Known Renault problems at the APK

• Zoe 2013–2025 · 14.5% at 7–8 yrs (national 0.5%)
• Kadjar 2015–2023 · 7.7% at 9–10 yrs (national 0.6%)
• Clio III 2005–2012 · 9.0% at 16+ yrs (national 4.3%)
• Mégane III 2008–2016 · 4.8% at 13–15 yrs (national 1.9%)
• Twingo II 2007–2014 · 3.7% at 11–12 yrs (national 1.2%)
• Scénic III 2009–2016 · 4.0% at 13–15 yrs (national 1.9%)
• Clio IV 2013–2019 · 2.8% at 11–12 yrs (national 1.3%)
• Scénic IV 2016–2024 · 2.0% at 7–8 yrs (national 0.5%)
• Mégane IV 2016–2025 · 1.2% at 7–8 yrs (national 0.5%)
• Twingo III 2014–2024 · 1.3% at 9–10 yrs (national 0.9%)

Listen for clunks or knocks over speed bumps on the test drive. The car should not wander when braking.

• Zoe 2013–2025 · 8.0% at 11–12 yrs (national 1.4%)
• Mégane III 2008–2016 · 7.5% at 11–12 yrs (national 1.4%)
• Clio III 2005–2012 · 8.0% at 13–15 yrs (national 2.3%)
• Twingo II 2007–2014 · 7.9% at 13–15 yrs (national 2.3%)
• Scénic III 2009–2016 · 8.0% at 16+ yrs (national 2.7%)
• Captur I 2013–2019 · 6.1% at 13–15 yrs (national 2.3%)
• Clio IV 2013–2019 · 4.2% at 9–10 yrs (national 0.8%)
• Scénic IV 2016–2024 · 3.9% at 9–10 yrs (national 0.8%)
• Twingo III 2014–2024 · 2.7% at 11–12 yrs (national 1.4%)
• Kadjar 2015–2023 · 1.6% at 9–10 yrs (national 0.8%)

Push each corner down firmly: the car should rebound once. Look for oil on the dampers and whether the car sits level.

• Clio III 2005–2012 · 6.1% at 16+ yrs (national 1.6%)
• Twingo II 2007–2014 · 5.6% at 13–15 yrs (national 1.2%)
• Mégane III 2008–2016 · 3.8% at 13–15 yrs (national 1.2%)
• Kadjar 2015–2023 · 2.8% at 9–10 yrs (national 0.8%)
• Scénic III 2009–2016 · 3.1% at 13–15 yrs (national 1.2%)
• Zoe 2013–2025 · 2.2% at 11–12 yrs (national 0.7%)
• Mégane IV 2016–2025 · 0.9% at 3–4 yrs (national 0.1%)
• Twingo III 2014–2024 · 0.9% at 7–8 yrs (national 0.2%)
• Clio V 2019–2026 · 0.5% at 5–6 yrs (national 0.1%)

Turn the wheel while stationary: no play, knocking or heavy spot. On the test drive the car should keep running straight.

• Zoe 2013–2025 · 7.4% at 11–12 yrs (national 2.8%)
• Captur I 2013–2019 · 5.4% at 11–12 yrs (national 2.8%)
• Clio IV 2013–2019 · 5.1% at 11–12 yrs (national 2.8%)
• Kadjar 2015–2023 · 4.7% at 9–10 yrs (national 2.8%)
• Scénic III 2009–2016 · 5.0% at 16+ yrs (national 3.3%)
• Mégane III 2008–2016 · 4.9% at 16+ yrs (national 3.3%)
• Mégane IV 2016–2025 · 3.1% at 5–6 yrs (national 1.8%)
• Scénic IV 2016–2024 · 2.9% at 5–6 yrs (national 1.8%)
• Clio V 2019–2026 · 1.3% at 3–4 yrs (national 0.4%)

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

• Clio III 2005–2012 · 37.1% at 13–15 yrs (national 23.2%)
• Mégane III 2008–2016 · 25.1% at 9–10 yrs (national 13.2%)
• Clio IV 2013–2019 · 19.7% at 5–6 yrs (national 7.9%)
• Scénic III 2009–2016 · 23.1% at 9–10 yrs (national 13.6%)
• Twingo II 2007–2014 · 27.1% at 11–12 yrs (national 18.1%)
• Scénic IV 2016–2024 · 13.4% at 5–6 yrs (national 7.9%)
• Kadjar 2015–2023 · 11.5% at 3–4 yrs (national 6.4%)

Walk around with the lights, indicators, brake lights and rear fog light on. Look for moisture in the headlights.

