Renault Scenic Common Problems & Known Faults (UK)
If you are considering buying a used Renault Scenic, there are several major reliability issues worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 2 known faults for this model, 1 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Generation 1 of 12 known faults · 25 owner reports · 14 good notes
Renault Scenic 2001-2010 Models (2001 to 2010) 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 →
Brakes/SuspensionMedium severity📝 Editorial
Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) module failure or wiring loom breakage causing the handbrake to stick on or fail
Rough guide
£300-700
Typical symptoms
'Check Parking Brake' warning message
handbrake refuses to disengage
loud screeching noise from rear when applying handbrake
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All
Typical mileage:
50000-100000 miles
3 more owner reports back this up
July 2018An April 2016 Renault Grand Scenic had repeated problems with its electromechanical parking brake, including multiple caliper, cable, computer, and electrical fault replacements.
February 2015The electric parking brake failed on a 2007 Scenic, costing £600 to repair.
August 2012A Scenic fitted with an electronic parking brake failed its MoT because the Bowden cables from the motors to the calipers failed.
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
What owners report on the 2001-2010 Models
25 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.
Engine · August 2019The timing chain on a 2013 Renault Grand Scenic failed at 56,000 miles, incurring a £1,600 replacement cost.
Gearbox and clutch · March 2019A Renault Scenic 1.5 dCi experienced issues with the clutch and electromechanical parking brake, preventing gear engagement and brake disengagement on inclines.
Electrics · January 2019A 2006 Renault Scenic at 64,500 miles incurred significant running costs, including repairs for the handbrake, brake light switch, clutch, window switch, and rear brake components.
Gearbox and clutch · December 2018The automatic transmission on a 2011 Renault Grand Scenic failed at 17,750 miles, possibly due to driver misuse.
Gearbox and clutch · August 2018A 2012 Grand Scenic at 43,000 miles displayed a 'check auto gearbox' message, would not start, and had the gearbox stuck in Park.
Engine · April 2018The timing belt on a 2009 Renault Scenic 1.5 dCi failed at 85,000 miles, despite being replaced at 51,000 miles three years prior.
Gearbox and clutch · February 2018The EDC gearbox on a 2015 Scenic 1.5 dCi wore out at 64,000 miles, with a dealer quoting £3,276 for full replacement.
Engine · November 2016A 2004 Renault Scenic 1.9 dCi displayed a “check fuel injection” warning, which was eventually resolved by replacing four glow-plugs.
Engine · April 2016The timing belt of a 2011 Renault Scenic 1.5 dCi failed at 36,000 miles, with Renault contributing 60% of the £2,000 repair cost.
Electrics · June 2015Both windscreen wiper motors on a 2009 Scenic failed simultaneously, affecting visibility during adverse weather.
Electrics · May 2015The electric driver's window failed on a 2006 Scenic, with a dealer offering a repair for £125 instead of the usual £800.
Engine · April 2015The timing belt on a 2009 Grand Scenic 1.5 dCi failed at 48,500 miles and five years five months old, despite a longer recommended replacement interval.
Fuel system · March 2015The misfuel prevention spring in the fuel filler of a 42,000-mile 2011 Renault Scenic failed, causing an MoT failure, with the dealer demanding £240 for a full filler replacement.
Electrics · October 2014The odometer in the instrument cluster of a 2003 Scenic failed, with Renault hopefully contributing to the replacement cost.
Engine · October 2014A 2011 Renault Scenic 1.5 dCi experienced its engine management system cutting out four times in six months, with diagnostics showing no fault.
Electrics · September 2014The instrument cluster on a 2004 Scenic failed intermittently, sometimes displaying an incorrect mileage reading when it reactivated.
Gearbox and clutch · June 2014A 2012 Renault Scenic 1.5 dCi automatic experienced intermittent hesitation with its EDC gearbox, which cleared quickly and might be linked to a sticking electric parking brake.
Electrics · February 2014A digital dashboard on a Scenic failed, with Renault subsidising the replacement, leaving the owner with a bill of £150 to £200.
