2018 Renault Sandero Problems: 4 Known Issues

On the 2008-2019 Renault Sandero, sanderos with the 1.6 8V K7M engine (the workhorse engine of the Brazilian lineup from launch in 2008 through the late 2010s) are widely reported by owners to consume engine oil at an abnormal rate, with the level dropping noticeably between changes and dark smoke from the exhaust. Brazilian repair sources and owner-complaint roundups (Mobiauto, Sua Oficina Online) attribute the recurring cases to a head gasket defect that lets oil pass into the combustion chambers, where it burns with the fuel mixture. Reclame Aqui complaints describe it as a chronic problem, with some owners told the engine was effectively disposable after repeated failures. External oil leaks at the head gasket joint and valve cover are also part of the pattern. Left unaddressed, sustained low oil level risks accelerated wear or engine failure.

On the 2017-2023 Renault Sandero, the 1.0 SCe three-cylinder engine used in the Brazilian Sandero from the 2017 model year has a chronic oil leak at the plastic valve (tappet) cover. The cover's sealing degrades with heat cycles at low mileage — owners on Reclame Aqui describe it as a design defect — and oil seeps into the spark plug wells, soaking the spark plugs and the tips of the ignition coils. This causes misfires, rough running, and repeat fouling of new plugs and coils. Reclame Aqui complaints document leaks appearing on cars with as little as 20,000-30,000 km, sometimes recurring after dealer repair, and related seepage from the timing cover area on the side of the engine. Separately, Renault issued an official recall (service start September 2020) for 1.0-engined units produced July 2019 to January 2020 because a non-conforming oil feed orifice could starve the engine of lubrication, risking seizure or fire — affected owners should confirm completion at a dealer.

On the 2015-2019 Renault Sandero, the ZF-supplied Easy-R 5-speed automated manual transmission, offered on Brazilian-market Sandero and Sandero Stepway 1.6 from 2014 production (model years 2015-2019), is one of the most complained-about Renault components on Reclame Aqui. Owners report shuddering and judder when pulling away from a stop appearing as early as 20,000-25,000 km, caused by premature clutch disc wear; failures of the clutch/gear actuator module that leave the car stuck in gear (frequently 2nd) or immobilized; harsh or delayed shifts; and isolated reports of dangerous behavior such as unintended reverse engagement and sudden downshifts at highway speed. Dealer repair quotes have reached R$15,000 (~USD 2,800), with the actuator module alone costing over R$4,400 as a genuine part. Renault discontinued the Easy-R gearbox in Brazil in 2019 after roughly five years on the market, and complaints continued well after the 3-year warranty expired. No recall was ever issued for the gearbox.

On the 2008-2022 Renault Sandero, sandero and its Logan twin suffer a chronic wear problem in the steering column's upper bearing. As the bearing wears, the steering wheel develops perceptible free play and a knocking or clunking sensation, felt especially over rough Brazilian pavement and during small corrections around center. Multiple independent Brazilian mechanic channels document the failure across both generations — including cars as recent as the 2020 Logan — and consistently call it a 'defeito crônico' of the platform. Dealers have been known to quote replacement of the complete steering column, but the documented root cause is just the column bearing, a cheap part. While mostly a nuisance, pronounced play degrades steering precision and several mechanics flag it as an accident risk if ignored long-term.