Renault-Dacia 1.2 16v (D4F / D7F)Head gasket
Damaged head gasket and coolant loss on the 1.2 16v
Why this rating?
High severity: Risk of a serious engine, turbo or gearbox failure.
Frequency occasional: Fiches-auto.fr documents 4 cases related to the head gasket or the cylinder head out of 51 reports for the 1.2 16V in the Clio II, 1 case out of 12 reports for the 75 hp in the Kangoo I, and 3 out of 34 in the Dacia Sandero I (with two specific cases: injector and cylinder head failure at 52,506 km, and a damaged head gasket at 75,000 km). By contrast, the same source records no cases on the Clio III (0 out of 92), the Dacia Logan II or the Dacia Sandero II. This distribution, present only in the pages with the highest accumulated mileage, points to a fault linked to ageing and engine maintenance rather than a systemic design defect, so we classify it as occasional rather than frequent.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Symptoms
- Coolant loss linked to the damaged head gasket.[1]Coolant level drops: other faults that cause it · Garage soon
- Temperature warning light or overheating if the coolant loss is not spotted in time.[3]Overheating: other faults that cause it · As soon as possible
- White smoke from the exhaust in the more advanced cases of a damaged head gasket.[3]White smoke: other faults that cause it · As soon as possible
Why it happens
Deterioration of the head gasket with use and mileage; the sources do not say whether there is a specific material or design defect, and one case documented on the Dacia Sandero I appears alongside an injector failure at 52,506 km, with no clarity on whether the two are related.[3]
If it is not repaired: A damaged head gasket causes coolant loss and a risk of overheating; if the car keeps being driven without repair, it can lead to more serious damage to the cylinder head or engine block.[1][3]
Affected cars and years
Documented on the Renault Clio II, the Kangoo I and the Dacia Sandero I; it does not appear in the pages consulted for the Clio III, the Dacia Logan II or the Dacia Sandero II.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
| Version | Years | Codes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2 16v 75/76 (D4F, 2001-2020) | 2001–2020 | D4F 706D4F 712D4F 714D4F 722D4F 728D4F 772D4F 780 |
| 1.2 16v 60 (D4F 708, Twingo I, 2004-2007) | 2004–2007 | D4F 708 |
Models fitted with the affected versions
Dacia
- Dacia Logan I2004–2012
- Dacia Sandero I2008–2012
- Dacia Logan II2012–2020
- Dacia Sandero II2012–2020
Renault
- Renault Clio II2001–2012
- Renault Clio III2005–2012
- Renault Clio IV2012–2019
- Renault Twingo I2004–2007
- Renault Twingo II2007–2010
- Renault Modus2004–2012
- Renault Kangoo I1997–2007
How much it costs to repair
Includes: Head gasket replacement, with resurfacing of the cylinder head if it is damaged.[1]
We have not found a published quote in Spain for this repair on this engine.
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
How to check for it before buying a used car
- Check the level and condition of the coolant, and make sure there is no emulsified oil (a milky look) under the filler cap, a sign of a damaged head gasket.
- Ask for the service history and whether the car has ever overheated.
Parts needed
The part or kit that fixes this fault, according to the sources.
- Buy part at Autodoc (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
Head gasket
Replaced when it fails and causes coolant loss or oil and coolant mixing.
Affiliate links to Autodoc: if you buy, MotorFiable may receive a commission at no cost to you. Check compatibility using the registration number or the VIN before ordering. More information
How to prevent it
- Check the coolant level regularly and do not keep driving if the temperature warning light comes on.
Recalls, campaigns and claims
As of 27 September 2026, we have no record of recalls, campaigns or extended manufacturer warranties for this fault. Check with an official dealer using the chassis (VIN) number: they will tell you whether the car has any outstanding campaign.
What owners say
Frequently asked questions
Is head gasket failure common on the 1.2 16v?
It is a minority of the cases analysed, and appears only in the pages for the cars with the highest accumulated mileage (Clio II, Kangoo I, Dacia Sandero I); the pages for the Clio III, Logan II and Sandero II record no cases.[1][3][5][6]
At what mileage does it usually fail?
There is no typical published figure; fiches-auto.fr documents one specific case on the Dacia Sandero I at 75,000 km and another, alongside an injector failure, at 52,506 km.[3]
What should I do if I suspect a damaged head gasket?
Check the coolant level and the look of the oil, and take the car to a garage before driving any further: carrying on with a damaged gasket can make the damage to the cylinder head worse.[1]
What can you do now?
We will put you in touch with a partner only if you authorise it in the form.
Other 1.2 16v faults
- 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.
More faults with the head gasket on other engines and cars
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent2.0/2.2 D-4DWarped cylinder head gasket and oil consumption on the 2.2 D-4DYes: the 2.2-litre block (2AD-FTV and 2AD-FHV D-CAT) has numerous documented cases of warped cylinder head gaskets and oil consumption or dilution in the Avensis, RAV4, Auris, Corolla Verso and Verso, with repairs that sometimes require replacing the engine.Appears at around 40,000 km
- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.6 EcoBoostCracked cylinder head from overheating, with fire riskYes: Ford acknowledges that a loss of coolant circulation can overheat the engine, crack the cylinder head and let oil escape onto hot areas, with a risk of fire. It has issued recalls in South Africa (2017-2018) and in the US/Canada (2013 and 2017); we have not found an identical campaign in Spain.
- High severityFrequency: CommonRover K-SeriesHead gasket failureThe K-Series' big problem is the head gasket, which can fail even below 100,000 km because of a mix of gasket design, cooling and overheating. The usual repair uses the multi-layer steel (MLS) gasket that was developed for the Freelander.
- High severityFrequency: Occasional1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5Head gasket damaged after overheatingThe head gasket fails mainly as a consequence of previous overheating -from a coolant leak or a faulty thermostat- and not as a factory defect: it appears in a minority of engines, almost always between 30,000 and 180,000 km, with coolant loss, emulsified oil or white smoke.Appears at around 30,000 km
- High severityFrequency: Occasional1.4 and 1.6 8vHead gasket (and, in some cases, cylinder head)The head gasket appears repeatedly, in a minority of reports, in the reliability sources for several models with this engine; in the Dacia Sandero I there are also cases where the whole cylinder head was replaced under warranty. There is no oil consumption pattern associated with this engine.Appears at around 60,000 km
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalRover K-SeriesSunken cylinder liners and warped head after overheatingAfter overheating, the K-Series liners can end up below the surface of the block and the aluminium head can be marked or warped; then no gasket seals properly and the liner height has to be measured and restored.
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Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 2Fiches-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 SanderoFiches-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 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