2003 Renault Clio dCi 1.5 turbo diesel

Summary:

Nice car, but expensive on parts

Faults:

My driver's side head light keeps going out. I have changed a blown bulb, and the new one stays on for about 4 miles before turning off again. When I take bulb out, it turns on again. I have cleaned connections, but there is also a noise, as though something is turning power onto the light before the bulb lights up. Anyone have any ideas what this could be?

General Comments:

Really like this car, as it does around 57 mpg. The only thing I don't like is all the rattles, including the sunroof.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 31st December, 2010

2003 Renault Clio Dynamique 1.2 petrol 16v

Faults:

Persistent electrical problems, car cuts out when coming to a stop etc, goes into limp mode.

The black metal box behind the engine, with small cables running to several sensors on top on the engine is your problem. Grip the top of this box and pull the cover off vertically upwards. The cable loom comes into it from the left. Check that it is not rubbing on the metal housing. Wrap some insulating tape around the cable loom and suggest finding some rubber to wrap around as well. This fixed my problem.

General Comments:

Otherwise a good little car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 8th January, 2010

2003 Renault Clio dCi 1.5 trubo diesel

Summary:

I could never recomend buying a Renault

Faults:

The Clio 1.5dci 2003 keeps cutting out at random, as though I have switched the ignition off. The car can go days, weeks, months without cutting out, then it can cut out after driving 2 miles or 200 miles. The car will start after it cuts out most times, sometimes I have to leave it for 5 minutes before it will start. I have not had the car long, & at this rate will not keep it much longer.

I could never recommend buying a Renault.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 2nd April, 2009

2003 Renault Clio Extreme 1.2 16v

Summary:

Crap and unreliable

Faults:

Orange engine coil light came on and lost power, would not go above 10 MPH.

Service and airbag light keeps coming on, had it checked out, nothing wrong with the airbag, and car gets serviced on a regular basis.

General Comments:

Have read all these comments and cannot believe everyone having same problems!! I have wrote to Watchdog, so if we get enough people going to them, we may get a recall and end all these problems.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 1st April, 2009

2003 Renault Clio Dynamique 1.2

Summary:

I am disappointed at present

Faults:

Like many of the Clio owners on this website, my ECU has been faulty three times now. My most frightening time was when I was overtaking on a dual carriageway and lost ALL power. Luckily there was no-one behind me at the time - otherwise it may have been a different story.

The mechanic advised me that water is getting in, corroding the wires and thus stopping the electricity from flowing. He cleans up the contacts and then sprays it with WD40. It seems to then last about 6 months before going wrong. Unfortunately it has been in again (6 months since the last clean up) but the light has come on since and power lost, although not totally given up. I telephoned Renault Head Office to ask if the problem is a 'recall' one, but they advised that it was not. However, if more than 10 people phone them and report the same problem, they will start to look into it. So, if you are having problems with the ECU - Telephone Renault HQ and advise them. Perhaps they will then do something about this common and possibly dangerous fault.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 16th February, 2009

2003 Renault Clio petrol

Summary:

Poor quality

Faults:

Leak in the sunroof coming in near sun visor. I poured water through and it came out in the same place the rain water does; check for yourself.

General Comments:

The leak is where the hinges go. If you look, you can see through to the roof.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 1st August, 2008

2003 Renault Clio Dynamique 1.2

Summary:

Rubbish

Faults:

OMG, it seems that I'm another Clio owner that is having the same problems as any one else!!!

I have a Renault Clio 1.2 Dynamique 03 plate.

Well last week I went to Lincoln to stay the night. The following morning I nipped to the shop and the Preheating/Electronic warning light came on. I stopped the car and went to visit my friend.

I came back out to my car a couple of hours later, and started it up; the warning light was still on, on the dash board. I drove the car around the corner and it was juddering, it came out of gear and I had no brakes and couldn't accelerate, I almost crashed in to a wall with my 3 small children in it as well.

I managed to pull over and called the AA. They came and put their computer on it, and it came up saying Throttle Cable. He went into the bonnet, and took off the metal casing, and looked at the wires. We tried starting it up again, and it was still doing the same. He said that if he towed me to a Renault dealer, then it would be further away from where I needed to be. He then said that he could tow me home, but I would have to upgrade and it would cost me £300 to get home. I said NO I couldn't afford that. So the AA man left me at the side of the road, crying my eyes out.

I contacted a local garage, and they towed it to their garage, and that is where it still is. They have looked at it, and they have checked all the obvious things, but said that they would have to start stripping it down.

In the meantime, I have made contact with the garage where I bought the car from in February, and they wanted £210 to tow it back to them. I have since spoken to a Renault dealer and they are going to pick the car up on Thursday and put their computer on it. I have already told them that I can't be ripped off as I'm a single parent. So I'm now waiting to see what it is.

But after reading what everyone else says, I don't think Renault will know what it is. But I think that we should all bombard Renault with our problems, so that they recall them all back in. Why should we all go to this expense when it seems that it is a manufacturing fault.

P.s. I also have the leaky sunroof, yet another problem.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 14th July, 2008