Renault Scenic: common faults & what to check

Which Renault Scenic are you looking at?

21 generation variants documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Petrol

10 variants documented

1996–2003JA1996–2003JA1.4 petrolPetrolDocumented issues0 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Jeremy from Sydney, Australia via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

1996–2003JA1996–2003JA1.6 petrolPetrolDocumented issues0 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Jeremy from Sydney, Australia via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

1996–2003JA1996–2003JA2.0 petrolPetrolDocumented issues0 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Jeremy from Sydney, Australia via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

2003–2009JM2003–2009JM1.4 petrolPetrolDocumented issues2 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Vauxford via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

2003–2009JM2003–2009JM1.6 petrolPetrolDocumented issues2 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Vauxford via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

2003–2009JM2003–2009JM2.0 petrolPetrolDocumented issues3 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Vauxford via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

2009–2016JZ2009–2016JZ1.6 petrolPetrolDocumented issues1 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: M 93 via Wikimedia Commons, Attribution.

2009–2016JZ2009–2016JZ2.0 petrolPetrolDocumented issues2 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: M 93 via Wikimedia Commons, Attribution.

2016–2022R92016–2022R91.2 TCe petrolPetrolDocumented issues0 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: © M 93 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 de.

2016–2022R92016–2022R91.3 TCe petrolPetrolDocumented issues0 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: © M 93 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 de.

Diesel

10 variants documented

1996–2003JA1996–2003JA1.9 dCi dieselDieselDocumented issues0 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Jeremy from Sydney, Australia via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

1996–2003JA1996–2003JA1.9 dTi dieselDieselDocumented issues0 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Jeremy from Sydney, Australia via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

2003–2009JM2003–2009JM1.5 dCi dieselDieselDocumented issues3 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Vauxford via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

2003–2009JM2003–2009JM1.9 dCi dieselDieselDocumented issues2 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Vauxford via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

2003–2009JM2003–2009JM2.0 dCi dieselDieselDocumented issues2 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Vauxford via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

2009–2016JZ2009–2016JZ1.5 dCi dieselDieselDocumented issues3 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: M 93 via Wikimedia Commons, Attribution.

2009–2016JZ2009–2016JZ1.9 dCi dieselDieselDocumented issues1 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: M 93 via Wikimedia Commons, Attribution.

2009–2016JZ2009–2016JZ2.0 dCi dieselDieselDocumented issues1 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: M 93 via Wikimedia Commons, Attribution.

2016–2022R92016–2022R91.5 dCi dieselDieselDocumented issues0 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: © M 93 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 de.

2016–2022R92016–2022R91.6 dCi dieselDieselDocumented issues0 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: © M 93 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 de.

Hybrid

1 variant documented

2016–2022R92016–2022R91.6 dCi hybrid assistHybridDocumented issues0 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: © M 93 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 de.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Renault Scenic

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Renault Scenic before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Serious issue

  Pull timing belt cover and inspect tensioner spring for fatigue or loss of preload.

  See why

  F4R 2.0 16v Timing Belt Tensioner Spring Fatigue

  The F4R 2.0 16v petrol engine fitted in Scenic II and Scenic III uses a coil-spring timing belt tensioner that loses preload through repeated heat cycles and sustained hard use. As spring tension drops, timing belt slack increases progressively until the belt skips teeth under high torque demand. The F4R interference design means any skip immediately contacts inlet and exhaust valves with pistons, causing catastrophic valve and piston damage. Family-use Scenic models loaded to capacity with passengers impose elevated engine load, increasing belt skip risk when tensioner spring preload has degraded.

  What you would notice

  • Sudden engine stop under load with no warning and failure to restart
  • Metallic rattling from front of engine before failure event
  • Engine cranks easily but produces no power or compression post-failure
  • Loss of compression on multiple cylinders confirmed by compression test
  • Metal debris found in engine oil following failure

  Typically $900–$7,500 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Operate every window fully up and down several times, listening for grinding or straining and watching for slow or juddering travel.

  See why

  Electric window regulator and Temic module failure

  The Scenic II is notorious for electric window regulator failure, where the plastic cable clips or the glass holder snap and the window drops into the door or jams part-way. The 6-pin Temic electronic control module mounted on the motor also suffers moisture ingress, causing erratic or dead operation. Failures are most common on the front doors but affect all four, and owners frequently report repeat failures within a year or two.

  What you would notice

  • Window drops into the door or will not raise
  • Grinding or clunking noise from the door when operating the window
  • Window moves slowly, intermittently, or stops mid-travel
  • Window operates on its own or ignores the switch

  Typically $250–$600 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Inspect rear caliper actuator housings for corrosion, salt deposits, water ingress marks or physical damage to the housing.

  See why

  Scenic III Electric Parking Brake Actuator Motor Failure

  The Scenic III replaces the conventional mechanical hand-lever parking brake with an electric parking brake system using a motor-driven actuator mounted directly on each rear brake caliper. The actuator motors are exposed to road water, salt contamination, and mud spray from below, which penetrates the actuator housing and corrodes the motor brush contacts and internal gearset. As the motor degrades, it draws excessive current attempting to generate sufficient torque to apply or release the caliper piston, eventually burning out motor windings or stripping the plastic actuator gearset. Failure may leave the rear brakes permanently applied or released, and the fault requires specialist Renault-compatible scan tool access to command actuator tests before any mechanical repair can be assessed.

  What you would notice

  • Electric parking brake warning light illuminated on instrument cluster
  • Parking brake fails to apply or release when switch is operated
  • Grinding, clicking or straining noise from rear calipers when parking brake operates
  • One or both rear wheels locked when parking brake should be fully released
  • Burning smell from rear of vehicle if caliper remains applied during driving

  Typically $600–$1,800 to put right.

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Renault Scenic’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• Cambelt Replacement Cost
• DPF Repair and Replacement Cost
• Diesel Injector Replacement Cost
• EGR Valve and Cooler Repair Cost

Other Renault models