2002 Renault Clio Extreme from UK and Ireland - Comments

It has been towed away for engine management failure at 6800 miles.

The performance is good for a 1.2 litre engine. However, it has had some strange faults since it was new.

The AA told me that they have seen the same faults on a lot of new Clios.

What are the faults that you mention in your review?

Not mentioning the faults in a more descriptive way makes the review sound more like scare-mongering, especially the "AA told me" bit!

A better description would be much more useful to potential buyers of this car!

Liam.

Not scare mongering at all. Not exactly going to lie about my car breaking down.

The most common fault on the 2001 new shape Clio is that it developes engine running trouble. The AA engineer that looked at my car said that he had towed 4 Clios the same shape of mine in the past month.

Renault Leicester informed me that 4 injector packs had broken down and needed replacement.

At present, since the car has been repaired, it intermittently tells me I have no oil and it needs servicing. It has been on the Renault "Clip" diagnostic 3 times to find the fault.

Other than the running trouble of late, the car is very good. Only one rattle coming from the steering wheel; which is not serious.

I recently bought a Clio 1.2 16v Authentique. At the time of purchase the car was 8 weeks old. The day I collected the car it had to be returned because the Electric Windows were going up and down on their own. The Dealer is saying they cannot find the fault as it is only happening intermittently. I am at the end of my tether and don't know where to turn next. Can you Help?

I purchased a Renault Clio Extreme six months ago and have had nothing but problems. The sunroof rattled so much it had to be modified by my local Renault dealers. There was also a fault with the drivers airbag which had to be fixed.

The 'electronic fault' light kept coming on (still does!) but every time I take the car in to be looked at I'm told there is no fault. The passenger window has a mind of its own and occasionally refuses to work. By far the funniest thing is, I received a letter from Renault the other day saying they're recalling the car because of a fault that eventually affects the brake assistance! Renault Service Department see more of my car than I do!

I brought a Renault Clio Extreme 1.2 16v 18 months ago, have had ongoing problems with the car not starting, losing power at speed, cutting out, and Renault haven't been very helpful at all. They can't take my car in for another two weeks, and when it goes in they won't give me a courtesy car. So in the meantime they expect me to drive around in an unreliable and unsafe car. Every time I get in the car I have to keep turning the engine over, which can't be doing it any good.

In a year of ownership my Clio 1600cc has been with the dealer 6 times with an electronic fault. The car lunges forward at great speed then the power dies. Each time I return to the dealership they diagnose a different problem and replace a different part of the engine. Basically, they haven't got a clue. Looking on the net, it's obvious that I'm not the only one with this problem, why don't Renault admit there is a fault with these cars, investigate and get these cars fixed before someone has a major accident?

I bought a Clio Extreme on 4th July 2003 - it was just over a year old.

Problems to date

1) 7th July 2003- chugged and emissions warning light- garage said they changed 3 spark plugs and checked emissions - No AA called allowed car to rest before driving

2) August - same fault and action as July by both me and garage

3) Sept/Oct - not starting - AA called - said faulty starter motor

4) Sept/Oct - not starting - AA called - said engine needed earthing - garage said they changed a faulty connection on battery area

5) November and it has broken down again - chugging - and electrical fault in dash - AA managed to fix it last night and cleared the fault light - however it happened again this morning. They can have it back as far as I am concerned. 5 faults in 5 months!!

I bought a Clio Dynamic in March 2003. I am constantly phoning the AA as my car only starts when it feels like it. Every time I call

Renault, I just get told to call out the AA.

Hi I have a 2002 Renault clio 1.2 16v it first problem was that it wouldn't tick over and the rev's where very low!Engine management light kept coming on also! Taken to Renault they said it needed 4 new spark plugs! Got it back and now it has a fault when starting and the light in the middle of dash comes on and rev`s up and down, it's got a mind of its own!

I own a 2001 clio and have spent the last week driving afraid for my life as it keeps cutting out, my PAS light flashes randomly and then power cuts out although the engine runs. I lose the PAS, ABS and my lights! I've topped up the oil, charged the battery, can't find the power steering reservoir to check that as its mislabeled in the handbook and god knows where the spark plugs are. I would book it in, but I won't get a courtesy car and renault wouldn't have a clue what to do with it either. I love the car, but this is infuriating, glad to see I'm not the only one with these problems...

I bought a Renault Clio 1.2 16v, the past couple of days power goes whenever it feels like and the revs are very low. Have to pull over and turn the car off and start again. WHATS THAT ALL ABOUT.

I also have a Renault Clio 1.2 16v Extreme (2002). Seems like I'm not the only one with the following problems:

1) Air bag issues - needed some wiring re-soldering (it was less than 3 years old when I bought it).

2) The rattling Sun Roof issue - yes its been in, been fixed and its come back again.

3) Engine Rev Issues - At slow speeds it will suddenly pull away if I'm in second gear on its own.

4) The driver window is now making some clicking noise if its put down to the minimum level - when its put back up it goes click.

5) And finally - The radio seems to flicker when playing Cd's and tuned into stations - guess this is loose electrics.

Apart from that its a great nippy little car. And with the joys of the Renault Garage I can't have a courtesy car!

Hi I have a 2001 51 reg renault clio dynamique 1.2 16v and some times the engine management light comes on and it will splutter and it won't rev past 3000 rpm and the sunroof rattles theres a knocking on the front when I go over a bump don't get me wrong these cars are fast, but not reliable I think all the newish clios should be called in because these cars are not reliable at all I nearly crashed the other day as I was pulling out of a junction and the engine management light come on and the car splutters a car was comeing towards me if you have had the same problem please let me now so I can fix my problem I have changed the coil pack and its not that but I haven't changed the spark plugs could this ba the problem cheers.

Hi, I've got a 2002 Renault Clio Dynamique 1.2 16v, its been fine for the past year, but recently in the cold mornings it hasn't been starting.

I've had it checked out and apparently cylinder 1 is misfiring, they've replaced the spark plugs (didn't help!) and now when I'm driving along it feels like the engine has no power, engine management light keeps flashing, it's shakes like mad and I'm getting grandmas over taking me!! major insult!

I was told by my mechanic the cylinder head has cracked?! Just wondering if anybody else has had this trouble?

I own a 1.2 16v clio Y plate 2000 which developed fault which appears to occur in many clios i.e misfiring and lack of power. Changed all spark plugs, but no improvement. I booked it into my local garage, non Renault, who could not get a fault code from the manangement system even though the engine management light was lit. Eventually they admitted defeat and they took it to a local Renault garage. They also could not get a fault code to show. Conclusion: Faulty engine management computer. Replacement cost?£ 700.00 inc VAT. After agreeing to the work to be carried out I got the car back, after a total of 8 days, and to date (4 days) everything seems to be OK. I have heard that Renault, ellegibly, are aware of this problem with the Engine Management computer, but are not prepared to recall the vehicles. Anyone else aware of this?