2002 Renault Laguna Expression review from UK and Ireland

November 2002 (5 months old) Fuel injection computer causing various problems such as revving into the red line with no depression on the accelerator, lack of power when trying to accelerate and juddering during normal running. Reprogrammed twice with no resolution to the problem. Off the road with this problem for 10 days in total.

March 2003 (9 months old) Climate control heater matrix leaking fluid all inside the car. AA recovered to Renault main dealer where it remained for 4 weeks as they were to busy to repair it.

April 2003 (10 months old) CD player started skipping and missing, I asked for this to be resolved during 36,000 miles service. The dealer claimed there was no fault found and so nothing was done. Unit continues to play up.

August 2003 (14 months old) Finally prove to the main dealer that the CD player is faulty, it has now been removed and sent away for repair not replaced. The car was fitted with an old unit with only the radio working as a courtesy to me!! At the same time they are far to busy to replace the faulty front offside pressure sensor that the car now has. The dealer has said they will resolve this when the CD unit is returned.

Among all these problems, getting the car serviced has required a minimum of 4 weeks advance booking to get a service without a courtesy car, and at least 6 weeks notice if a courtesy car was required. Not helpful if your work comes up on a daily basis and you have to cancel the service at short notice.

What a shame, this is a very comfortable car that is a pleasure to drive when it's working.

Unfortunately it's let down by the support from the main dealer, and their total lack of provision to deal with spur of the moment emergencies, or any minor task that should take no more than 10 minutes to resolve. Such as pressure sensors that only the main dealer can rectify.

The other disappointment of course is the general reliability of the car, especially after 3 years of complete trouble free motoring in the old model of Laguna, such a shame as this is another customer lost.