MajorCommonEngine

Renault Trafic: AdBlue / DPF / EGR emissions faults and limp mode

AdBlue / DPF / EGR emissions faults and limp mode is a common engine fault on the Renault Trafic on the 2015 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $400 to $1,800 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
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 Diesel particulate filter or EGR valve yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Later Euro-6 X82 Trafics have an AdBlue system, DPF and EGR that commonly cause trouble on short-trip work: AdBlue-system and NOx-sensor faults, DPF blockage and EGR clogging, all of which trigger warning lights, reduced power and limp mode – sometimes a countdown that will stop the van restarting. Individually repairable but disruptive for a working van, so check the emissions system is healthy and warning-light-free.

What you would notice

Engine, DPF or AdBlue warning light
Reduced power / limp mode
AdBlue countdown / no-restart warning
Rough running on short-trip use

How to check it

Where to look. DPF in the exhaust; EGR on the engine; AdBlue tank and NOx sensors

Check the dash for engine, DPF or AdBlue warnings and make sure it doesn't drop into limp mode on the drive.
Ask how the van is used (short trips raise DPF risk) and whether the DPF, EGR or a NOx sensor has been worked on.
Confirm AdBlue is topped up.

Parts involved: Diesel particulate filter, EGR valve.

What it costs to put right

$400 to $1,800 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

“Any engine, DPF or AdBlue warning lights now or recently?”
“Has the DPF, EGR or a NOx sensor needed work?”

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.

ClickMechanic Blog – Common problems with Renault Trafic
TransitCenter.ie – Renault Trafic common faults and issues

Renault Trafic buyer questions

Is adblue / dpf / egr emissions faults and limp mode serious on a Renault Trafic?

We rate it major and common on the Renault Trafic. Later Euro-6 X82 Trafics have an AdBlue system, DPF and EGR that commonly cause trouble on short-trip work: AdBlue-system and NOx-sensor faults, DPF blockage and EGR clogging, all of which trigger warning lights, reduced power and limp mode – sometimes a countdown that will stop the van restarting. Individually repairable but disruptive for a working van, so check the emissions system is healthy and warning-light-free.

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

$400 to $1,800 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.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Check the dash for engine, DPF or AdBlue warnings and make sure it doesn't drop into limp mode on the drive. Ask how the van is used (short trips raise DPF risk) and whether the DPF, EGR or a NOx sensor has been worked on. Confirm AdBlue is topped up. Look here: DPF in the exhaust; EGR on the engine; AdBlue tank and NOx sensors