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

P0351 on Renault: causes and affected engines

P0351 means: ignition coil "A": primary or secondary circuit fault.^[1][2] Renault has 5 documented faults that can trigger it, across 5 engines, including 1.4 and 1.6 16v, 1.2 16v, 1.0 SCe (B4D) and 1.4 and 1.6 8v. Only a diagnosis can confirm the cause on your car.

Documented faults

that can trigger it

Engines

used by Renault, with at least one of them

Renault models

with at least one of these faults

Urgency

Garage soon

Reviewed on 29 October 20262 sources How we work

Documented faults in Renault engines that can trigger P0351

Grouped by engine or model, from most to least important. These are faults with the ignition coils: not all of them will necessarily set the code, and only a diagnosis confirms the cause on your car.

1.4 and 1.6 16v

In Clio II, Clio III, Fluence, Kangoo I, Laguna II, Mégane I and 5 more models

- Medium severityFrequency: Very frequentIgnitionIgnition coil failureThe individual ignition coils are the most-cited fault of the K4J/K4M in the European Renault versions: they fail frequently and cause jerking, loss of power and the engine warning light coming on. It is a cheap electrical part to replace, not internal engine damage.Appears at around 30,000 km

1.2 16v

In Clio II, Clio III, Clio IV, Kangoo I, Modus, Twingo I and Twingo II

- 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.

1.0 SCe (B4D)

In Twingo III

- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalElectronicsJerking, rough idle or warning light from sensors and ignition coilsThe 1.0 SCe can jerk, run unevenly or light up the engine fault warning light because of sensor faults (lambda sensor), ignition coils or injection management. It is a recurring but minority issue in the sources consulted, unrelated to a mechanical problem with the engine block.

1.4 and 1.6 8v

In Clio II, Kangoo I and Mégane I

- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalIgnitionIgnition coil failureThe ignition coils fail in a minority of reports for the Clio II and the Dacia Sandero I with this engine, in a considerably smaller proportion than on the 16-valve evolution of the same block. They cause jerking and the engine warning light, but do not damage the engine.

2.0 16v F4R and F4RT

In Laguna II, Mégane II and Mégane III

- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalIgnitionF4RT ignition coil failureIgnition coils are a recurring weak point of the Mégane RS 2.0 turbo F4RT: when they fail there is hesitation, rough running and misfires. It is an electrical part fault, not internal engine damage.

Common causes of P0351 on any make

From most to least likely, according to the sources.

1Faulty coil, with an open or shorted primary winding: the most common cause on engines with one coil per cylinder.^[1][2]
2Worn or dirty spark plug, which demands more voltage and ends up damaging the coil.^[1][2]
3Damaged coil wiring or connector, often because oil seeps in through the connector.^[1][2]
4Power supply fault, such as a relay or a fuse, or, very rarely, the ECU.^[2]

What to check first

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

1Check whether the misfire code for the same cylinder is also stored (P0301 for cylinder 1).^[2]
2Swap coil "A" with the one from another cylinder, clear the codes and read again: if the fault moves to another cylinder, the coil is the culprit.^[1][2]
3Remove the cylinder's spark plug and check whether it is very dirty, oily, has a cracked insulator or a worn electrode.^[1][2]

Full guide to P0351: symptoms, diagnosis and whether you can drive

Frequently asked questions

Which Renault engines have faults that can trigger P0351?

1.4 and 1.6 16v (1 fault), 1.2 16v (1 fault), 1.0 SCe (B4D) (1 fault), 1.4 and 1.6 8v (1 fault) and 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT (1 fault). Each fault has its own page with the affected years and versions, the symptoms and the repair cost.

What does code P0351 mean on a Renault?

Ignition coil "A": primary or secondary circuit fault. The ECU detects a fault in ignition coil "A", which normally corresponds to cylinder 1: the primary circuit (the one that powers and triggers it) or the secondary (the spark) is not working as it should. It is a generic OBD-II code: it means the same on a Renault as on any other make.^[1][2]

Can I keep driving with P0351?

Garage soon. If the light flashes or there are misfires, unburnt fuel can overheat the catalytic converter and damage it; AutoDTCs recommends repairing it within a day or two and avoiding long journeys.^[1][2]

Sources

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

P0351: Ignition coil A primary/secondary circuitCarista · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026
P0351 – Ignition Coil “A” Primary/Secondary CircuitAutoDTCs · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026