These are issues documented for the Renault Kwid in general - things to check for, not a diagnosis of any particular car. Whether a specific car has one depends on its age, mileage, service history and how it was used.
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2-Star Global NCAP Rating (2020) - No ISOFIX, Weak Chest Protection
Crash Safety / Structural · severity: High - a real, independently-tested structural and equipment safety finding. Notably better than some other vehicles in this library's crash-safety findings (which include several zero-star results), but still a real, documented deficiency relative to higher-rated alternatives in the same segment. · confidence: 68/100 · 3 cited sources
Applies to: 1.0L 3-cylinder petrol (naturally aspirated), 50kW/91Nm, 5-speed manual or 5-speed AMT - not every engine this model has been sold with
ⓘ Not yet individually classified
Symptoms to watch for
Per the AA of South Africa / Global NCAP (#SaferCarsForAfrica programme, December 2020 test round, via cars.co.za and corroborating SA press): a 2-star adult occupant rating with weak driver chest protection and an unstable body/footwell structure, and a 2-star child occupant rating due to a complete absence of ISOFIX anchorages and 3-point belts in all seating positions. This is a direct, attributed restatement of that source's own published finding, not an AutoLytiQs assessment. NOT detectable through inspection or a test drive
No ISOFIX anchorages fitted at all on the tested specification - directly relevant for any buyer planning to carry a child in an ISOFIX-compatible seat
What To Check
The crash safety finding is NOT detectable through inspection or a test drive. ISOFIX absence IS directly and easily checkable by visual inspection of the rear seat.
This is everything documented for this issue - no repair-cost estimate or TSB/recall reference was found for it, so there's nothing further behind a full report for this specific finding.
ABS ECU Software Recall Plus Easy-R AMT Clutch Motor Failure (DF1578)
Braking System / ABS Software (recall) and Transmission / AMT Clutch Actuator (DF1578, wear-failure item) · severity: The recall is officially classified 'Category A' (South Africa's most serious tier) by the NCC process, though the described symptom itself (a false/over-sensitive dashboard warning light from a velocity-calculation software issue) is presented in every source checked as a potential-risk-if-ignored condition rather than a confirmed loss-of-braking-control incident - Motus's own described risk is that ignoring the warning 'could hinder the vehicle's overall system performance.' The AMT clutch-motor failure (DF1578) is moderate: it can leave the vehicle undriveable (stuck in neutral, unable to select a gear, or unable to start) but is not described as a road-going safety-critical failure mode in the sources checked - more an inconvenience/stranding-risk and a real repair cost. · confidence: 58/100 · 4 cited sources
Applies to: 1.0L SCe naturally aspirated 3-cylinder petrol, 50kW/91Nm - confirmed via cars.co.za's… / 5-speed manual, or 5-speed 'Easy-R' AMT (automated manual transmission) - the AMT… - not every engine this model has been sold with
ⓘ Not yet individually classified
Symptoms to watch for
ABS ECU recall: illumination of a dashboard warning light, described by Motus as caused by over-sensitivity in the vehicle's speed/velocity calculation - no other driveability symptom is described in any source checked
AMT clutch-motor (DF1578): failure to select a gear from the Easy-R AMT's Reverse/Neutral/Drive dial, vehicle stuck in Neutral, difficulty or failure to start, jerky or delayed gear engagement leading up to a full failure in some reported cases
AMT clutch-motor: at least one Team-BHP-reported case involved the actuator failing outright at approximately 10,000km and being replaced under warranty
Rough Repair Cost
Independent workshops typically charge about R1 700 for this, depending on exactly what's needed. The full independent-vs-dealer breakdown is in a full AutoLytiQs report.
What To Check
Neither finding is fully test-drive-reliable. The ABS ECU recall's only symptom (a dashboard warning light) is, per Motus's own account, resolved before the affected 2026-batch units reached customers in principle - though sowetan.co.za's own tracker shows the fix was not 100% complete across the batch, so a warning light could still be present on an unrepaired unit; a VIN-based dealer check is the only fully reliable verification, not a test drive. The AMT clutch-motor fault (DF1578) CAN be test-drive-detectable if actively failing at the time of viewing (failure to select a gear, stuck in Neutral), but is also reported as capable of being intermittent - a dedicated fault-code-history scan is the more reliable check than a single successful test-drive gear change.
