2008 Renault Modus problems
The 2008 Renault Modus was sold with 2 engines that we have documented: the 1.5 dCi and the 1.2 16v. All of them have serious faults that affect the cars of that year. The safest option is the 1.2 16v (verdict “Buy”). Outside the engine, 5 documented faults affect 2008 cars, such as noise, play or loss of assistance in the steering.
2008 Renault Modus score: acceptable reliability
Calculated using only 16 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. How it is calculated
- Engine5.0From 3.7 to 6.4 depending on the engine
- Gearbox8.61 fault
- Suspension7.91 fault
- Brakes8.00 faults
- Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
- Steering7.41 fault
- Electrical system8.91 fault
- Headlights and lights6.80 faults
- Electronics and infotainment10.0No documented faults
- Climate control10.0No documented faults
- Bodywork and interior7.11 fault
- Airbags and safety10.0No documented faults
What changes compared with the 2007 Renault Modus
- Starts to be affected by: the rear seat may jam (2008-2009 production) (rest of the car)
1.5 dCi engine in the 2008 Renault Modus
Names: 1.5 dCi 65 · 1.5 dCi 70 · 1.5 dCi 75 · 1.5 dCi 80 · 1.5 dCi 85 · 1.5 dCi 90 · 1.5 dCi 105
- With caution
1.5 dCi Euro 4 (68/70, 85/86 and 105/106 hp, 2005-2010)
68–106 hp · K9K 712, K9K 714, K9K 728, K9K 732, K9K 764, K9K 766, K9K 772, K9K 792, K9K 796, K9K 802, K9K 830
Worth buying with a complete maintenance history and proof of repairs: the 85 hp carries the Delphi pump, and the 105 hp adds big-end bearings, a dual-mass flywheel and, on the Mégane III and Scénic III up to late 2010, a risk of belt failure.[1][3][4][5]
Faults that affect 2008 cars
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonLubricationWear and seizure of the big-end bearingsThe Euro 3 and Euro 4 1.5 dCi engines (approx. 2001-2010), especially the 100 and 105/106 hp, have fragile big-end bearings that can seize and wreck the engine. Renault went as far as paying up to 90% of the repair, with a limit of 7 years and 180,000 km.
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalTimingPremature timing belt failureOn the 85, 105 and 110 hp 1.5 dCi engines built up to late 2010, especially in the Mégane III and Scénic III, the timing belt could break early, sometimes before 50,000 km, and damage the engine. Renault opened a workshop action in 2013.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalInjectionDelphi high-pressure pump that sheds filings and damages the injectionOn the first 1.5 dCi engines (up to approx. 2010), especially the versions with Delphi injection of 65, 70 and 85 hp, the high-pressure pump can shed iron filings that contaminate the whole circuit and destroy the injectors. The pump, injectors and rail all have to be replaced.Appears at around 60,000 km
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalTurboPremature turbo failure and intake hoses that come looseThe turbo on the 105 and 110 hp 1.5 dCi can fail early: Caradisiac documents it on the Clio III, Scénic III and Qashqai II, sometimes before 80,000 km. More common and cheaper is for a turbo intake hose to come loose or burst and the engine to lose power.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalClutchPremature dual-mass flywheel failure and clutch problemsThe 105 and 110 hp 1.5 dCi engines can break the dual-mass flywheel early, sometimes before 40,000 km. It warns you with vibrations at idle and metallic noises, and forces you to replace the clutch and flywheel assembly.Repair (garage): €700–€1,300
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalInjectionInjector and injector seal failuresThe 1.5 dCi injectors, or their seals, can fail early, especially on the 110 hp, causing rough running, jerking or hard starting. Replacing the affected injector is usually enough; Caradisiac still reports cases on the Kadjar and Duster II.