Electrics · November 2013The digital dash display on a 4-year-old Scenic with 30,000 miles failed, initially quoted at £700, reduced to £150 after a goodwill contribution.
Electrics · July 2013A dashboard display unit on a Scenic experienced a failure, requiring attention for the vehicle's instruments.
Engine · June 2013A 7-year-old Scenic 1.5 dCi experienced an engine failure on the motorway, with a rod through the block, possibly due to a sheared main bearing bolt.
Electrics · June 2013Dashboard failures increased, with a 2004 1.9 dCi experiencing clock resets before the entire dash went black, though the radio still functioned.
Electrics · May 2013A 'Check Injection' message on the dashboard may indicate the need for a new battery if it is four years old or more.
General · May 2012This model was ranked as the fourth least reliable 3 to 5-year-old family car in a 2012 analysis of warranty claims.
Electrics · February 2012Lighting fuses were inaccessible, requiring a garage to replace them at a cost of £45 for the job.
What owners like about the 2001-2010 Models
14 notes
The Scenic features a brilliantly designed and versatile interior, including numerous storage compartments and a robust two-level rear parcel shelf.
The interior is brilliantly planned and versatile, offering many cubbyholes and a strong, two-level rear parcel shelf.
The car is equipped with three three-point seatbelts in the rear, enhancing passenger safety.
The Renault Scenic offers a generously sized, square-shaped boot, providing excellent practicality for carrying luggage and goods.
The diesel engine variant of this model provides good fuel economy, making it an economical choice for daily driving.
The car's galvanised body is covered by a 12-year warranty, offering long-term protection against corrosion and rust.
Facelifted models feature plastic front wings that deform and resist damage from minor impacts.
The car achieved a very good 29-point four-star NCAP crash safety rating.
This model has a low death rate from accidents, recorded at 3 out of 9 points.
In a 2003 Which survey, this MPV was rated as one of the cheapest to run.
This model achieved a Five Star Euro NCAP crash safety rating, demonstrating high levels of occupant protection.
This model had the fifth fewest warranty claims among European manufacturers on Warranty Direct policies.
If equipped with Carminat TomTom satnav, the digital speed display uses GPS, offering more accurate readings than the car's speed sensor in most conditions.
The car achieved a 5-Star NCAP Crash Safety score, with high percentages for adult and child protection, and safety assist.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 5 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Renault Scenic advert and we check it in seconds.
Renault Scenic service intervals: cambelt, chain and gearbox oil
An overdue cambelt is the most expensive thing a seller can fail to mention on a used Scenic. These are the figures UK specialists work to.
Timing belt (cambelt)Belt
1.5 DCI, K9K
72,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first
The K9K schedule is 72,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first. Intervals vary by variant, with catalogue figures of 150,000 km / 6 years quoted for the Clio 4 with DPF, so the shorter 72,000 miles / 5 years is recorded. The water pump, tensioners and idler pulleys must be replaced simultaneously.
Always confirm against the vehicle handbook. Intervals vary by engine, and several manufacturers revised theirs after failures in service.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: June 2026
Renault Scenic buying questions
Is a used Renault Scenic reliable?
The Renault Scenic has 2 known faults in our database, 1 of them rated high severity. The most serious are fuel system (delphi high-pressure fuel pump breaks down internally) and suspension (electronic Parking Brake (EPB) module failure or wiring loom breakage causing). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
Which Renault Scenic years should I avoid?
No Renault Scenic year is a write-off, but the 2001-2010 Models (2001 to 2010) carries the most serious faults: fuel system. 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 Scenic?
Ask the seller about the fuel system and suspension 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 and 'Check Parking Brake' warning message. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against its known faults before you travel. Check a Renault Scenic advert →
What is the real MPG of a Renault Scenic?
Owners report 42.8 mpg on average across the Renault Scenic engines with data, about 81% 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 944 owner submissions. Renault Scenic 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 Scenic 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 Scenic 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.