Dacia Spring Electric

The 2026 TÜV Report flagged the Dacia Spring's suspension as critically poor for its age. At the first inspection (2-3 years), wheel bearing play and worn suspension components appeared at rates far exceeding the norm. Leaking shock absorbers were also noted. The basic suspension design, combined with cost-cutting on component quality, means dampers and bushings may need replacing well before 60,000 km. Shock absorber replacement costs approximately €200-400 per axle including labor, with wheel bearings adding €150-250 per side. Owners driving on poorly maintained roads or over speed bumps frequently report accelerated wear.

The Dacia Spring has a well-documented parasitic drain issue. The 12V auxiliary battery, which powers the car's electronics and is needed to wake the high-voltage system, can discharge within 3-7 days of the car sitting unused. Cold weather worsens this significantly. A weak or dead 12V battery can trigger various warning lights and prevent the car from starting. The 12V battery is charged from the main battery via the DC-DC converter, but the standby draw is excessive. Solutions include replacing the 12V battery with a higher-capacity unit (€70-150) or keeping it on a trickle charger. Some owners report that a faulty battery sensor contributes to the problem. This is a design characteristic rather than a defect that will be fixed.

Multiple owners report heating system failures during cold weather, ranging from weak heating output to complete failure. The Spring uses a PTC electric heater element, which can fail or produce insufficient heat. In some cases the climate control unit itself needs replacement at approximately €800-900. Dealers have been slow to resolve these issues, with some owners reporting multiple visits without a fix. The problem is particularly impactful because the Spring is primarily a city car used year-round, and the small battery means heating already reduces range significantly. Weak or noisy air conditioning in summer is also reported but is less critical.

In the Dacia Spring, the onboard charger and DC-DC converter are combined into a single unit to save space and cost. When this unit fails, the car may not charge, the 12V battery may not be replenished (causing the car to shut down), or high-voltage error warnings may appear. A recall in 2022 addressed charging unit malfunctions on about 1,730 cars built between July and October 2022. Outside of warranty, specialist repair shops can sometimes fix the unit by replacing individual components like diodes (€500-800), but full unit replacement can cost €1,000-1,500. Diagnosis is important, as symptoms can mimic 12V battery or main battery issues.

The Spring's basic infotainment system is prone to glitches including unresponsive touchscreens, blank displays, intermittent Bluetooth connectivity, and rearview camera failures. In some cases the issue is traced to the CAN bus communication. A full system reset (disconnecting the 12V battery for 20 minutes) resolves many temporary glitches. If the Media Nav unit itself fails, replacement costs €300-500. Software updates from Dacia have addressed some of these issues, so verifying the car has the latest firmware is recommended.

The TÜV Report 2026 found that dipped beam headlights and rear lights on the Spring fail inspection more often than average, likely due to cheaper bulbs and reflectors degrading faster. The foot brake and parking brake also showed above-average defect rates. While brake discs themselves wear slowly thanks to regenerative braking, the mechanical brake components and brake fluid condition need monitoring. Headlight alignment and bulb replacement are typically inexpensive (€50-100), but if the entire headlight assembly needs replacing it can cost €150-300.