Used Dacia Sandero 2013-2020 reliability review
Honest, uncomplicated and spacious: the budget hero status of the Sandero has won it many fans
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What's the used Dacia Sandero like?
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Reliability
Stuart Milne
Updated: 9 November 2021
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What should I look for in a used Dacia Sandero?
As mentioned earlier, entry-level Access models don’t come with a radio, but they don’t even have speakers fitted at the factory, so when you do need to fit a radio, you will need to budget for a sound system as well. Otherwise you will have the head unit, but nothing to play your tunes through. Most Sanderos will have had them fitted by the previous owner, but it is worth thinking about this if you’re looking at one of these examples.
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The plastics used inside the Sandero are rather cheap feeling, but they are, at the very least, tough. Still, they can scratch easily, so check the bottoms of doors for marks, the cover around the steering column where the ignition key goes and door pulls where rings may have scored the surface.
Check the outside of the car for parking dings and scrapes on the bumpers. Since it’s a town car, it may have been used in some touch parking, since rear parking sensors were just an option, only being made standard on top-spec Laureate as part of its 2017 facelift.
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What are the most common problems with a used Dacia Sandero?
On diesel models, check that the previous owner has taken the car on frequent motorway journeys to ensure that the diesel particulate filter (DPF) can regenerate, as this process is only triggered at high speed. A clogged-up DPF can be costly to replace.
Other potential problems with the DPF-equipped cars come if they have been shut off part-way through regeneration. The result is contamination of the oil system with fuel, which leads to the oil level rising gradually over time. This can cause damage to the engine, if it hasn’t already, so it’s worth getting the car checked out.
Is a used Dacia Sandero reliable?
Considering the Sandero uses lots of existing bits and pieces that had been used on older Renault models, you would hope that Dacia had sorted out any potential issues. After a few years of slightly dodgy results in our annual What Car? Reliability Survey, the Sandero finished top of the small and value car class with a perfect score of 100%.
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Dacia as a brand did really well, finishing in second place out of 30 car manufacturers.
If you would like to see the full reliability list for small cars, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.
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Tips & Advice
Check for outstanding recalls
Many cars are recalled so that faults can be put right. Recall work shouldn’t cost you a penny, and they’ll make your car safer or more mechanically robust. Checking if your car has been recalled is easy
Choose the right breakdown cover
You may already have a breakdown policy through your home insurance or new-car warranty so check to avoid paying twice
Make sure you have warranty cover
New cars usually have warranties that last between three and seven years that can help cover the cost of mechanical faults. But this protection can last longer with an extended warranty
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About the writer
Name: Stuart Milne
Title: Digital editor
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Stuart has been a motoring journalist for more than 25 years, writing and editing for a wide range of consumer titles. Today, Stuart is responsible for the smooth running of whatcar.com and all of its related social and digital channels. And he’s the man responsible for making sure you're able to find What Car?’s industry-leading content whenever you search for it.
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