Verdict
A turbo four-cylinder with direct injection and a timing chain, sold as the TCe by Renault and Dacia and as the DIG-T by Nissan. Its excessive oil consumption, linked to the piston rings, can lead to engine failure; it mainly affects engines built from late 2012 to mid-2016. No recall was organised: Renault only changed the engine calibration from June 2015 and handles claims on a case-by-case basis, subject to compliant servicing. The 1.3 TCe replaced it in 2018.
Years to favour or avoid
- To favour
- No year particularly to favour
- To avoid
- 2013, 2014, 2015
Known faults
Excessive oil consumption that can lead to engine failure
Severity 3/3 · SeriousThe 1.2 TCe (H5Ft) can consume more than one litre of oil per 1,000 km according to a Renault technical note cited by Que Choisir, which targets engines built from late 2012 to mid-2016. Fiches-auto links the fault to piston rings that are not tolerant of carbon build-up, and reports engine failures from lack of oil, the warning light only coming on when oil pressure is lost. The manufacturers refused a recall; Renault introduced a new calibration from June 2015 and received 2,647 claims for assistance from 2015 to 2019. Check the oil level with the dipstick and ask for a complete service history.
- Versions
- tce-1-2-h5ft
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Sources
- Moteur 1.2 Renault : 400 000 voitures en danger — UFC-Que Choisir (new tab)
- Moteur 1.2 Renault : les constructeurs minimisent — UFC-Que Choisir (new tab)
- Question écrite n° 23164 sur le moteur essence 1.2 Renault (H5Ft) — Assemblée nationale (new tab)
- Problèmes en série sur les moteurs 1.2 TCE Renault — Fiches-auto (new tab)
- Essais et avis moteurs TCe — Fiches-auto (new tab)
- Motores gasolina defectuosos Renault — Diario Motor (new tab)
Noisy timing chain or chain that loosens
Severity 2/3 · CostlyThe timing chain tensioner is fed by oil pressure: if there is an oil shortage, it can fail, with a risk of the chain slipping or even breaking, according to Fiches-auto. Gebrauchtwagenberater describes, on the Qashqai 1.2 DIG-T, a chain that rattles on cold start or during load changes, which in the worst case can destroy the engine.
- Versions
- tce-1-2-h5ft
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Models fitted
Buy with carePhoto: Corvettec6r, CC0
Extra cautionPhoto: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Good choice, check firstPhoto: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Buy with carePhoto: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Nissan Qashqai
2014–2021 · Petrol, Diesel
- Estimated monthly cost
- €407/month
Good choice, check firstPhoto: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Renault Captur
2013–2019 · Petrol, Diesel
- Estimated monthly cost
- €298/month
Buy with carePhoto: Overlaet, CC BY-SA 3.0
Buy with carePhoto: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Renault Kadjar
2015–2022 · Petrol, Diesel
- Estimated monthly cost
- €406/month
Good choice, check firstPhoto: Thomas doerfer, CC BY-SA 3.0
Renault Kangoo
2008–2021 · Diesel, Petrol
- Estimated monthly cost
- €322/month
Extra cautionPhoto: Cutlass, CC0
Renault Mégane
2008–2016 · Petrol, Diesel
- Estimated monthly cost
- €342/month
Buy with carePhoto: Herranderssvensson, CC BY-SA 3.0
Renault Mégane
2016–2023 · Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid
- Estimated monthly cost
- €460/month
Buy with carePhoto: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Renault Scénic
2016–2022 · Petrol, Diesel
- Estimated monthly cost
- €422/month
Maintain and diagnose this engine
Read fault codes
An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.
Parts and maintenance
Compare prices of car parts (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.