Dacia Duster
Registered from 2012 to 2025.
About this model
The Dacia Duster is a family of subcompact crossovers produced and marketed jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its Romanian subsidiary Dacia since 2010, currently in its third generation. It is marketed as the Renault Duster in certain markets such as Latin America, Russia, Ukraine, Asia, the Middle East, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The first generation was rebadged and restyled as the Nissan Terrano in CIS countries and India. It was introduced in March 2010, and is the third model of the Dacia brand based on the Logan platform, after the Sandero.
From the Wikipedia article Dacia Duster, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2013 1.5 diesel. 1,985 of 7,826 tests failed, 25%.
Better than 15% of 2013 cars. The typical one fails 19%, across 828 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 42% | 837 |
| Lights and electrics | 36% | 707 |
| Suspension | 32% | 645 |
| Body and structure | 23% | 460 |
| Tyres and wheels | 19% | 382 |
| Steering | 15% | 302 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Where it stands out against its peers
- Brakes: failed more often than 91% of 2013 cars — 42% of its 1,985 failed tests, where an ordinary 2013 car has 25%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Brakes — 42% of its failures
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Suspension — 32% of its failures
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
- Tyres and wheels — 19% of its failures
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Steering — 15% of its failures
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
- Lights and electrics — 36% of its failures
- Body and structure — 23% of its failures
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
When it starts failing
At 180–200k miles this one fails 44% of its inspections, against the 24% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 6% | 8% | 66 | |
| 20–40k miles | 17% | 12% | 461 | |
| 40–60k miles | 20% | 16% | 1,238 | |
| 60–80k miles | 25% | 20% | 2,079 | |
| 80–100k miles | 27% | 22% | 1,959 | |
| 100–120k miles | 29% | 24% | 1,130 | |
| 120–140k miles | 28% | 24% | 519 | |
| 140–160k miles | 33% | 24% | 254 | |
| 160–180k miles | 40% | 24% | 63 | |
| 180–200k miles | 44% | 24% | 34 |
7,803 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 80k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.3 petrol · 136 hp · 1351 kg · 2673 mm wheelbase · 6.3 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 1.3 petrol · 133 hp · 1337 kg · 2673 mm wheelbase · 6.5 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 1.6 petrol · 1351 kg · 2673 mm wheelbase · 7.9 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 1.6 petrol · 113 hp · 1258 kg · 2673 mm wheelbase · 7.4 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 1.5 diesel · 107 hp · 1336 kg · 2665 mm wheelbase · 4.5 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 1.5 diesel · 103 hp · 1351 kg · 2673 mm wheelbase · 4.5 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 1.5 diesel · 103 hp · 1374 kg · 2672 mm wheelbase · 4.8 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 1.5 diesel · 104 hp · 1365 kg · 2673 mm wheelbase · 4.9 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 1.5 diesel · 101 hp · 1381 kg · 2673 mm wheelbase · 5.0 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2012 | 1.5 diesel · 100 hp · 1391 kg · 2673 mm wheelbase · 5.1 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/0013/17
In the event of an impact the driver's airbag may not deploy.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0088/16
The rear suspension spring can detach from the vehicle while driving over bumps/obstacles and fall onto the road. The loss of the spring could interfere with the dynamics of the vehicle and pose a potential risk to the vehicles behind.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/02683/23
Incorrect welding of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank may lead to the release of gas into the passenger compartment, creating a risk of fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0488/18
A software problem could affect the stop-start system. The stop-start system could consequently fail.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0579/18
Incorrect contact may occur between the towing harness and the trailer coupling. This could lead to failure of the trailer lights while driving without any warning to the driver.
Recall of the product from end users
OR/00152/25
The position sensor of the parking brake actuator is at the wrong angle, causing the stopping pin to be incorrectly placed in the ‘P lock’ position and resulting in the parking brake not properly engaging when the P button is pressed on the transmission selector, when the engine is switched off, when the driver’s safety-belt is released or when the driver door is opened. This increases the risk of accidents and injuries, although the Assisted Parking Brake (APB) remains functional and allows the vehicle to be immobilised. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
SR/03178/25
The position sensor of the parking brake actuator is at the wrong angle, causing the stopping pin to be incorrectly placed in the ‘P lock’ position and resulting in the parking brake not properly engaging when the P button is pressed on the transmission selector, when the engine is switched off, when the driver’s safety-belt is released or when the driver door is opened. This increases the risk of accidents and injuries, although the Assisted Parking Brake (APB) remains functional and allows the vehicle to be immobilised. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users