1.2 16v engine in the 2008 Renault Modus
Names: 1.2 16V 75
- Buy
1.2 16v 75/76 (D4F, 2001-2020)
75–76 hp · D4F 706, D4F 712, D4F 714, D4F 722, D4F 728, D4F 772, D4F 780
This is the version with the most data available and, overall, a good reputation: the reliability pages for the Clio II, Clio III, Kangoo I, Sandero I and II and Logan I and II document no catastrophic failures and no oil consumption; the most repeated issues (coils, sensors) are low-cost, and Caradisiac rates the reliability of the Twingo II with this engine as "excellent".[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]
Faults that affect 2008 cars
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalCylinder head and blockDamaged head gasket and coolant lossOn higher-mileage 1.2 16V engines, cases of a damaged head gasket are documented, with coolant loss and a risk of overheating; it appears on the Clio II, the Kangoo I and the Dacia Sandero I, but not in the pages for the Clio III or the second generation of Logan and Sandero.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonIgnitionIgnition coil failure (misfires, engine warning light)The ignition coil is the engine fault that recurs most on the 1.2 16v: it appears independently on the Renault Clio II and Clio III, with misfires, jerking or the engine warning light coming on.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalElectronicsProbe and sensor faults (crankshaft position, throttle body)The 1.2 16V can fail because of specific probes or sensors, above all the crankshaft position sensor (TDC sensor) and the throttle body, with the engine warning light on or difficulty starting. Documented on the Clio II, Clio III and Kangoo I.
- Medium severityFrequency: RareTimingTiming belt: preventive maintenance and the odd failureThe 1.2 16v has a timing belt (not a chain), a wear part that has to be changed as preventive maintenance. Documented failure cases are a minority: under 4% of the owner reports analysed on the Clio II and Clio III.
- Low severityFrequency: RareLubricationOil consumption (no documented pattern on this engine)Unlike other small direct-injection turbo engines, the reliability pages consulted for the 1.2 16v (Clio II and III, Kangoo I, Twingo II, Logan I and II, Sandero I and II) document no pattern of excessive oil consumption.
Faults outside the engine in the 2008 Renault Modus
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalSteeringNoise, play or loss of assistance in the steeringThe rack and column of the Modus's electric power steering can produce noise or play, and in some cases lose assistance; Renault also recalled a batch of cars in 2005 over a problem in the steering column assembly.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalGearbox and clutchPremature clutch wear and noise in the manual gearboxOn the Modus, especially on diesel versions used in town, the clutch can slip, judder or wear out sooner than expected; the manual gearbox can also become noisier or find it hard to engage a gear as the mileage builds up.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSuspensionUneven tyre wear caused by the rear axle geometryOn the Modus, the tyres - especially the rear ones - can wear quickly or unevenly; fiches-auto.fr links this to the rear axle geometry and to wear of the bushes and shock absorbers.
- Low severityFrequency: CommonElectrical systemElectric window failureOn the Renault Modus, the motor, cables or guides of the electric windows can fail and leave the glass slow, stuck or dropping on its own; it is the most-cited non-engine fault in owner reports for this car.
- Medium severityFrequency: RareBodywork and interiorThe rear seat may jam (2008-2009 production)A 2010 campaign covers Modus cars built between January 2008 and October 2009 in which the folding rear bench may jam and not lock back correctly into position.
Buying a 2008 Renault Modus?
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Renault Modus reliable?
The 2008 Renault Modus was sold with 2 engines that we have documented: the 1.5 dCi and the 1.2 16v. All of them have serious faults that affect the cars of that year. The safest option is the 1.2 16v (verdict “Buy”). Outside the engine, 5 documented faults affect 2008 cars, such as noise, play or loss of assistance in the steering.
Is the 2008 Renault Modus better than the 2007?
Our score goes from 5.9 in 2007 to 5.9 in 2008. Starts to be affected by: the rear seat may jam (2008-2009 production) (rest of the car).
What is the best year for the Renault Modus?
According to our score, the best are 2012 and 2011 (6.7/10). The year with the worst score is 2005 (5.9/10). Each year's score counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those cars.
What faults does the 2008 Renault Modus have?
The most important ones documented for 2008 cars are: wear and seizure of the big-end bearings (1.5 dCi, critical severity), premature timing belt failure (1.5 dCi, critical severity), delphi high-pressure pump that sheds filings and damages the injection (1.5 dCi, high severity), premature turbo failure and intake hoses that come loose (1.5 dCi, high severity) and damaged head gasket and coolant loss (1.2 16v, high severity).
Own a 2008 Renault Modus? Tell us what faults you have had and at how many kilometres. Report your fault.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Fiabilité du 1.5 dCiFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published 19 April 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
- Renault K-Type engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
- Fiabilité Renault Clio 3 : que vaut le modèle en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 26 November 2012 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité Renault Mégane 3 : que vaut le modèle en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 25 November 2015 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
- Maxi-fiche fiabilité : que vaut le Renault Scénic 3 en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 2 February 2016 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
- Renault ModusWikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 3Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault KangooFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia LoganFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia SanderoFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Logan 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Sandero 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Maxi-fiche fiabilité : la Renault Twingo 2Caradisiac · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French