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CriticalCommonEngine

Renault Clio: 1.2 TCe Timing Chain Stretch and Tensioner Failure

1.2 TCe Timing Chain Stretch and Tensioner Failure is a common engine fault on the Renault Clio on the 2012–2019 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $2,800 to $6,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 15 documented faults on the Renault Clio.

Vehicle
Renault Clio
Engine
1.2L
Years
2012–2019
Fuel
petrol
System
Engine

This page covers the Renault Clio as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Renault Clio faults15 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

The front of a dual overhead camshaft engine with the timing cover removed, exposing the timing chain and sprockets.Example of the part — not this vehicle

The front of a twin-cam engine with the timing cover off — chain, sprockets and guides.

Logansenf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The 1.2 TCe H5F engine used in Clio III phase 2 and Clio IV is documented for premature timing chain stretch caused by a weak plastic tensioner. The chain can jump teeth or snap without warning, causing valve-to-piston contact and catastrophic engine damage. Failure rate accelerates with extended oil change intervals. Documented across multiple owner forums, independent workshop TSBs, and Renault technical notes.

What you would notice

  • Metallic rattling from front of engine on cold start that fades when warm
  • Check engine light with camshaft or crankshaft position sensor codes
  • Engine cuts out suddenly or fails to start
  • Rough idle or misfires after startup

How to check it

Where to look. Front of engine beneath timing chain cover

  1. Start cold and listen for chain rattle from the cam cover area in the first 30 seconds.

  2. Check service history for oil change frequency — chain wear accelerates beyond 10,000 km intervals.

  3. Request compression test if any rattle is present.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$2,800 to $6,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the timing chain and tensioner ever been inspected or replaced?”
  • “What oil change interval has been used — every 10,000 km or more frequently?”
  • “Has the car ever rattled on cold start?”

Now check the Renault Clio you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Renault Clio buyer questions

Is 1.2 tce timing chain stretch and tensioner failure serious on a Renault Clio?

We rate it critical and common on the Renault Clio. The 1.2 TCe H5F engine used in Clio III phase 2 and Clio IV is documented for premature timing chain stretch caused by a weak plastic tensioner. The chain can jump teeth or snap without warning, causing valve-to-piston contact and catastrophic engine damage. Failure rate accelerates with extended oil change intervals. Documented across multiple owner forums, independent workshop TSBs, and Renault technical notes.

How much does it cost to fix on a Renault Clio?

$2,800 to $6,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Renault Clio years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2012–2019 Renault Clio. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Start cold and listen for chain rattle from the cam cover area in the first 30 seconds. Check service history for oil change frequency — chain wear accelerates beyond 10,000 km intervals. Request compression test if any rattle is present. Look here: Front of engine beneath timing chain cover