Reliability and common problems · Renault
Renault Captur reliability and common problems
7 sourced problems for cars built from 2012, generation by generation — what Renault has acknowledged kept apart from what the motoring press reports. Choose the year, fuel and engine size to see the ones for a particular car.
Free · no signup · researched from manufacturer statements and motoring publications
How reliable is the Renault Captur? What the evidence shows
We don't give the Captur a reliability score — no public source measures breakdowns, warranty claims or repair costs across every model, so a single number would be invented. This is what we can source for cars built from 2012.
- Acknowledged by Renault
- 0
- Warranty extensions, goodwill schemes and service actions in our research
- Reported by the press
- 7
- Each by two or more independent publishers
By generation
- Captur Mk2 (incl. E-Tech hybrid and plug-in hybrid) (2019 on)0 acknowledged · 5 reported
- Captur Mk1 (2013–2019)0 acknowledged · 6 reported
Newer generations have had less time on the road for problems to show, so a short list is not a clean bill of health.
Where these come from: our research is built from manufacturer statements and motoring publications, most of them British. A warranty extension or goodwill scheme described here may have been offered in another country only — ask a dealer here whether it applies to your car.
Captur Mk2 (incl. E-Tech hybrid and plug-in hybrid) (2019 on)
Acknowledged by the manufacturer
Problems the maker has admitted — through an extended warranty, a compensation scheme, a service action or a statement.
None that we hold for this model.
Reported by owners and the motoring press
Problems at least two independent publishers report on this model, that the maker has not acknowledged. They describe the model, not this car — many cars never have them.
- Reported by 2 publishersElectrics
Software and electrical glitches: screens, warning lights, settings
The most common complaint on the second Captur is electrical: infotainment faults, dashboard warning lights with no obvious cause, and settings such as the trip computer, display brightness and tyre-pressure monitoring resetting themselves. Some owners also report the keyless entry failing to lock or unlock. Software updates at a dealer fix many of these.
Applies to: Captur Mk2 (2019 on)
- Reported by 5 publishersEngine
If it has the Renault-Nissan 1.2 TCe / 1.2 DIG-T turbo petrol (H5Ft / HRA2DDT): 1.2 TCe / 1.2 DIG-T turbo petrol: high oil consumption
The 1.2 turbo petrol shared by Renault, Dacia and Nissan has a widely reported thirst for oil, put down to its piston rings. The level can fall dangerously low between services if nobody checks it, and some engines have needed replacing. Check the dipstick often — Auto Express suggests every 1,600–3,200 km — and keep receipts for any top-ups.
Applies to: Renault, Dacia and Nissan with the 1.2 TCe / 1.2 DIG-T turbo petrol (H5Ft / HRA2DDT, about 2012–2019): Clio Mk4 TCe 120, Captur Mk1 TCe 120, Mégane Mk4 TCe 130, Kadjar TCe 130, Duster TCe 125, Qashqai Mk2, Juke Mk1 and Pulsar 1.2 DIG-T. The complaint brought in France covers cars built 2012–2016.
Picking the engine size tells us the capacity, not the engine code. At 1,197cc this is the turbo 1.2 TCe / DIG-T; Renault's older non-turbo 1.2 16v (1,149cc) and Nissan's 1.2 in the Micra and Note are different engines.
7 sources
- What Car? — Used Nissan Qashqai 2014-2021 review – reliability & common problems
- Parkers — Nissan Juke Mk1 (2010-2019) used review and buying guide
- Car Mechanics — Buying and owning the Nissan Qashqai J11 (2013-2021)
- Auto Express — Used Renault Kadjar (Mk1, 2015-date) review
- Auto Express — Used Nissan Pulsar review
- Carscoops — Renault Owners Filing Criminal Complaint Over Engines Consuming Too Much Oil
- Autocar — Used car buying guide: Renault Scenic
- Reported by 4 publishersEmissions, DPF & AdBlue
If it has the Renault-Nissan 1.5 dCi diesel (K9K): 1.5 dCi diesel: DPF clogging on short trips
The diesel particulate filter on the 1.5 dCi is known to clog on cars that mostly do short, slow journeys, bringing up a warning light and costing a lot if the filter has to be replaced. Interrupted regenerations can also wash fuel into the oil, so the oil level slowly rises — a sign to have it checked. A regular motorway run helps; a mainly town car is better off as a petrol.
Applies to: Renault, Dacia and Nissan with the 1.5 dCi diesel (K9K) and a particulate filter, including Clio, Captur, Mégane, Scénic, Kadjar, Duster, Sandero, Logan, Micra, Note, Juke, Qashqai and Pulsar
Mostly a problem for cars used on short trips; a diesel that has done regular long runs is far less likely to have it.
