Excessive oil consumption and engine failure on the 1.2 TCe

• You have to top up oil between services. Renault's note speaks of more than 1 litre per 1,000 km, and the press considers anything above 0.5 litres abnormal.^[1][7][8]Uses oil: other faults that cause it · Garage soon
• The oil warning light comes on when the level drops too low.^[5][8]Oil warning light: other faults that cause it · As soon as possible
• Bluish smoke from the exhaust, although it is not always easy to see.^[1][8]Blue smoke: other faults that cause it · Garage soon
• Engine fault warning light on, although in some cases it never comes on.^[2][3]Engine warning light: other faults that cause it · Garage soon
• Abnormal engine noises in the most advanced cases.^[1][2][5]Engine knock: other faults that cause it · As soon as possible
• Rough or jerky running.^[2]Jerking: other faults that cause it · Garage soon
• Loss of power, sometimes hard to notice with gentle use.^[1][5]Less power: other faults that cause it · Monitor
• Sudden failure while driving, including on the motorway, sometimes with no prior warning light.^[1][2]Engine stalls: other faults that cause it · As soon as possible

Que Choisir, based on Renault's technical note, puts the problem in engines built from 1 October 2012 to 20 July 2016; L'argus specifies that the modifications entered the factory on 11 May 2016. At Nissan, the technical note covers Juke chassis numbers SJN*E*F15U700001 to 7210197, Qashqai SJN*E*J11U1000001 to 1572966 and Pulsar VSK*D*C13U0000001 to 00665235.^[1][2][3]

Prices in Spain, including VAT. A workshop hour costs on average €38–66 at independent garages and €77–134 at dealerships in Spain, depending on the region and the brand. How we calculate costs

• Check the engine's build date on its identification plate (the handbook shows where it is): the problem is concentrated in engines built up to May-July 2016.^[1][3][5]
• On a Nissan, check the chassis number: the technical note covers Juke SJN*E*F15U700001 to 7210197, Qashqai SJN*E*J11U1000001 to 1572966 and Pulsar VSK*D*C13U0000001 to 00665235.^[2]
• Ask for the maintenance invoices and those for the reprogramming, ring replacement or engine replacement, if any were done.^[3][6]
• Ask for a compression test: if the difference between cylinders exceeds 25%, the Renault network replaces the short block or the complete engine.^[3]
• Check the dipstick and the exhaust: a low level or bluish smoke are warning signs.^[1][8]
• If you can, monitor consumption over 1,000 km: the Renault and Dacia network considers more than 0.5 litres per 1,000 km abnormal.^[3]

• Piston ring set^[2][3]

  Replaced when, after reprogramming, the oil level reaches the minimum within 1,600 km.

  Buy part at Autodoc (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)

• Short block (pistons, connecting rods and rings) or complete engine^[1][3]

  The dealer network's solution when compression is poor or the engine is already damaged.

  Buy part at Autodoc (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)

• Timing chain tensioner^[2][3]

  Changed if the engine is noisy and the compression difference between cylinders is below 25%.

  Buy part at Autodoc (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)

• Check the level on the dipstick often and note how much you top up; if it goes above 0.5 litres per 1,000 km, ask the main dealer for a consumption measurement.^[3][7][8]
• Have the maintenance done on time, with the approved oil, and keep the invoices: the manufacturer takes this into account when deciding whether to contribute to the repair.^[3][5]
• If the engine was built before mid-2016 and there is no record of it being done, ask for the control unit reprogramming provided for in the technical note.^[3][5]
• Renault found more cases in cars used in town and at low speed: if that is you, watch the level even more closely.^[3]

• Software updateRenault · 5 June 2015 · Ref. Actis 10575

  Technical solution no. 10575: control unit reprogramming

  Internal note for the Renault and Dacia network (updated in February 2018) on engines built between October 2012 and July 2016 with consumption of more than 1 litre per 1,000 km. The control unit is reprogrammed to raise intake pressure at low load and, if after 1,600 km the oil is at the minimum, the rings are replaced. It was only applied when the customer complained.^[1][3]

• Technical campaignNissan · 13 April 2016

  Nissan technical note for the 1.2 DIG-T

  Juke, Qashqai and Pulsar within the stated chassis number ranges: software update and, depending on the diagnosis, replacement of the rings, the chain tensioner, the short block or the complete engine.^[2]

• Technical campaignRenault / Dacia · October 2018

  Special technical operation (OTS) for oil consumption

  Corrective action by the network when the car consumes oil: consumption is measured over 1,000 km and the engine is replaced if it exceeds 0.5 litres per 1,000 km. The assistance is limited to cars under 10 years old or 100,000 km, whichever comes first.^[3]

• Legal actionUFC-Que Choisir · May 2019

  Formal demand from UFC-Que Choisir to Renault, Dacia, Nissan and Mercedes

  The French consumer association demanded a recall. The manufacturers refused, arguing that oil consumption does not affect safety, and committed to having their network diagnose and repair case by case.^[1][6]

• Legal actionOCU · June 2019 · Ref. #motorenault

  OCU's #motorenault campaign

  OCU asked Renault for information and solutions for around 100,000 potentially affected cars in Spain (Renault, Dacia and Nissan). The request is closed and, according to OCU, it got Renault to review its members' cases.^[4][8][9]

• Legal actionPropietarios afectados (Francia) · January 2022

  Class action and criminal complaints in France (Motorgate)

  Since January 2022 several lawyers have been driving a class action against Renault; in June 2023 a criminal complaint was filed in Nanterre, which the DGCCRF is investigating, and in May 2025 another over the Nissans. According to the association Victimes du Motorgate, in October 2025 there were more than 2,000 complaints and no ruling.^{[3][10][11][12]}