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Ignition and pre-heatingGeneric OBD-II codeUrgency: Garage soon

P0300 on Renault: causes and affected engines

P0300 means: random or multiple-cylinder misfire detected.[1][2] Renault has 15 documented faults that can trigger it, across 11 engines, including 1.9 dCi, 1.4 and 1.6 16v, 1.2 16v and 1.3 TCe. Only a diagnosis can confirm the cause on your car.

Documented faults
15
that can trigger it
Engines
11
used by Renault, with at least one of them
Renault models
34
with at least one of these faults
Urgency
Garage soon

9 sourcesHow we work

Documented faults in Renault engines that can trigger P0300

Grouped by engine or model, from most to least important. These are faults with the ignition coils, with the injectors, with the fuel pump, with carbon build-up in the intake and with the head gasket: not all of them will necessarily set the code, and only a diagnosis confirms the cause on your car.

1.3 TCe

In Captur II, Clio V, Kadjar, Mégane IV, Scénic IV, Arkana and 2 more models

1.4 and 1.6 8v

In Clio II, Kangoo I and Mégane I

1.5 dCi

In Captur I, Clio II, Clio III, Clio IV, Fluence, Kadjar and 11 more models

Common causes of P0300 on any make

From most to least likely, according to the sources.

  1. 1Worn, dirty or damaged spark plugs (and their leads, on cars that have them). Carista describes them, in its P0301 entry, as the most common cause and the first thing to check.[1][2][3][4][5]
  2. 2Faulty ignition coils. Samarins points to them as the most frequent cause of P030X misfire codes on modern cars with a coil on each spark plug.[1][2][3][4]
  3. 3Intake air or vacuum leaks: cracked or disconnected hoses, intake manifold gasket, broken intake pipe or faulty PCV valve.[1][2][3][4][6]
  4. 4Blocked, leaking or faulty injectors.[1][2][3][4]

What to check first

The first diagnostic steps, from the most likely and cheapest to check to the most expensive.

  1. 1Read the codes with a scan tool and see whether, alongside the P0300, there are cylinder codes (P0301 to P0308) or others, such as P0171 (lean mixture), P0101 and P0102 (MAF sensor) or P0401 (EGR). According to Samarins, those accompanying codes must be diagnosed first, because the random misfire is often a consequence of them.[2][3][6]
  2. 2If the car is running normally at the moment, the fault may have been a one-off. MechanicBase suggests noting the code, clearing it and seeing whether it comes back: if it does not reappear after a week of use, it treats it as temporary; if it does, you need to diagnose it.[3]
  3. 3If there is a cylinder code (P0300 plus P0301, P0302…), start with the spark plug and coil of that cylinder. To find out which of the two is failing, swap the coil (or the plug) with that of another cylinder, clear the code and drive for a while: if the fault moves with the part, that part is faulty; if it stays on the same cylinder, suspect the injector or the compression. The same swap can be used to rule out a faulty injector.[3][4][7]
Full guide to P0300: symptoms, diagnosis and whether you can drive

Frequently asked questions

Which Renault engines have faults that can trigger P0300?

1.9 dCi (1 fault), 1.4 and 1.6 16v (1 fault), 1.2 16v (2 faults), 1.3 TCe (2 faults), 1.4 and 1.6 8v (2 faults) and 1.5 dCi (2 faults). Each fault has its own page with the affected years and versions, the symptoms and the repair cost.

What does code P0300 mean on a Renault?

Random or multiple-cylinder misfire detected. The control unit has detected misfires (cylinders in which the mixture does not burn, or burns badly) spread at random or across several cylinders, without being able to attribute them to a specific one. That is the meaning of the final 0: when the control unit does identify the cylinder, it also stores a cylinder code (P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304… up to P0308 on engines with more cylinders). It is a generic OBD-II code: it means the same on a Renault as on any other make.[1][2][3][4]

Can I keep driving with P0300?

Garage soon. Autodoc Club states that it is not a road safety hazard, but that it must be taken to a workshop as soon as possible because it can end in serious faults, even a blown engine. In addition, a misfire can damage the catalytic converter, because unburnt fuel overheats in it and can even melt it (Samarins). If the light flashes, Saab's workshop documentation associates it with a misfire that is harmful to the catalytic converter, and Liqui Moly advises slowing down, avoiding hard acceleration and getting to a workshop as soon as possible. Manufacturers do not agree: some advise against driving with the engine misfiring and others allow only very gentle driving, according to Samarins.[1][4][6][8][9]

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Código OBD2 P0300: causas, síntomas y cómo corregirloAutodoc Club · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026 · in Spanish
  2. P0300: Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire DetectedCarista · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026
  3. P0300 – Random or Multiple Misfire DetectedMechanic Base · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026
  4. P0300-P0308 Cylinder Misfire DetectedSamarins.com · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026
  5. P0301: OBD-II code P0301 means the PCM has detected misfires on cylinder 1Carista · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026
  6. P0300 - Random Cylinder Misfire. Causes, common problems, diagnosticSamarins.com · Technical documentation · published 18 July 2021 · consulted 2 October 2026
  7. P0302: Cylinder 2 Misfire DetectedCarista · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026
  8. P0300 00 - Saab 9-3 (9440) 2003, sistema T8Saab WIS Online (Saab Workshop Information System) · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026
  9. ¿Por qué parpadea el símbolo del motor? Causas, significado y qué hay hacerLiqui Moly · Technical documentation · published 15 June 2026 · consulted 2 October 2026 · in Spanish