1.2 / 1.3 TCe (petrol)
2015–2022 · petrol · 1332cc · 140hp
Engine codes: H5Ft, H5Ht
Reliability, common problems and owner reviews for the Renault Kadjar 1.2 / 1.3 TCe (petrol). Check this before you buy used.
The petrols split sharply: the early 1.2 TCe (H5Ft) is the one to be wary of — it's from the family hit by the well-publicised oil-dilution/oil-consumption problems that damaged some engines, so an unknown-history 1.2 is a real risk. The later 1.3 TCe (H5Ht — the Renault-Mercedes co-developed unit shared with the Qashqai and Mercedes A-Class/GLA) is a much better engine: stronger, more robust, with the usual DI carbon and turbo care but none of the 1.2's reputation. Strongly prefer the 1.3; buy the 1.2 only with full oil-consumption history.
Same engine, other cars
This is the same physical engine (H5Ht) sold under different names across brands. Reliability is broadly shared — cross-check these:
- Mercedes-Benz GLB X247— GLB200 (M282 1.3 turbo)163hp
- Dacia Duster II— 1.0 / 1.3 TCe (turbo petrol)150hp
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class W177— A180 / A200 / A250 (M282 1.3 / M260 2.0)163hp
- Renault Captur II— 1.0 / 1.3 TCe (turbo petrol)140hp
- Nissan Qashqai III— 1.3 DIG-T (mild-hybrid)158hp
- Renault Mégane IV— 1.2 / 1.3 TCe (petrol)140hp
- Renault Arkana— 1.3 TCe (mild-hybrid)140hp
Known Issues
Early 1.2 TCe family suffered oil-dilution/consumption that damaged some engines.
Fix / Workaround: Prefer the 1.3; for 1.2 demand oil-consumption history.
Repair cost: €200–€3000
Typically appears after: 60,000 km
1.3 TCe DI carbon over time; turbo care. Far better engine overall.
Fix / Workaround: Decarbon if rough; clean oil.
Repair cost: €150–€900
Typically appears after: 130,000 km
Year Cutoffs
Mileage Thresholds
After 150,000 km: 1.3 robust; 1.2 history-dependent.
Pre-Purchase Checklist
- ☐Strongly prefer the 1.3 TCe
- ☐1.2 TCe: oil-consumption history essential
- ☐1.3 shared with Qashqai / Mercedes
Frequently asked questions
Is the Renault Kadjar 1.2 / 1.3 TCe (petrol) reliable?
History-Dependent — The petrols split sharply: the early 1.2 TCe (H5Ft) is the one to be wary of — it's from the family hit by the well-publicised oil-dilution/oil-consumption problems that damaged some engines, so an unknown-history 1.2 is a real risk. The later 1.3 TCe (H5Ht — the Renault-Mercedes co-developed unit shared with the Qashqai and Mercedes A-Class/GLA) is a much better engine: stronger, more robust, with the usual DI carbon and turbo care but none of the 1.2's reputation. Strongly prefer the 1.3; buy the 1.2 only with full oil-consumption history.
What are the common problems and reviews for the Renault Kadjar 1.2 / 1.3 TCe (petrol)?
The most commonly reported problems: Oil dilution/consumption (1.2 TCe), Intake carbon / turbo (1.3).
Is a used Renault Kadjar 1.2 / 1.3 TCe (petrol) worth buying?
The engine itself is OK; condition is everything. Unknown or patchy history = walk away.