Dacia Bigster 1
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
The Dacia Bigster is the brand's largest model to date and slots in as a compact SUV above the Duster. With it, Dacia pushes into a segment usually occupied by considerably pricier vehicles — and does so with the tried-and-tested recipe: plenty of car for the money, generous space, and pragmatic equipment without expensive gimmicks. Anyone after a roomy family SUV at a price that undercuts the established competition will find a very attractive offer here. The character is down-to-earth and practical rather than sporty.
On the engine front there is genuine choice. The base unit is a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that smooths out pull-away and delivers modest fuel savings — solid and perfectly adequate for daily use. High-mileage drivers should consider the LPG variant with its factory-fitted autogas system: bi-fuel operation cuts running costs noticeably. At the top sits the full hybrid, pairing a 1.8-litre four-cylinder with an electric motor for a system output of around 156 hp — economical and pleasantly quiet when moving off on electric power, but technically the most complex option.
Because the Bigster is a very young model, solid long-term experience is still thin, and some of its weaknesses bear the hallmarks of an early production run. On the full hybrid, the complex drivetrain stands out: there have been cases of gearbox failure at low mileage, leaking oil seals at the electric motor and gearbox interface, clusters of electronic faults, along with the combustion engine revving up for no reason while stationary and a start-stop emergency shutdown that causes a loss of power. On the mild hybrids, sporadic engine warning lights appear and, in isolated cases, premature timing-chain stretch — which on the LPG version carries an added failure risk because a single control unit handles both fuels. There are also software issues: an ELEC system warning with cruise-control dropout, false engine warning messages, a sluggish infotainment system, and CarPlay disconnections. One recall concerned the engine wiring harness with a missing sensor. Minor annoyances include wind noise above 100 km/h, a sticking rear-seat lever, and a tailgate gas strut that works loose.
When buying, the mild hybrid or the LPG variant are the more robust choices, while the full hybrid demands more care. Check the recall has been carried out, have software updates installed, and test the drivetrain in operation. The verdict: the Bigster is a lot of car for little money, but a very young model with typical early-run teething troubles. Choose the engine wisely and keep an eye on the early-phase issues, and you get an honest, spacious SUV with a strong price-to-value ratio.
140 PS
Bigster · Benzin
Most powerful Dacia ever
Fun to Drive!156 PS
1.8L Hybrid Benzin
5 weaknesses
Stay Away!Engine Overview
The Dacia Bigster 1 is available with 2 engine variants — from 140 to 156 hp.
A turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder in its strongest state of tune, combined with a 48-volt mild hybrid system for smoother pull-away and slight fuel savings. The design is still young, so little long-term experience is available, which calls for caution on the used market. An occasional engine warning light appears now and then, whose cause usually has to be read out via the sensors or the hybrid control unit. As is common with these small turbo engines, the timing chain is a point to watch, and a rattle on cold starts indicates the onset of stretching. Respect the warm-up phase.
- !! Premature timing chain stretch from 90,000 km
The turbo TCe units frequently struggle with the timing chain: poor chain material plus long oil-change intervals let the chain stretch from 60,000 to 80,000 km. If it skips, catastrophic engine damage follows.
Symptoms: Rattling on cold start, rough running and later power loss; in the final stage the chain jumps. - ! Sporadic engine warning light
Isolated Bigster owners report sporadically illuminating engine warning lights and injection fault messages without an identifiable cause. It is unclear whether this is a hardware or software issue.
Symptoms: Isolated Bigster owners report sporadically illuminating engine warning lights and injection fault messages without an identifiable cause
The latest development stage of the turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder, combined with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and a factory autogas installation. The distinctive feature is bi-fuel management via a single control unit for both petrol and gas — elegant, but a failure disables both fuel paths at once. A sporadically illuminating engine warning light occurs more often and should always be read out. The timing chain is prone to premature stretch, so unusual noises from the chain drive must be taken seriously. The turbocharged three-cylinder demands clean oil at short intervals, and under gas operation valve-seat wear should additionally be kept in view.
- !! Premature timing chain stretch from 90,000 km
The turbo TCe units frequently struggle with the timing chain: poor chain material plus long oil-change intervals let the chain stretch from 60,000 to 80,000 km. If it skips, catastrophic engine damage follows.
