Britain's cheapest new car, surprisingly capable for the money
The Sandero is the UK's most affordable new car, with prices starting from around £13,000 new. Used Mk2 examples (2013-2020) can be found from £3,000-£6,000, while Mk3 models (2021+) start from £8,000-£10,000. The Stepway crossover variant adds rugged styling and raised ride height. It earned a 93.1% reliability rating, slotting between the Renault Clio and Toyota Yaris in the small car class.
We track 9 known issues across the Dacia Sandero range, including 1 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Dacia Sandero? Enter the reg to see which of our 9 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
MK1 (2008–2012) — Engine options included the 1.5 dCi. We track 5 known issues on this generation, with 1 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Timing Belt Service (£350–£500 to address).
MK2 (2012–2021) — Petrol options included the 0.9 TCe, 1.0 SCe, 1.2 16v, with 1.5 dCi, 1.6 MJT on the diesel side. Our database flags 9 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Rear suspension component failure (£300–£600 to address).
The rear suspension trailing arms, mounting brackets and associated components on MK2 Sanderos suffer from premature failure at unusually low mileages. MOT data shows this model fails suspension component tests at up to 108.4 times the national average, with fractures and detachment failures affecting safety-critical components. The issue affects primarily the 1.5 dCi diesel and 0.9 TCe petrol variants, suggesting either a manufacturing batch problem or inadequate component specification for the vehicle weight and usage patterns.
Complete suspension component failure can cause sudden loss of directional control, particularly under braking or cornering. The car becomes dangerous to drive and may fail catastrophically without warning. Repair involves replacement of failed components and inspection of mounting points for structural damage.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The constant velocity joint protective boots on MK2 Sanderos fail at 95.3 times the national average, with nearly 20,000 recorded MOT failures across all engine variants. The rubber boots crack and split prematurely, allowing dirt and water to contaminate the CV joint grease. This is a known weak point in the design, with the boots using substandard rubber compounds that deteriorate quickly under normal UK driving conditions.
Once the boot fails, dirt and water contaminate the CV joint within weeks. The joint will then fail completely within months, causing clicking noises, vibration, and eventual complete loss of drive to that wheel. Early detection and boot replacement costs £80-150 per side. Joint replacement costs £200-400 per side.
Listen for clunking or vibration from underneath when pulling away or changing direction. Check for play in the driveshafts by rocking the car in gear with the handbrake on. Worn CV boots are a telltale sign — look for grease splatter around the inner wheel arch.
The hydraulic power steering system on MK2 Sanderos fails at 95.3 times the national average across multiple engine variants. The most common failure points are the power steering pump (which develops internal leaks and loses pressure) and the steering rack seals. The 1.1-litre petrol variant shows the highest failure rate, suggesting inadequate pump specification for the steering load.
Power steering failure makes the car extremely difficult to manoeuvre at low speeds and dangerous in emergency situations requiring quick steering inputs. Complete failure can occur without warning. The car remains drivable but unsafe, particularly for less physically strong drivers.
During the test drive, check the steering for excessive play, vibration or pulling to one side. Listen for groaning or whining when turning the wheel at low speed. Power steering fluid level and condition should be checked on hydraulic systems.
The primary causes are catalytic converter degradation, lambda sensor failure, and carbon build-up in the intake system. The direct injection engines are particularly susceptible to carbon deposits on intake valves, which affects combustion efficiency and emissions compliance.
Emissions failures prevent the car from passing its MOT test, making it illegal to drive on public roads. Repair typically involves catalytic converter replacement (£300-600), lambda sensor replacement (£100-200), or engine carbon cleaning (£200-400). Multiple component failures can cost over £1000.
Check for any engine warning lights on the dashboard. Ask about the car's MOT emissions history — repeated failures suggest underlying issues. A pre-purchase diagnostic scan is especially worthwhile to check for stored emissions fault codes.
All Sandero engines use timing belts rather than chains, requiring replacement every 60,000 miles or 5 years. This includes both the 0.9 TCe turbocharged and naturally aspirated variants. The engines are interference designs, meaning that timing belt failure causes catastrophic valve and piston damage requiring complete engine rebuild. The TCe turbocharged engine is particularly sensitive to timing accuracy and requires specialist knowledge for correct tensioning. Merged entry covering both standard and TCe timing belt requirements from expert database.
Timing belt failure on interference engines results in bent valves, damaged pistons, and potentially cracked cylinder heads. Repair costs typically exceed the vehicle's value. The car will stop immediately and cannot be restarted. Prevention through timely replacement is essential.
Listen carefully for a rattle or ticking noise from the engine on cold start — this is the most common early sign. Ask for evidence of chain replacement in the service history. On higher-mileage cars without documented replacement, budget for preventative work.
For the full breakdown of all 9 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Dacia Sandero common problems page.
Based on 472k real DVSA MOT tests, the Dacia Sandero fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is anti-roll bar links worn at 72x the fleet average, followed by power steering fault (53x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Dacia Sandero MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 10k miles) typically costs £60–£90 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include timing belt and tensioner (£350–£500).
See the full Dacia Sandero service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Dacia Sandero has some well-documented weak points, including 1 safety-critical issue that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. 2018-2020 Mk2 models offer the best reliability-to-value ratio, with improved build quality over early 2013-2016 production and significant depreciation from new. The TCe 90 petrol is the engine to choose; avoid the dCi diesel which suffers DPF issues on short runs. The Mk3 (2021+) is a huge leap in quality and design but early 2021-2022 builds suffer electronic glitches, so target 2023 onwards for the latest shape. Timing belt and water pump need changing every six years or 72,000 miles regardless of generation.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Dacia Sandero, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 9 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 9 known Dacia Sandero issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.