6 sources
- Parkers — Used Renault Clio Hatchback (2012 - 2019) Review
- What Car? — Used Renault Megane Hatchback 2008 - 2016 review – reliability & common problems
- What Car? — Used Nissan Micra 2017-2022 review – reliability & common problems
- What Car? — Used Dacia Duster 2013-2018 review – reliability & common problems
- Auto Express — Used Nissan Micra (Mk5, 2016-date) review
- Car Mechanics — Buying and owning the Nissan Juke Mk1
- Reported by 3 publishersTiming belt / chain
If it has the Renault-Nissan 1.5 dCi diesel (K9K): 1.5 dCi diesel: timing belt failures, some before the due date
The 1.5 dCi uses a timing belt, and belt failures are reported — some before the official change interval. A belt that snaps can wreck the engine. Intervals vary by model and year (from about four years / 100,000 km to six years / 145,000 km), and several sources suggest doing it early. Check the history for a belt, tensioner and water pump change.
Applies to: Renault, Dacia and Nissan with the 1.5 dCi diesel (K9K), including Clio, Captur, Mégane, Scénic, Kadjar, Duster, Sandero, Logan, Micra, Note, Juke, Qashqai and Pulsar
- Reported by 2 publishersTurbo
If it has the Renault-Nissan 1.5 dCi diesel (K9K): 1.5 dCi diesel: turbo failures
Turbo failures are reported on the 1.5 dCi, sometimes at fairly low mileages. Short, slow journeys and switching off straight after a hard drive are blamed, along with missed oil changes. Whistling and a loss of power are the early signs. Regular oil changes and a full service history are the best protection.
Applies to: Renault, Dacia and Nissan with the 1.5 dCi diesel (K9K), including Clio, Captur, Mégane, Scénic, Kadjar, Duster, Sandero, Logan, Micra, Note, Qashqai and Pulsar
Captur Mk1 (2013–2019)
Acknowledged by the manufacturer
Problems the maker has admitted — through an extended warranty, a compensation scheme, a service action or a statement.
None that we hold for this model.
Reported by owners and the motoring press
Problems at least two independent publishers report on this model, that the maker has not acknowledged. They describe the model, not this car — many cars never have them.
- Reported by 2 publishersScreen, sat-nav & audio
Infotainment and electrical faults: sat-nav, DAB radio, air-con
Non-engine electrical faults are the most reported problem on the first Captur, mostly with the sat-nav, the air-con controls and the DAB radio, which can show as on while receiving no stations. Many were fixed under warranty; on an older car, check every function on the screen and that the radio actually plays.
Applies to: Captur Mk1 (2013–2019)
Sat-nav and DAB depend on trim, which the make, model and year can't tell us.
- Reported by 2 publishersBody & corrosion
Plastic wheel-arch trims don't fit and stand proud
The plastic trims around the wheel arches on some first-generation Capturs do not sit flush and stand away from the bodywork. It is a fit-and-finish fault rather than a mechanical one, but worth checking on a viewing.
Applies to: Captur Mk1 (2013–2019)
- Reported by 5 publishersEngine
If it has the Renault-Nissan 1.2 TCe / 1.2 DIG-T turbo petrol (H5Ft / HRA2DDT): 1.2 TCe / 1.2 DIG-T turbo petrol: high oil consumption
The 1.2 turbo petrol shared by Renault, Dacia and Nissan has a widely reported thirst for oil, put down to its piston rings. The level can fall dangerously low between services if nobody checks it, and some engines have needed replacing. Check the dipstick often — Auto Express suggests every 1,600–3,200 km — and keep receipts for any top-ups.
Applies to: Renault, Dacia and Nissan with the 1.2 TCe / 1.2 DIG-T turbo petrol (H5Ft / HRA2DDT, about 2012–2019): Clio Mk4 TCe 120, Captur Mk1 TCe 120, Mégane Mk4 TCe 130, Kadjar TCe 130, Duster TCe 125, Qashqai Mk2, Juke Mk1 and Pulsar 1.2 DIG-T. The complaint brought in France covers cars built 2012–2016.
Picking the engine size tells us the capacity, not the engine code. At 1,197cc this is the turbo 1.2 TCe / DIG-T; Renault's older non-turbo 1.2 16v (1,149cc) and Nissan's 1.2 in the Micra and Note are different engines.
