Overview and Common Failures
The body The paintwork on the body is weak and quickly gets chipped, and sometimes even peels off. Additionally, the body lacks rigidity, which leads to paint cracking. However, the body itself holds up quite well and doesn't rust for a relatively long time, unlike the suspension parts and exhaust system, many Dusters have rust underneath. Interior The interior here is very cheap in terms of finishing materials and quickly loses its neat appearance. The sound insulation is poor, the seats are uncomfortable, and there are several strange ergonomic solutions, but after the 2015 facelift, the situation with the quality of materials has slightly improved. The electrical system is also not reliable: both the stereo and the onboard computer have glitches, and the car's climate control system operates with very peculiar algorithms. Engine The 1.6-liter K4M engine with a cast iron block is well-known from other Renault models, it has a simple design, a high resource, and very inexpensive spare parts. However, it does have some minor issues: lubricant leaks, electrical malfunctions, and weak coils. Moreover, its timing belt drive often results in bent valves when it breaks. The 1.6-liter H4M engine with an aluminum block appeared after the 2015 update, and it hardly causes any problems, plus it has a more reliable timing chain. However, its lifespan is significantly shorter, and hydraulic lifters are not provided. The 2.0-liter F4R engine has been known since 1998 and is highly durable, but the modern version with a compression ratio of 11 is very demanding in terms of fuel quality. Additionally, this engine tends to consume oil and bend valves when the timing belt breaks. The 1.5-liter K9K diesel engine is also sensitive to the quality of diesel fuel, especially lubrication. If you skimp on oil and rarely change it, you may end up spinning the bearings. Dirty oil also reduces the lifespan of the turbocharger, and sometimes it doesn't even last for 100,000 km. Transmission The 5-speed manual transmission Renault JR5 is criticized for its loose shifter or vague gear changes, but it has minimal reliability issues. Owners only complain about lubricant leaks. The 6-speed manual transmission Renault TL8 shifts slightly more precisely and its short first gear can be used as a low range. Its reliability is also excellent. However, the clutch life is limited, and this applies to both manual transmissions. The 4-speed automatic transmission Renault DP2 is based on the well-known but not very reliable DP0 gearbox. However, thanks to design changes, it performs slightly better and has fewer issues. Its weak points are a tendency to overheat, weak bushings, and solenoid regulators. The 4-speed automatic transmission Renault DP8 was installed on all-wheel-drive versions of the crossover and differs from the DP2 by the presence of an angular reducer and an additional cooling circuit. Due to the larger radiator, it overheats less frequently and lasts a little longer. The all-wheel-drive coupling is reliable, but in the early years of production, there were issues with the firmware. Off-road enthusiasts also regularly replace the universal joint of the driveshaft. Suspension This crossover is built on the B0 platform, and its suspension is quite reliable. Up to 100,000 km, owners often only need to change the struts and stabilizer bushings. With active use, the rear shocks, ball joints, wheel bearings, and some bushings may also fail. But the spare parts are relatively inexpensive. There are no special complaints about the braking system, and the steering rack also lasts a long time; only the power steering causes some concerns: its hoses, sensor, and pump seal tend to leak.
