2020 Renault Kadjar petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2020 Renault Kadjar petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2020 Renault Kadjar petrol than on all cars registered in 2020.

• Tyre condition1.8× usual
  Renault Kadjar

  19.7% All 2020 cars

  11.2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.9%, against 3.5% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges. Uneven wear can point to tracking or suspension problems.

• Wheels3.3× usual
  Renault Kadjar

  2% All 2020 cars

  0.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.2% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

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

• Headlight aim1.7× usual
  Renault Kadjar

  2.5% All 2020 cars

  1.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 1.5% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

  At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

Common 2020 Renault Kadjar petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2020 Renault Kadjar petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  31% 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
  16% 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.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  5% 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
  4% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

• Suspension
  3% 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.

Known faults on the 2020 Renault Kadjar 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.

• 1.2 TCe petrol can use oil

  1.2 TCe petrol

  The 1.2 TCe petrol engine can burn oil, and some owners have needed a replacement engine. Owners are advised to check the oil every 1,000-2,000 miles.

  At the viewing: Check the dipstick level, look for blue smoke on start-up, and look for oil top-ups in the service history.

  Source: Auto Express: used Renault Kadjar Mk1 (2015-date) review

• Child lock recall (built up to July 2018)

  Cars built up to July 2018

  Over 45,000 Kadjars built up to July 2018 were recalled in August 2020 because the rear child locks could be faulty.

  At the viewing: Test that the rear child locks work. Confirm with a Renault dealer, using the VIN, that the recall has been done.

  Source: Auto Express: used Renault Kadjar Mk1 (2015-date) review

• Airbag, seatbelt and brake servo recalls

  Early cars (recalls issued 2016-2017)

  Early cars were recalled for side airbags that might not inflate properly (April 2016 and again September 2017), a seatbelt fault (April 2016) and a possible brake servo failure (January 2016). The source doesn't give build dates for these.

  At the viewing: Run the VIN through a Renault dealer or the DVSA recall checker. Make sure the airbag light goes out after start-up and the brake pedal feels firm.

  Source: Auto Express: used Renault Kadjar Mk1 (2015-date) review

• Flat 12V battery and beeping alarm

  All engines

  The battery can run down, especially if the car isn't used much, and the alarm beeps when charge is low. Faulty tilt sensors can also set it off.

  At the viewing: Make sure the car starts easily and the alarm isn't beeping. Ask how old the battery is.

  Source: Auto Express: used Renault Kadjar Mk1 (2015-date) review

• Infotainment glitches

  All engines

  Some owners report problems with Bluetooth and sat-nav, and What Car? also mentions small infotainment faults.

  At the viewing: Pair your phone, run the sat-nav, and check every screen function works. Make sure gear changes are smooth.

  Source: Auto Express: used Renault Kadjar Mk1 (2015-date) review, What Car?: used Renault Kadjar 2015-2022 reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2020 Renault Kadjar petrol

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

1. How often do you top up the oil, and has the engine ever been replaced or repaired under warranty?
2. Has the child door lock recall been done?
3. Have all the airbag, seatbelt and brake servo recalls been carried out?
4. Any recent work on the tyre condition? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the 2020 Renault Kadjar petrol as on other cars the same age.)
5. Any recent work on the wheels? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the 2020 Renault Kadjar petrol as on other cars the same age.)
6. Any recent work on the headlight aim? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2020 Renault Kadjar petrol as on other cars the same age.)