1.6 dCi engine (R9M): faults and reliability

• 1.6 dCi Euro 5 (110 and 130 hp, 2011-2015)

  2011–2015 · 110–130 hp · R9M

  With caution

  It shares its turbo, EGR valve and injectors with the following Euro 6 generation, with faults in those components documented across several models; we have found no data that isolates the reliability of this first generation from the later one.^[1][2]

• 1.6 Energy dCi Euro 6 with NOx trap (130 and 160/165 hp, 2015-2019)

  2015–2019 · 130–165 hp · R9M

  With caution

  This is the version with the most documented faults in the reliability reports consulted: turbo, EGR valve, particulate filter, injectors and, in the Kadjar and Espace V, oil leaks around the timing area. Its NOx trap system also prompted a recall in France over excess real-world emissions.^{[1][2][3][4][9]}

• 1.6 dCi for vans (95, 115, 125 and 145 hp, Trafic III/Vivaro B/Talento, 2014-2020)

  2014–2020 · 95–145 hp · R9M

  With caution

  It shares its block, turbo and injectors with the car versions of the same period, so similar weak points (turbo, EGR, DPF) are to be expected, although we have found no van-specific reliability reports to confirm it.^[8]

• 1.6 dCi in Mercedes-Benz (OM 622/OM 626, 115 and 136 hp, 2014-2018)

  2014–2018 · 115–136 hp · OM 622, OM 626

  Buy

  We have found no owner reports or reliability studies specific to the OM 626 in the C-Class; the only documented issue is a recall to update the emissions management software, unrelated to mechanical faults in the engine.^[6]

Buy: No known serious faults, or they have already been corrected, in this version. With caution: Worth buying if something specific is verified: history, a replaced part or a completed campaign. Avoid: High risk of a serious fault that is hard to check for or prevent.

1. 1High severityCommonFrequency: CommonTurboPremature turbocharger failure or breakageThe 1.6 dCi turbo fails fairly often, sometimes at low mileage: fiches-auto documents failures between 23,000 and 113,000 km in the Kadjar, Qashqai II, X-Trail III and Espace V, with loss of power and, in several cases, the manufacturer refusing to cover the cost out of warranty.Repair (garage): €3,000
2. 2High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalTimingOil leak from the timing chain coverThe 1.6 dCi uses a timing chain, not a belt, but several Kadjar and Espace V owners describe oil leaks around the chain cover or casing, in some cases serious enough to require removing part of the engine.
3. 3Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonEmissions controlBlocked or failed EGR valveThe 1.6 dCi EGR valve gets dirty and can stick or stop sealing, especially in cars used around town. Fiches-auto flags it as one of the most repeated defects in the Renault Espace V and documents a case of double replacement in a Kadjar (at 85,000 km and again at 95,000 km).Repair (garage): €250–€1,000
4. 4Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalEmissions controlBlocked diesel particulate filter (DPF)In urban and short-journey use the 1.6 dCi DPF can block up early: fiches-auto records a case in an X-Trail III at only 10,000 km and 4 months. A software adjustment on the first Kadjar units (up to July 2015) also affected NOx emissions management.Repair (garage): €600–€1,500
5. 5Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalInjectionInjector failuresThe 1.6 dCi injectors can fail individually or, in more serious cases, several at once: fiches-auto documents 6 cases in the Espace V and one failed injector with loss of power on the motorway in a Kadjar.Repair (garage): €250–€1,700

Severity colours: low, medium, high, critical. How we rate them

Manufacturer

Renault

Family

R9M

Fuel

Diesel

Displacement

1,598 cm³

Cylinders

4

Fuel system

Turbo

Injection

Common rail

Timing

Chain

Power

95–165 hp

Peak torque

380 Nm

Production

2011–2020

Makes

Renault, Nissan, Opel, Fiat and Mercedes-Benz

Technical data^{[2][5][6][7][8]}

1. 2011–2015

   1.6 dCi Euro 5 (110 and 130 hp, 2011-2015)

   First generation of the engine: low-inertia variable-geometry turbo, seven-hole injectors and a particulate filter, with no NOx trap or SCR. It debuted with 130 hp in the Renault Scénic III/Grand Scénic in May 2011 to replace the 1.9 dCi; in December of that year it reached the Nissan Qashqai and in 2012 a 110 hp version was added.^[5][10][11]

2. 2014–2020

   1.6 dCi for vans (95, 115, 125 and 145 hp, Trafic III/Vivaro B/Talento, 2014-2020)

   Tuned specifically for commercial use: a single variable-geometry turbo in the 95 and 115 hp versions, and twin turbos in the 125 and 145 hp ones. It is fitted to the Renault Trafic III and its mechanical siblings, the Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro B and the Fiat Talento, built on the same platform at Sandouville (France) and Luton (United Kingdom).^[8][15][16]

3. 2014–2018

   1.6 dCi in Mercedes-Benz (OM 622/OM 626, 115 and 136 hp, 2014-2018)

   Mercedes-Benz fitted a version with its own engine management, called OM 626 (and OM 622 in the lower-output one), built at the same Cléon plant (France) as Renault's R9M. It powered the C-Class W205 as the C 180 d (115 hp) and C 200 d (136 hp) between 2014 and 2018.^[6]

4. 2015–2019

   1.6 Energy dCi Euro 6 with NOx trap (130 and 160/165 hp, 2015-2019)

   For Euro 6 it adds a NOx trap integrated into the particulate filter. It keeps the 130 hp version and adds a twin-turbo with 160 hp (Kadjar, Talisman, Espace V) or 165 hp (Mégane IV). It was fitted to the Mégane IV, Scénic IV, Kadjar, Talisman, Espace V, Qashqai II and X-Trail III.^{[3][4][7][12][13][14][18]}