Full documented findings available
Check a specific real listing for this vehicle and see the evidence behind 1 of 2 documented issue - one report, only R69, once:
Repair-cost estimate for 1 of 1 documented issue
Specific fault code to scan for
1 verified manufacturer TSB/recall reference you can check yourself
A recommended fix or negotiation point for that issue
A downloadable PDF report
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What Does a Service Typically Cost?
Major service
R 2,550
Annual upkeep (estimated)
R 3,050
Brake job (pads/discs)
R 2,900
Filter kit
R 650
The major-service figure comes from South African service-cost sources for this model; the annual upkeep, brake job and filter kit figures are estimates scaled from it. Source: enginefinder.co.za's real, dedicated Renault Kwid page (R2,335-R2,736), midpoint used. Actual cost varies by workshop, region and the exact vehicle's condition; get a direct quote before budgeting around this.
Questions South African Buyers Ask
Is the Renault Kwid reliable?
Mechanically, a real South African ABS ECU software recall exists (Category A, 1,393 units, free fix) alongside a separate, real Easy-R AMT clutch-motor failure pattern (fault code DF1578) with a documented South African repair cost. Separately, an independent 2020 Global NCAP test gave the SA-spec vehicle a 2-star adult/child rating with no ISOFIX. As of the source's last update, 178 of the 1,393 recall-affected units were still unrepaired - don't assume a recent-build car was already fixed.
Evidence: Not yet individually classified · last reviewed 2026-08-20
The recall and NCAP findings apply broadly; the AMT clutch-motor finding applies to Easy-R AMT-equipped examples specifically.
What to check: Confirm ABS recall status by VIN with a Renault SA dealer, and on an AMT car, ask for a fault-code scan of the AMT module's history rather than relying on a single successful test-drive gear change.
Are there any recalls affecting the Renault Kwid in South Africa?
Yes - a real South African National Consumer Commission Category A safety recall exists for an ABS ECU velocity-calculation software fault, covering 1,393 units, with a free dealer fix. As of the source's last update, 178 of the 1,393 affected units were still unrepaired - a recent build date alone doesn't confirm the fix was already applied to a specific car.
Evidence: Not yet individually classified · last reviewed 2026-08-20
Applies to the specific recall population confirmed by VIN - not every Kwid built is necessarily affected.
What to check: Check the vehicle's recall status by VIN with a Renault SA dealer before buying, rather than assuming it was already fixed.
What are the common problems with the Renault Kwid?
A real, official ABS ECU software recall (velocity-calculation fault, free fix) and a separate, real Easy-R AMT clutch-motor failure (DF1578, can leave the vehicle undriveable) are documented, alongside an independent 2-star Global NCAP crash rating with no ISOFIX. The AMT clutch-motor fault can be intermittent and was reported as early as roughly 10,000km in one documented case - not confirmed as a typical failure mileage, but a real data point.
Evidence: Not yet individually classified · last reviewed 2026-08-20
Confirm AMT vs manual transmission before relying on the clutch-motor finding.
What to check: Check ABS recall status by VIN, and on an AMT car, get the AMT module's fault-code history scanned.
The ABS ECU recall fix is free once VIN-confirmed - it's a manufacturer-covered software update. A real South African data point for the AMT clutch-motor replacement shows an average quote of roughly R1,700. The crash-safety finding isn't a repair item - it reflects the vehicle's tested structural design and standard equipment, not something a workshop can fix.
Evidence: Not yet individually classified · last reviewed 2026-08-20
The R1,700 figure is a single real data point, not a large-sample average - actual cost will vary by workshop and part choice.
What to check: Confirm the ABS recall is free via VIN check, and budget roughly R1,700 for an AMT clutch-motor replacement if confirmed needed.
What should I check before buying a used Renault Kwid?
Check ABS ECU recall status by VIN with a Renault SA dealer first - this is invisible while driving and not something a recent build date guarantees was already fixed. On an AMT car, get the AMT module's fault-code history scanned rather than relying on one test drive. If crash safety is a priority and you need ISOFIX, note the independently-tested SA-spec vehicle doesn't have it.
Evidence: Not yet individually classified · last reviewed 2026-08-20
General buying guidance for the documented Kwid profile - not a diagnosis of any specific vehicle.
What to check: Confirm ABS recall status by VIN, scan the AMT module's fault history on AMT cars, and factor in the independent 2-star crash rating if relevant to you.
This guide summarises documented, sourced findings for the Renault Kwid generally. It is not an assessment of any specific vehicle - mileage, service history and condition vary by example. A full AutoLytiQs™ report checks a specific listing for sale against this data plus a live South African market valuation, to tell you whether that exact vehicle is a good buy.
