Comments on: Don’t buy a Renault

By: Teddy Puffett

Teddy Puffett — Sat, 15 May 2010 05:36:06 +0000

Been looking around for websites for such information , regards

By: Linda

Linda — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 08:22:50 +0000

My cambelt snapped on 23rd March 2010 on my Renualt Scenic 1400. The dealer phoned me and said your cambelt snapped it will cost you R22 000.00 to repair ???. My cambelt was changed at a service January 2009 and my milage since then +- 15000 km. Oh I also had a service done in December 2009 (3 months ago)and they changed the Jockey pulleys and the cambelt was checked and ticked. When I asked why, the dealer said ” there must have been something that caused the cambelt to fray and snap” I asked ” but it is a sealed unit how can something get in” ?? He then said he will check and come back to me. A day or two later he said “no there is a cover missing” ??
After informing him that he changed it just over a year ago he said he would phone Renault SA and come back to me.

After a couple of days I contacted renault and was told that the camshaft gears had mecanically failed and it was not there fault as parts are only guaranteed for 1 year and that it was mechanical failure and they only change what is in the camblet kit. After deciding what had caused the cambelt to snap they quoted me R13 600.00 to fix and told me it would take 14 hrs labour.I had no choice but to accept the quote.

10 Days later 22nd April I phoned the dealer and was told it is on the wash bay and could collect it. The next morning 23rd April I went to fetch it and was told, “the car is not ready they only got the pistons yesterday and they have’nt even started”.

Thank goodness the person who took me said “you know what Renault is like I will wait for you to make sure everything is ok”. There was no apology and the manager did’nt even come and see me.

I am a single mother with 2 kids and very fortunate to work at a company who have let me use one of the company cars. I would have been stranded. I have always been fussy about my cars and ensured that the my car has a service every year and that the cambelt gets changed.

I still have no car and wonder how long it will take ? I also wonder what damage is happening to my car while it is standing. I feel very let done and dissapointed. I will never buy a Renualt or any car associated with Renault.

By: Pam Nelson

Pam Nelson — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:46:28 +0000

Well thanks for the advice abve, i have actually just gone to look at a Modus and the things about Renault have just put me off for good. I had the new Megane hatch in 2005 brand new off the floor, 3 months later there was rust on the mane frame under the boot lid….mmmhhh what do you think happened …yup NOTHING, they dusted and sprayed it just to have the paint bubble and lift 3 months later again, so after a year of fighting and them having my car for a total of 21 days and me having to find alternative transport, i rather got rid of it, sorry for the poor dude who got it second hand.

By: Riaan Nieuwoudt

Riaan Nieuwoudt — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:20:28 +0000

I took my 2006 Modus in to replace the cambelt. They phoned me back to inform me that there were a couple of other problems, campshaft pulleys, crankshaft pulleys and timing belt tensioner all need to be replaced. All in all the job would cost me…wait for it… R11 000. This is rediculous. Anybody know where to find second hand parts? Can obviously not afford this.
Riaan

By: Tobie

Tobie — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:37:55 +0000

I have a Renault 2003 Scenic 19 cdi. (Bought new, now 80 000 km). I can not begin to tell you what sh*t a Renault is. The latest is that it develops a noise. Auto Extra told me that the v-belt tensioner , the water plump and the alternator were broken. Everything at the same time??? As normal they did not have the alternator (3 weeks to get France) but replaced the tensioner and the water pump. (I am paying for all this myself). Then 2 weeks later the noise return and air conditioning broke. I drove the car to AutoExtra for repair. It was fine at that stage except that the air conditioner did not work. They told me that beside the alternator, the v-belt do not stay on the pulleys long enough in order for them check the air conditioner, but it was fine when I took it in. Now the car does not run and we are stranded.rnrnRenault mechanics break cars and lose fittings. I have never once received the car back with the splash plates back correctly. They leave fasteners out. I had to replace all the plate myself since they have just dropped on the tar between Pta and Cape Town. They drilled holes in the front bumper because they were too lazy the refit the splash plates. After they replaced the cam belt the all the screw treads were ripped out of the cam belt cover. They even manage to “loose” some of the interior fittings. They break clips wherever they work. Even today the inside covers of the passenger foot well is lose after they replaced the pollen filter the first time. They did replace the bumper and the interior fitting but if you do not spot all the damage at collection they just laughed off. Then there were some emission controls exhaust valve that suddenly broke after a service. (My cost again) rnrnThe car’s price the 2003 were R192 000, today Renault themselves is only prepare to give me R50 000. That is the only reason why there is still Renault around. You can not get rid of the rubbish. rnrnKeeping this car running is costing me thousands, Money I do not have and have would have liked to use to pay for my kid’s education.rnrnI was used to Toyotas and VWs. They did not break at 80 000km. I thought cars start to need this type of repair only at around 230 000 km like my Camry and Hi Luxrnrn I wonder if these people how make these junk products like Renault realize the hardship and emotional distress the cause to the unsuspected victims. I am sure the Carlos Ghosn and Louis Schweitzer kids are happy and they think they are OK. We don’t.rn

By: dorah bob-thonga

dorah bob-thonga — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:02:46 +0000

I need to replace my hand break as the lever is broken(plastic)but I was told it will cost me 1500.00 that is not on.Please help what to do

By: Kim

Kim — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:47:13 +0000

Hey Guys, bought one back in 2006, have been kicking myself ever since. They have all the bells & whistle on this little car, but they don’t tell you how hectically they depreciate in value. Had to replace my side mirror, and there was nothing wrong with it but the rotating thingy that attaches it to the arm, they wanted R2500 for a new one, I laughed and said I would live without the mirror thnx. Services are very expensive and they catch you all the time on your service plans etc. Rather source a delaer for parts (brake pads, disks etc) it saved me R2000 on my last service. Still took it in for a service, and they serviced but would fit the parts…. no problem I have a workshop mechanic that can help me out with that (they even admitted that the genuine parts I got were cheaper than they would have sold to me) they mark their parts up drastically. To add to that, I hope I can help you out here, but I learnt the hard way on the tyres, they dont need to be “conti’s”, phone Jcks Tyres in Durban they will sort you out. I got different to the originals that were on the car and they have been working just fine for the last 6 months. Make a plan bud, you seem to be falling for the salesman pitch. Anyway I agree and will happily fly the banner with you “don’t by Renault” kuk car, my next cars gonna be a VW or a Toyota. Lokal is lekker…. I think, besides resale is far better on trade ins….

By: ridwaan

ridwaan — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 09:05:11 +0000

i want to buy a renault modus 2005 model 1.4 expre it has only 28k on the clock and the price is cheap.

please advice me of the prices of spares and isurance costs

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 14:35:14 +0000

renault are terrible when ti comes to guarantees warranty’s and parts as it takes three weeks for them to get a new card key for those that have card key starts as they have to be ordered from France. loose your key or damage it then basically your car is of the road for three weeks plus. Cost wise is another story and the keycard costs 150 plus minus plus another 75 for the computer technician to allign it to your car when the key comes in from france, eventually. Stick to ford and you cant go wrong

By: Jonathan Wagener

Jonathan Wagener — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 13:10:55 +0000

HAHAHAHAHA,

Poor u. I always thought Renault was good. We have friends that bought a Citroen and it broke so they got into contact with the dealer because it was fairly new and they were told that it would have to wait to be fixed. This was last year. I dont think that it ever got fixed.