Dacia Sandero
Compact 1.2-litre 16V naturally aspirated engine with straightforward engineering and documented mileages up to 300,000 km with good maintenance. Timing belt must be replaced every 120,000 km — if it snaps, severe engine damage results. Ignition coil and lead assembly is a known weak point; have valve clearance checked every 80,000 km.
City-sized engine
75 hp from 1.2 litres — the little Sandero is well suited for city use. On the motorway it gets loud and strained.
Engine Weaknesses 3
Recall for vehicles produced September–November 2010: faulty valve cotters may come loose and cause engine damage.
Symptoms: Recall for vehicles produced September–November 2010: faulty valve cotters may come loose and cause engine damage
Timing belt must be replaced every 90,000 km or 5 years. The small engine is not interference-free.
Symptoms: Timing belt must be replaced every 90,000 km
Valve cover gasket leaks in the spark plug tube area. Oil collects around the spark plugs and can cause misfires.
Symptoms: Valve cover gasket leaks in the spark plug tube area
Vehicle Weaknesses 7
Recall for vehicles produced between September and October 2016 due to possible detachment of brake caliper clips, which could cause the brake line to fracture.
Defective alternators have been reported on the Sandero II and can lead to sudden loss of electrical supply.
Faults in the steering column stalk of the light switch unit cause unreliable low beam operation. A known weak point that can result in MOT defects.
Suspension components, wishbones, and driveshafts show disproportionately high defect rates on the Sandero II from the second MOT. Tie rod ends and steering joints are regular weak points.
From the second MOT, brake discs show above-average wear. Braking performance on the brake tester frequently falls short.
The Sandero II shows early signs of corrosion on the underbody and sills after just a few years. Corrosion protection quality is well below the class average.
Battery failures are particularly common on early Sandero II model years. Disproportionately high breakdown reports, especially for the first years after market launch.
Reports & Tests
Defect rate of 8.2% on 2–3-year-old vehicles (average: 5.5%). Weak points: lighting, brake discs, exhaust emissions, and oil loss.
