Compare Dacia Sandero ticking or rattling noise repair quotes from specialist garages

Founded in 1966 and given the former Roman name for what is now Romania, Dacia is a small but mighty car manufacturer offering a range of award-winning, affordable vehicles. At the 2023 Auto Trader New Car Awards, Dacia earned the title of 'Best Value Brand' for the fifth time, and its cars are consistently recognised for their outstanding value.

Over 250,000 people have bought a Dacia since 2013, and the brand has more than eight million customers worldwide. Impressively, Dacia's best-selling model, the 1300, which was introduced during the Cold War, had a production run of 35 years.

Ticking and rattling are two closely related noises you might hear from your car. If you listen closely to where the sound is coming from and when it happens (while accelerating, for instance), you might be able to work out the cause.

The first thing to check is whether the engine oil is low, requiring a top-up - this is the best-case scenario. If your car is rattling and the sound is coming from the engine, it could be caused by a loose serpentine belt or timing chain. From the car's rear, it might be a loose exhaust or a broken catalytic converter, and the other possibility is worn suspension, which can cause rattling from the front or rear of the vehicle.

Possible explanations for ticking include worn spark plugs, knocking engine rods, dirty valve lifters and misaligned valves. You can learn more about these issues here.

Ticking and rattling noises should be taken seriously as they sometimes indicate a problem with the engine that could cause further damage if ignored.