7 sources
- What Car? — Used Nissan Qashqai 2014-2021 review – reliability & common problems
- Parkers — Nissan Juke Mk1 (2010-2019) used review and buying guide
- Car Mechanics — Buying and owning the Nissan Qashqai J11 (2013-2021)
- Auto Express — Used Renault Kadjar (Mk1, 2015-date) review
- Auto Express — Used Nissan Pulsar review
- Carscoops — Renault Owners Filing Criminal Complaint Over Engines Consuming Too Much Oil
- Autocar — Used car buying guide: Renault Scenic
- Reported by 4 publishersEmissions, DPF & AdBlue
If it has the Renault-Nissan 1.5 dCi diesel (K9K): 1.5 dCi diesel: DPF clogging on short trips
The diesel particulate filter on the 1.5 dCi is known to clog on cars that mostly do short, slow journeys, bringing up a warning light and costing a lot if the filter has to be replaced. Interrupted regenerations can also wash fuel into the oil, so the oil level slowly rises — a sign to have it checked. A regular motorway run helps; a mainly town car is better off as a petrol.
Applies to: Renault, Dacia and Nissan with the 1.5 dCi diesel (K9K) and a particulate filter, including Clio, Captur, Mégane, Scénic, Kadjar, Duster, Sandero, Logan, Micra, Note, Juke, Qashqai and Pulsar
Mostly a problem for cars used on short trips; a diesel that has done regular long runs is far less likely to have it.
6 sources
- Parkers — Used Renault Clio Hatchback (2012 - 2019) Review
- What Car? — Used Renault Megane Hatchback 2008 - 2016 review – reliability & common problems
- What Car? — Used Nissan Micra 2017-2022 review – reliability & common problems
- What Car? — Used Dacia Duster 2013-2018 review – reliability & common problems
- Auto Express — Used Nissan Micra (Mk5, 2016-date) review
- Car Mechanics — Buying and owning the Nissan Juke Mk1
- Reported by 3 publishersTiming belt / chain
If it has the Renault-Nissan 1.5 dCi diesel (K9K): 1.5 dCi diesel: timing belt failures, some before the due date
The 1.5 dCi uses a timing belt, and belt failures are reported — some before the official change interval. A belt that snaps can wreck the engine. Intervals vary by model and year (from about four years / 100,000 km to six years / 145,000 km), and several sources suggest doing it early. Check the history for a belt, tensioner and water pump change.
Applies to: Renault, Dacia and Nissan with the 1.5 dCi diesel (K9K), including Clio, Captur, Mégane, Scénic, Kadjar, Duster, Sandero, Logan, Micra, Note, Juke, Qashqai and Pulsar
- Reported by 2 publishersTurbo
If it has the Renault-Nissan 1.5 dCi diesel (K9K): 1.5 dCi diesel: turbo failures
Turbo failures are reported on the 1.5 dCi, sometimes at fairly low mileages. Short, slow journeys and switching off straight after a hard drive are blamed, along with missed oil changes. Whistling and a loss of power are the early signs. Regular oil changes and a full service history are the best protection.
Applies to: Renault, Dacia and Nissan with the 1.5 dCi diesel (K9K), including Clio, Captur, Mégane, Scénic, Kadjar, Duster, Sandero, Logan, Micra, Note, Qashqai and Pulsar
These describe the model, not one car. Plenty of cars never have the problems their model is known for. Every problem links to its sources; a reported problem needs two independent publishers before we list it.
Recalls aren't listed here. A franchised dealer can tell you from the VIN whether a recall is open on a particular car.
Common questions
Is the Renault Captur reliable?
We don't score reliability: no public source records breakdowns, warranty claims or repair costs across every model, so a single rating would be guesswork. What we hold for Renault Captur cars built from 2012: 0 problems Renault has acknowledged, through a warranty extension, goodwill scheme or service action, and 7 reported by at least two independent publishers — listed above by generation, each with its sources. Which matter depends on the generation and engine, and on whether the work has been done, which a service history check shows.
What are the most common Renault Captur problems?
For cars built from 2012, the problems at least two independent publishers report include: Software and electrical glitches: screens, warning lights, settings; 1.2 TCe / 1.2 DIG-T turbo petrol: high oil consumption; 1.5 dCi diesel: DPF clogging on short trips; 1.5 dCi diesel: timing belt failures, some before the due date; 1.5 dCi diesel: turbo failures. Which apply depends on the generation and engine — they are listed generation by generation above, each with its sources.
Has Renault acknowledged problems with the Captur?
We haven't found a warranty extension, goodwill scheme or service action in which Renault acknowledged a problem on this model. The reported problems above come from the motoring press.
Does every Captur have these problems?
No. These describe the model; many cars never have them, and a well-maintained car is less likely to. Whether a known problem was fixed is what a service history shows: our check returns the manufacturer's dealer records by VIN, and there's no charge if we find nothing.
Has this car had the work done?
A known problem matters far less on a car whose dealer records show it was fixed. A service history check returns the manufacturer's own dealership records for a specific car, found by its VIN — what was done, when and at what mileage — and there's no charge if we find nothing.
Check a car's service history