Symptoms: Rattling on cold start, rough running and later power loss; in the final stage the chain jumps. - !! Single ECU for petrol and LPG (failure risk)
The factory LPG system uses one single ECU controlling both petrol and gas operation. If this ECU fails, the car runs on neither fuel — unlike retrofit LPG kits with separate electronics that keep the engine running.
Symptoms: Limp mode or breakdown, check-engine light, no switching between petrol and gas, refusal to start. - ! Sporadic engine warning light
Isolated Bigster owners report sporadically illuminating engine warning lights and injection fault messages without an identifiable cause. It is unclear whether this is a hardware or software issue.
Symptoms: Isolated Bigster owners report sporadically illuminating engine warning lights and injection fault messages without an identifiable cause
A full-hybrid drive combining a 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbo with an electric motor for a system output of around 156 hp — economical and pleasantly quiet when pulling away electrically. The interplay of combustion engine, electric machine and power electronics is complex, so the weak points lie less in the engine itself than in their coordination. In the early phase there were clustered electronics failures and, in isolated cases, gearbox failures at low mileage; an oil seal between the electric motor and the gearbox is regarded as a systemic weakness. Symptoms such as the combustion engine revving up without reason at a standstill or a stop-start emergency shutdown with power loss point to control issues. Well-kept, well-documented examples with completed software updates are preferable.
- !! Gearbox failure under 2,000 km
Bigster full hybrid owners report gearbox failure after only 1,100 km. The multi-mode gearbox is prone to delayed gear engagement with torque interruptions, especially between 3rd and 4th gear.
Symptoms: Bigster full hybrid owners report gearbox failure after only 1,100 km - !! Oil seal e-motor/gearbox (E-Tech system heritage) from 60,000 km
Like all Renault E-Tech vehicles, affected by the known shaft seal issue. Gearbox oil can enter the electric motor — total economic loss possible.
Symptoms: Like all Renault E-Tech vehicles, affected by the known shaft seal issue - !! Cluster of electrical failures in the early phase
Early buyers report multiple electrical issues in the first weeks: gearbox, dashboard, air conditioning, parking sensors. Several vehicles had to return to the dealer shortly after purchase.
Symptoms: Early buyers report multiple electrical issues in the first weeks: gearbox, dashboard, air conditioning, parking sensors
+ 2 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| ELEC system warning with cruise control failure Owners of the TCe 140 Mild Hybrid report a recurring 'ELEC system check' warning that deactivates the cruise control. Cause is often battery issues or corroded terminals, sometimes also sensor contamination. Symptoms: Warning message 'ELEC system check' in the display, cruise control switches off, restarting helps temporarily from 5,000 km | Low | |
| Apple CarPlay connection drops The infotainment loses CarPlay connectivity regularly, especially with iPhone 12–14. Dealers confirmed the root cause is excessive current draw at the USB port. A software update is pending. Symptoms: CarPlay disconnects after a few minutes, cable must be re-inserted, volume control stops working during active navigation | Low | |
| Sluggish infotainment system The touchscreen responds with a noticeable delay — several seconds may pass between touch input and reaction. The reversing camera occasionally fails completely for several days, and parking sensors then also stop working. Symptoms: Delayed touchscreen response, intermittent loss of reversing camera and parking sensors, traffic sign recognition drops out sporadically | Low |
Known Problems and Issues +
A total of 18 weaknesses have been documented for the Dacia Bigster 1 (2025–2026) — 10 engine-related and 8 vehicle-related. One problem engine: HR18DDT (1.8L Hybrid). Typical issues affect Electronics, Body, Other, Interior.
Bigster (HR12VDV-103kW, 2025–2026) — Be Careful: Premature timing chain stretch, Sporadic engine warning light. Power: 140 PS.
Bigster (HR18DDT, 2025–2026) — Stay Away!: Gearbox failure under 2,000 km, Oil seal e-motor/gearbox (E-Tech system heritage), Cluster of electrical failures in the early phase. Power: 156 PS.
Bigster (HR12VDV-103kW-LPG, 2025–2026) — Be Careful: Premature timing chain stretch, Single ECU for petrol and LPG (failure risk), Sporadic engine warning light. Power: 140 PS.
What to watch out for with the Dacia Bigster? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems and weaknesses does the Dacia Bigster 1 have? +
What should I look for when buying a used Dacia Bigster 1? +
Which engine is recommended? +
Which Dacia Bigster 1 engine is the most fun? +
Is the Dacia Bigster 1 worth buying used? +
What horsepower variants are available for the Dacia Bigster 1? +
Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee