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Renault Megane: 1.5 dCi turbo, injector and DPF problems (pre-2012 crank-bearing wear)

1.5 dCi turbo, injector and DPF problems (pre-2012 crank-bearing wear) is a common engine fault on the Renault Megane on the 2010–2016 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $700 to $3,500 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 27 documented faults on the Renault Megane.

Vehicle
Renault Megane
Engine
1.5L
Years
2010–2016
Fuel
diesel
System
Engine

This page covers the Renault Megane 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 Megane faults27 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

A single common-rail diesel fuel injector photographed against a plain background.Example of the part — not this vehicle

A common-rail diesel injector. Contamination damages the nozzle at the tip.

Panoha · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The Megane III 1.5 dCi (K9K) is prone to turbocharger failure, injector wear and EGR/DPF clogging – showing as black smoke, power loss, rough idle and warning lights. Pre-2012 engines also had crankshaft-bearing wear that could be terminal; the post-2012 110hp version fixed this. A DPF clogged by short-trip driving can sometimes be cleared with a long run, but turbo, injector or bearing problems are serious money.

What you would notice

  • Black smoke and power loss
  • Turbo whine that fades to no boost
  • Rough idle / DPF or engine light
  • Knock or rumble from the bottom end (pre-2012)

How to check it

Where to look. Turbo and injectors on the engine; DPF in the exhaust; crank bearings inside the block

  1. On the drive check for strong smooth pull with no turbo whine-to-nothing and no black smoke or limp mode.

  2. Listen at idle for any deep knock/rumble (bearing wear on early cars).

  3. Confirm which year/engine it is (post-2012 110hp is safer) and ask for turbo/injector/DPF history.

Parts involved: Fuel injector, Turbocharger, Diesel particulate filter.

What it costs to put right

$700 to $3,500 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

  • “Is this a pre- or post-2012 1.5 dCi, and has the turbo or injectors been replaced?”
  • “Any DPF warnings, and is it used for short or long trips?”

Now check the Renault Megane 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 the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

  • Automotive24.center – 'Renault Megane III (2008-2016) common problems'
  • Renault Forums (renaultforums.co.uk) 'Megane 15dci Turbo failure' thread

Renault Megane buyer questions

Is 1.5 dci turbo, injector and dpf problems (pre-2012 crank-bearing wear) serious on a Renault Megane?

We rate it major and common on the Renault Megane. The Megane III 1.5 dCi (K9K) is prone to turbocharger failure, injector wear and EGR/DPF clogging – showing as black smoke, power loss, rough idle and warning lights. Pre-2012 engines also had crankshaft-bearing wear that could be terminal; the post-2012 110hp version fixed this. A DPF clogged by short-trip driving can sometimes be cleared with a long run, but turbo, injector or bearing problems are serious money.

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

$700 to $3,500 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 Megane years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2010–2016 Renault Megane. 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?

On the drive check for strong smooth pull with no turbo whine-to-nothing and no black smoke or limp mode. Listen at idle for any deep knock/rumble (bearing wear on early cars). Confirm which year/engine it is (post-2012 110hp is safer) and ask for turbo/injector/DPF history. Look here: Turbo and injectors on the engine; DPF in the exhaust; crank bearings inside the block