2016 Renault Espace problems
The 2016 Renault Espace was sold with an engine that we have documented: the 1.6 dCi. The 1.6 dCi has serious faults that affect the cars of that year. Outside the engine, 6 documented faults affect 2016 cars, such as 2016 brake recalls: front brake hose and ABS/ESC hydraulic unit.
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2016 Renault Espace score: acceptable reliability
Calculated using only 11 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. How it is calculated
- Engine5.25 faults
- Gearbox10.0No documented faults
- Suspension5.91 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
- Brakes7.91 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
- Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
- Steering8.71 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
- Electrical system10.0No documented faults
- Headlights and lights8.4Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.6 times the defects normal for its age
- Electronics and infotainment9.31 fault
- Climate control10.0No documented faults
- Bodywork and interior7.51 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
- Airbags and safety7.91 fault
What changes compared with the 2015 Renault Espace
- No longer affected by: 2015 electrical recalls: battery sensor earth and auxiliary heater (rest of the car) and 2016 recall: front lower arm and alignment (rest of the car)
1.6 dCi engine in the 2016 Renault Espace
Names: Energy dCi 130 · Energy dCi 160
- With caution
1.6 Energy dCi Euro 6 with NOx trap (130 and 160/165 hp, 2015-2019)
130–165 hp · R9M
This is the version with the most documented faults in the reliability reports consulted: turbo, EGR valve, particulate filter, injectors and, in the Kadjar and Espace V, oil leaks around the timing area. Its NOx trap system also prompted a recall in France over excess real-world emissions.[2][3][4][5][6]
Faults that affect 2016 cars
- High severityFrequency: CommonTurboPremature turbocharger failure or breakageThe 1.6 dCi turbo fails fairly often, sometimes at low mileage: fiches-auto documents failures between 23,000 and 113,000 km in the Kadjar, Qashqai II, X-Trail III and Espace V, with loss of power and, in several cases, the manufacturer refusing to cover the cost out of warranty.Repair (garage): €3,000
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalTimingOil leak from the timing chain coverThe 1.6 dCi uses a timing chain, not a belt, but several Kadjar and Espace V owners describe oil leaks around the chain cover or casing, in some cases serious enough to require removing part of the engine.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonEmissions controlBlocked or failed EGR valveThe 1.6 dCi EGR valve gets dirty and can stick or stop sealing, especially in cars used around town. Fiches-auto flags it as one of the most repeated defects in the Renault Espace V and documents a case of double replacement in a Kadjar (at 85,000 km and again at 95,000 km).Repair (garage): €250–€1,000
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalEmissions controlBlocked diesel particulate filter (DPF)In urban and short-journey use the 1.6 dCi DPF can block up early: fiches-auto records a case in an X-Trail III at only 10,000 km and 4 months. A software adjustment on the first Kadjar units (up to July 2015) also affected NOx emissions management.Repair (garage): €600–€1,500
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalInjectionInjector failuresThe 1.6 dCi injectors can fail individually or, in more serious cases, several at once: fiches-auto documents 6 cases in the Espace V and one failed injector with loss of power on the motorway in a Kadjar.Repair (garage): €250–€1,700
Faults outside the engine in the 2016 Renault Espace
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalBrakes2016 brake recalls: front brake hose and ABS/ESC hydraulic unitThe first Espace V cars had two brake recalls in 2016: a front brake hose fitted incorrectly that could rub against the wheel rim and lose fluid, and an ABS/ESC hydraulic unit with contaminating particles. Both are preventive recalls.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalAirbags and safetyPassive safety recalls: seatbelts, seat rails, curtain airbags and child lockThe Espace V had four preventive passive safety recalls in 2016: front seatbelt webbing cut, rear bolts on the front seat rails not tightened, curtain airbags with an incorrect chemical mix, and a child lock on the rear left door.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalBodywork and interiorBody recalls: bonnet, sunroof and rear spoilerThe Espace V had three recalls for body parts that could come loose while driving: the bonnet outer skin (2016), the sunroof (2016) and the top of the rear spoiler (2020). All are preventive recalls.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSuspensionNoises and play in the front suspension ball joints and bushesOwners describe knocking over small bumps and play in the front axle joints (23 cases out of 275), with wishbones replaced at 58,000 and 85,000 km. The page also cites a 2016 campaign for incorrect wheel alignment.
- Medium severityFrequency: RareSteeringNoises and faults in the 4Control steering rear axleOn the Espace V with 4Control, the fiches-auto.fr page records noises, creaks and whistles from the steering rear axle, even at 5,000 km, with the axle replaced under warranty in some cases. It gives no counts or official recall.
- Low severityFrequency: OccasionalElectronics and infotainmentR-Link multimedia system failure: black screen, freezes and sat navIt is the most cited non-mechanical fault on the Espace V: more than 46 of 275 owner reports talk of a black screen, loss of navigation, freezes or a dead system, sometimes with a reset after disconnecting the battery. Renault released stability software updates in 2016, according to the page.
Buying a 2016 Renault Espace?
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Renault Espace reliable?
The 2016 Renault Espace was sold with an engine that we have documented: the 1.6 dCi. The 1.6 dCi has serious faults that affect the cars of that year. Outside the engine, 6 documented faults affect 2016 cars, such as 2016 brake recalls: front brake hose and ABS/ESC hydraulic unit.
Is the 2016 Renault Espace better than the 2015?
Our score goes from 5.8 in 2015 to 5.8 in 2016. No longer affected by: 2015 electrical recalls: battery sensor earth and auxiliary heater (rest of the car) and 2016 recall: front lower arm and alignment (rest of the car).
What is the best year for the Renault Espace?
According to our score, the best are 2023, 2022, 2021 and 1 other years with the same score (7.9/10). The year with the worst score is 2015 (5.8/10). Each year's score counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those cars.
What faults does the 2016 Renault Espace have?
The most important ones documented for 2016 cars are: premature turbocharger failure or breakage (1.6 dCi, high severity), oil leak from the timing chain cover (1.6 dCi, high severity), 2016 brake recalls: front brake hose and ABS/ESC hydraulic unit (brakes, high severity), passive safety recalls: seatbelts, seat rails, curtain airbags and child lock (airbags and safety, high severity) and body recalls: bonnet, sunroof and rear spoiler (bodywork and interior, high severity).
Own a 2016 Renault Espace? Tell us what faults you have had and at how many kilometres. Report your fault.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Renault EspaceWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Fiabilité Renault Espace 5 : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité Renault Kadjar : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité Nissan Qashqai 2 : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité Nissan X-Trail 3 : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Si no hubo fraude, ¿por qué 15.000 Renault Captur y Espace serán revisados por un nivel de emisiones excesivo?Diariomotor · Motoring press · published 19 January 2016 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish