CriticalCommonEngine

Renault Trafic: 1.6 dCi twin-turbo engine and turbo failure

1.6 dCi twin-turbo engine and turbo failure is a common engine fault on the Renault Trafic on the 2015 onward cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $2,500 to $9,000 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 Trafic.

Vehicle: Renault Trafic
Only on: Bi-Turbo / twin-turbo
Engine: 1.6L
Years: 2015 onward
Fuel: diesel
System: Engine

This page covers the Renault Trafic 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 Trafic faults15 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Turbocharger yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The X82 Trafic's small 1.6 twin-turbo diesel is highly stressed for a van that can weigh nearly three tonnes loaded, and there are reports of serious engine failures (including holed blocks) and turbo problems at surprisingly low mileage. Symptoms range from turbo lag and power loss to catastrophic failure. Not every van fails, but this is the generation's headline risk – so a full service history and a careful drive matter enormously, and the larger 2.0 dCi (from the facelift) is generally seen as tougher.

What you would notice

Power loss / turbo lag or boost fault
Knocking or heavy smoke
Engine warning light / limp mode
Sudden engine failure

How to check it

Where to look. Engine and twin turbochargers at the front of the van

Insist on full service history – oil changes on time are critical for this engine. On the drive check for strong, lag-free boost, no heavy smoke and no warning lights or limp mode. Listen for any knocking. If unsure, a compression/leak-down or diagnostic scan before buying is money well spent, especially on a laden-life ex-fleet van.

Parts involved: Turbocharger.

What it costs to put right

$2,500 to $9,000 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

“Does it have full, on-time service history?”
“Has the engine or a turbo ever been replaced or repaired? Is this the 1.6 twin-turbo or the later 2.0?”

Now check the Renault Trafic 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.

What Car? – Used Renault Trafic 2014-2019 reliability & common problems
ProductReview.com.au – Renault Trafic X82 (2015-present) owner reviews
RMS Motoring Forum – 'Renault Trafic 1.6' thread

Renault Trafic buyer questions

Is 1.6 dci twin-turbo engine and turbo failure serious on a Renault Trafic?

We rate it critical and common on the Renault Trafic. The X82 Trafic's small 1.6 twin-turbo diesel is highly stressed for a van that can weigh nearly three tonnes loaded, and there are reports of serious engine failures (including holed blocks) and turbo problems at surprisingly low mileage. Symptoms range from turbo lag and power loss to catastrophic failure. Not every van fails, but this is the generation's headline risk – so a full service history and a careful drive matter enormously, and the larger 2.0 dCi (from the facelift) is generally seen as tougher.

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

$2,500 to $9,000 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 Trafic years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2015 onward Renault Trafic. 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.