• Clio III 2005–2012 · 11.8% at 16+ yrs (national 6.6%)
• Twingo III 2014–2024 · 8.6% at 3–4 yrs (national 3.9%)
• Clio V 2019–2026 · 7.4% at 3–4 yrs (national 3.9%)
• Zoe 2013–2025 · 5.9% at 9–10 yrs (national 3.9%)
• Mégane IV 2016–2025 · 5.7% at 3–4 yrs (national 3.8%)

Look for chips and cracks especially in the driver’s field of view. Test the wipers and washers.

• Clio IV 2013–2019 · 14.7% at 13–15 yrs (national 1.9%)
• Mégane III 2008–2016 · 8.2% at 11–12 yrs (national 1.2%)
• Scénic III 2009–2016 · 6.5% at 11–12 yrs (national 1.2%)
• Zoe 2013–2025 · 0.5% at 3–4 yrs (national 0.2%)

Look behind the front wheels at the rubber boots: no tears or grease around them. Drive a tight turn: no clicking noise.

• Mégane III 2008–2016 · 1.3% at 13–15 yrs (national 0.5%)
• Scénic III 2009–2016 · 1.2% at 11–12 yrs (national 0.4%)
• Clio V 2019–2026 · 1.1% at 3–4 yrs (national 0.5%)
• Clio III 2005–2012 · 1.1% at 13–15 yrs (national 0.5%)

Pull each belt out quickly: it should lock. The airbag light goes out after starting.

• Twingo II 2007–2014 · 3.1% at 11–12 yrs (national 0.2%)
• Scénic III 2009–2016 · 1.1% at 11–12 yrs (national 0.3%)
• Mégane III 2008–2016 · 0.5% at 9–10 yrs (national 0.1%)
• Clio IV 2013–2019 · 0.4% at 5–6 yrs (national 0.0%)

Use a torch to look along the lines near the wheels and rear axle: no thick rust or wet spots.

• Clio IV 2013–2019 · 4.3% at 13–15 yrs (national 1.4%)
• Twingo II 2007–2014 · 2.8% at 13–15 yrs (national 1.4%)
• Mégane III 2008–2016 · 0.5% at 9–10 yrs (national 0.1%)

On the test drive, listen for a humming noise that rises with speed.

• Clio III 2005–2012 · 2.6% at 13–15 yrs (national 0.4%)
• Captur I 2013–2019 · 1.2% at 11–12 yrs (national 0.2%)
• Clio IV 2013–2019 · 0.8% at 11–12 yrs (national 0.1%)

Look under the sills, in the wheel arches and at the suspension mounts, and press on suspicious spots. Watch for fresh sealant or new underbody coating.

• Twingo III 2014–2024 · 4.7% at 9–10 yrs (national 0.8%)
• Clio IV 2013–2019 · 0.8% at 7–8 yrs (national 0.2%)
• Captur I 2013–2019 · 0.9% at 9–10 yrs (national 0.3%)

Start the engine cold and watch for smoke and an uneven idle. Listen for blowing noises under the car.

• Zoe 2013–2025 · 20.6% at 3–4 yrs (national 12.9%)

Check the tread and look for uneven wear: that points to an alignment problem. The DOT code on the tyre tells its age.

• Zoe 2013–2025 · 1.0% at 3–4 yrs (national 0.3%)

Switch on the ignition: all lights come on briefly and go out after starting. If one stays on, ask about the cause.