Renault Scenic
Solid early-generation dCi with a Bosch common-rail system that holds up well. Turbo failures and con-rod bearing damage are the known risks. The oil pump wears with mileage — 10,000 km oil changes are non-negotiable. Timing belt every 90,000-120,000 km.
Top Old Diesel
120 hp 1.9 dCi — strongest Scenic II diesel. More than enough for the van.
Engine Weaknesses 5
The turbocharger on the F9Q is a known weak spot. Shaft play, oil supply problems and heat damage cause power loss and limp mode, typically from 120,000–160,000 km.
Symptoms: Whistling from turbo, power loss, blue/white smoke clouds, limp mode
The common-rail injectors on the F9Q are prone to contamination and mechanical wear. Loose injectors or faulty injection leads to misfires and the fault code 'injection defective'.
Symptoms: Engine stumbling, misfires, difficult cold start, 'injection defective' message
The EGR valve and intercooler on the F9Q are prone to heavy sooting. A burst intercooler manifests as power loss and heavy smoke — a well-known problem on early Laguna II models.
Symptoms: Heavy smoke, significant power loss, rough engine running
The injector wiring harness and ECU corrode from engine vibration and moisture. Faulty connections cause sporadic misfires and ECU resets.
Symptoms: Sporadic engine misfires, ECU reset while driving
The camshaft sensor on the F9Q fails comparatively frequently and generates fault codes. Replacement is cheap, but an unplanned failure can leave the car stranded.
Symptoms: Engine fault message, difficult start, sporadic stalling
Vehicle Weaknesses 8
Blocked water drainage channels lead to water ingress under the driver's seat. This damages the wiring harness and control units. Extensive repairs are the result.
Recall due to failure of the electric parking brake and problems with rear axle weld seams. Electric parking brake can require expensive replacement.
Defective window regulators, boot lid openers, wiper motors and radio systems are classics on the Scenic II. Instrument cluster unit fails; inexpensive repair available. Control units damaged by moisture.
Tie rod ends and suspension components are frequently flagged at vehicle inspections. Wheel bearings are also prone to failure and springs occasionally break.
The instrument cluster and speedo can fail completely, frequently due to solder joint defects on the circuit board. Reconditioning by specialists is possible; new parts are expensive and increasingly hard to find.
Rear brakes on the Scenic II wear quickly and require regular maintenance. Rear disc brakes are sensitive, especially when the brake is rarely used.
Seats squeak and the synthetic leather upholstery wears above-average quickly. Interior quality defects are a known issue with this generation.
The blower motor resistor fails frequently; the blower then only works on the highest setting or not at all. Replacing the resistor is an inexpensive repair but is often diagnosed late.
