invoiced service history that matches the car's age and mileage.

Running costs

• Road tax: Cars first registered before 1 April 2017 are taxed on their official CO2 figure. The RAC quotes 99g/km for the 1.5 dCi, which is GOV.UK band A at £20 a year; check the V5C for other versions. Cars registered from 1 April 2017 pay the standard rate, £200 a year on the GOV.UK tables checked on 13 October 2026. An extra £440 a year applies for five years only if the original list price was over £40,000.
• Insurance: Auto Express puts facelifted Kadjars in groups 17 to 25 and says the 1.7 diesel GT-Line versions cost the most to insure. Carbuyer lists groups 17 to 19 for the diesels and 19 to 23 for the petrols.
• Official economy, pre-facelift (NEDC): What Car? lists 74.3mpg for the 1.5 dCi, 65.7mpg for the 1.6 dCi manual and 56.5mpg for the CVT. It gives 50.4mpg for the 1.2 TCe manual, 51.4mpg for the automatic and 45.6mpg for the TCe 165.
• Official economy, facelift: Auto Express lists 56.5mpg for the 1.5 diesel manual and 57.7mpg for the automatic, 42.8mpg for the TCe 140 manual, 43.5mpg for the automatic and 44.1mpg for the TCe 160. The RAC quotes about 54mpg for the 1.7 diesel. Which?'s own tests of the Kadjar returned 39.8–52.3mpg.
• Servicing: Sources differ. Auto Express's used guide gives 12 months or 18,000 miles, while its running-costs page for the facelifted car gives 12 months or 12,500 miles, so follow the service booklet or ask a Renault dealer. Auto Express adds that coolant is due every five years or 90,000 miles, and brake fluid at three years and then every two years.
• Warranty: Auto Express says earlier cars had four years or 100,000 miles from new. The RAC says a five-year warranty was standard from late 2019, so the newest cars may still have some cover; ask to see the paperwork.

Sources & further reading

Official data and checks

• DVSA: Vehicle Safety Branch recalls database (data.gov.uk)
• GOV.UK: Check if a vehicle has been recalled
• GOV.UK: Check the MOT history of a vehicle
• GOV.UK: Vehicle tax rate tables
• GOV.UK: Rates for cars registered on or after 1 March 2001

Reviews, reliability and owner reports

• Auto Express: Used Renault Kadjar (Mk1, 2015-date) review
• Auto Express: New Renault Kadjar 2019 review
• Auto Express: Renault Kadjar MPG, CO2 and running costs
• Auto Express: Long-term test review, Renault Kadjar
• What Car?: Used Renault Kadjar 2015-2022 review
• What Car?: Used Renault Kadjar 2015-2022 reliability
• RAC Drive: Renault Kadjar (2015-2018) used car review
• RAC Drive: Renault Kadjar (2018-2022) used car review
• Carbuyer: Renault Kadjar reliability and safety
• Carbuyer: Renault Kadjar MPG, running costs and CO2
• Carbuyer: Renault Kadjar owner reviews
• Autocar: Renault Kadjar long-term test review, alarm problems
• The Car Expert: Renault Kadjar (2015-2022) Expert Rating
• Which?: Renault Kadjar (2015-2022) review

Engines, gearboxes and the related Nissan Qashqai

• AustralianCar.Reviews: Recalls and faults, Renault X95 Megane (1.2 TCe oil consumption bulletin)
• Car Mechanics: Buying and owning the Nissan Qashqai J11 (2013-2021)

MOT analyses (DVSA open data)

• MOT Data: Renault Kadjar MOT statistics
• Motorwise: Renault Kadjar MOT reliability by registration year

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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