Renault Modus problems, reliability and years to avoid
If you are considering buying a used Renault Modus, these are the common problems worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 3 known faults for this model, 2 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Is the Renault Modus reliable?
The Renault Modus has 3 known faults in our database, 2 of them rated high severity. The most serious are fuel system (delphi high-pressure fuel pump breaks down internally) and electrics (DVSA recall R/2007/044 covers Modus cars built between 14 December 2005). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
That is a count of the faults we hold, not a reliability score. Popular cars get written about more, and a newer generation has had less time to show its faults.
Which Renault Modus years should you avoid?
No year is a write-off on its own. What matters is which serious faults a given year and engine can have, and whether the car in front of you has had them fixed.
Years and engines with a serious known fault
2001 to 2010, 1.5 dCi (K9K - Delphi systems): delphi high-pressure fuel pump breaks down internally
2005 to 2006, Cars built 14 December 2005 to 16 February 2006: DVSA recall R/2007/044 covers Modus cars built between 14 December 2005
Each one is set out in full below, with the symptoms, the typical mileage and a rough repair cost.
Generation 1 of 13 known faults · 3 owner reports · 1 good note
Renault Modus Mk1 (2004 to 2012) problems
Fuel SystemHigh severity📝 Editorial
Delphi high-pressure fuel pump breaks down internally, sending metal swarf throughout the entire fuel system
Rough guide
£1500-3000
Typical symptoms
flashing glow plug or engine management light
engine misfires or stalls
non-start
metallic glitter in the fuel filter
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.5 dCi (K9K - Delphi systems)
Typical mileage:
60000-120000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Transmission/ClutchMedium severity💬 2 owner reports, 2016 to 2018
The Modus automated manual gearbox relies on a hydraulic system to change gear, and it fails. A 2016 report describes a broken hydraulic piston controlling the gearchanges on a 2010 Modus 1.5 diesel at 59,000 miles. A 2018 report on a 2009 car describes the check gearbox light coming on and all gears being lost, with the dealer finding no hydraulic fluid in the gearbox system and no obvious leak.
Rough guide
£400-1500
Typical symptoms
check gearbox warning light
gearbox losing all gears or refusing to select one
slow, jerky or missed gearchanges
car stuck in neutral
Affected vehicles
Engines:
Automated manual gearbox models
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
ElectricalHigh severity🏛️ Official recall
DVSA recall R/2007/044 covers Modus cars built between 14 December 2005 and 16 February 2006, and Clios from the same weeks: grease in the stop light switch can overheat and coke the contacts, so the switch melts, the brake lights can fail, and the floor by the pedals can overheat or put smoke into the cabin. The remedy is a new stop light switch, free at a Renault dealer. The archive put the count at 4,234 Modus cars in April 2007.
Rough guide
£0 (free safety recall)
Typical symptoms
brake lights not working or working only sometimes
burning smell or smoke near the pedals
melted plastic at the top of the brake pedal
Affected vehicles
Engines:
Cars built 14 December 2005 to 16 February 2006
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
What owners report on the Mk1
3 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Gearbox and clutch · July 2016The hydraulic piston controlling gear changes failed on a 2010 Modus 1.5 diesel automated manual at 59,000 miles.
Electrics · December 2015A 2005 Modus experienced a central locking problem, with the doors attempting to unlock independently, possibly due to moisture ingress.
Engine · September 2013A 1.6 engine developed a noise on start-up, indicating a failing camshaft dephaser that required replacement at a cost of £916.
What owners like about the Mk1
1 note
This model has received very few problem reports from owners, suggesting good reliability and value in the used market.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 8 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Renault Modus advert and we check it in seconds.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: October 2026
Renault Modus buying questions
What are the most common Renault Modus problems?
Three stand out. Fuel system: delphi high-pressure fuel pump breaks down internally (typically 60000 to 120000 miles). Electrics: DVSA recall R/2007/044 covers Modus cars built between 14 December 2005 and 16 February 2006. Gearbox: the Modus automated manual gearbox relies on a hydraulic system to change gear, and it fails. The full list above is grouped by generation, with typical mileage and a rough repair cost for each.
Which Renault Modus years should I avoid?
No Renault Modus year is a write-off, but the Mk1 (2004 to 2012) carries the most serious faults: fuel system and electrics. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.
What should I check when viewing a used Renault Modus?
Ask the seller about the fuel system, electrics and gearbox faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for flashing glow plug or engine management light, brake lights not working or working only sometimes and check gearbox warning light. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against all 3 known faults before you travel. Check a Renault Modus advert →
What is the real MPG of a Renault Modus?
Owners report 52.1 mpg on average across the Renault Modus engines with data, about 90% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 154 owner submissions. Renault Modus Real MPG by engine →
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Renault Modus owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
Knowing what a Renault Modus goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.