2018 Renault Captur petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2018 Renault Captur petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2018 Renault Captur petrol than on all cars registered in 2018.

• Ball joint3.3× usual
  Renault Captur

  3.3% All 2018 cars

  1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.4% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

• Braking performance2.3× usual
  Renault Captur

  2.8% All 2018 cars

  1.2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.4% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

  At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

• Brake lights2.8× usual
  Renault Captur

  2.2% All 2018 cars

  0.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.6% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Common 2018 Renault Captur petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2018 Renault Captur petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  33% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Brakes
  18% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Lights and electrics
  8% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Suspension
  6% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  6% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

• Seats and seatbelts
  3% of testsRough price £80–£250

  At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Known faults on the 2018 Renault Captur petrol

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Cambelt due every 6 years or 90,000 miles

  All engines

  Every Captur engine uses a cambelt, and it's an expensive job if it's due soon. If it snaps it can wreck the engine.

  At the viewing: Look for a receipt for the cambelt change in the service history.

  If it needs doing: Timing belt (cambelt) change, about £300–£700 (often with the water pump). ClickMechanic

  Source: Carbuyer: used Renault Captur Mk1 reliability

• Oil burning (1.2 TCe / DIG-T petrol)

  1.2 TCe / DIG-T turbo petrol

  The 1.2 turbo petrol shared by Renault and Nissan (TCe or DIG-T) can burn oil, and some owners have needed a replacement engine. Running low on oil makes it worse.

  At the viewing: Check the oil level on the dipstick, look for blue smoke from the exhaust, and ask how often it needs topping up. It should be checked every 1,000–2,000 miles.

  Source: Auto Express: used Renault Kadjar (2015 on) review, Car Mechanics: buying and owning the Nissan Qashqai J11 (2013-2021)

• Gearbox complaints

  All engines

  Gearbox problems were the top complaint from Captur owners in Carbuyer's survey.

  At the viewing: Try every gear, and on automatics pull away gently several times to check for judder.

  If it needs doing: Gearbox sensor or solenoid, about £200–£500. ClickMechanic

  Source: Carbuyer: used Renault Captur Mk1 reliability

• Erratic stop-start

  All engines

  The stop-start can work on and off or stop working, often from a sensor or a weak battery.

  At the viewing: Watch whether stop-start works in traffic, and ask how old the battery is.

  Source: Carbuyer: used Renault Captur Mk1 reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2018 Renault Captur petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. When was the cambelt last changed?
2. How often does it need oil between services, and has there been any engine work?
3. Has the gearbox had any work?
4. Has the battery been replaced?
5. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the 2018 Renault Captur petrol as on other cars the same age.)
6. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2018 Renault Captur petrol as on other cars the same age.)