2001 Renault Grand Espace review from UK and Ireland

I purchased the vehicle from a very reliable local garage who have excellent customer service. The car has a full service history mainly at the Renault dealerships except on purchase when the car was supplied serviced and MOT'd.

From the start, the lights on the dash board dim when either slowing or gear changing - this only becoming apparent after the vehicle was purchased. When the headlights are on they dim to such an extent that some vehicles have thought I was flashing them to let them out almost causing an accident.

I put this into the Renault dealer for identification and rectification - they said nothing could be found using their diagnostic tools, but changed the entire dashboard display under warranty, but this did nothing to improve the situation and remains an unresolved problem.

Air conditioning hasn't worked on any occasion when we have needed it - but has been "boosted" a couple of times by the local garage with nil effect over a period of time. i.e. when you come to use it, it needs boosting again!

Alarm has gone off for no reason three times in a week at 1 a.m. and 2 a.m, the last time it would not switch off even by using the key - it was 3 a. m in a densely populated area. It is currently in the Renault dealers for identification of the fault and rectification of this and other problems.

The clutch master cylinder failed approx 35,000 miles - luckily the local garage repaired it under their warranty.

The fuel line became detached (at approx. 35,000 miles) (from the carburettor?) spewing the entire contents of the (full) tank over the engine and road and leaving me stranded and without power steering to control the car - luckily I was just starting off from a junction on a straight road and the local garage towed me in and repaired again free of charge under their warranty - I lost a whole tank of fuel, but thank goodness it was diesel and not petrol otherwise a fire may have resulted.

The tracking was out by some 7 degrees (front wheels) so that the tyres looked brand new on the outside and middle (where you can see them) but on full lock the inside edges had worn to the canvas surprising me and the tyre dealer!

The latest problem is that the car runs roughly on idle (like you are sitting on a washing machine on spin) and that there are flat spots in the delivery of power throughout the range. The car alarm malfunction was the last straw to put it back to the dealers for repair. In trying to fix this the renault dealer removed the gloplugs and one of them sheared off. Having talked through the problem the cost of getting over this is circa £700 labour and £500 parts. This along with the other problems that it is in for this time will amount to some £1,500 plus. The Renault dealer said talk to Renault customer relations so I set out the whole sad tale of woe above, and they said that they would not help - full stop - and refused to put me in touch with anybody else (potentially higher up) that may have some responsibility for the quality of the car that Renault turn out to the customer.

I spoke to Renault head office and was initially told by the receptionist that she was not authorised to put me through to anybody as I had already spoken to customer relations. I then explained that someone at a senior level needed to know what was going wrong with their customer service and she tried to put me through to some one. I then got cut-off twice before reaching anyone, but persisted and eventually spoke to a "senior customer relations adviser" who initially was very uninterested in the case and even continued typing whilst I was talking until I mentioned how rude it was to do so!! They should at least have the courtesy to listen - perhaps these problems may be avoided if they do! They eventually saw that I was a genuine customer with real concerns and rather belatedly and reluctantly said they would undertake to take the matter up with their dealer. So watch this space for a result, but I have to say that I am not holding my breath. It would be of some comfort to Renault Espace drivers that they are not being cut totally adrift by Renault when their car does not meet the high standards expected of Renault vehicles and as demanded by the premium they charge for their vehicles.

The grande espace is a wonderful car in concept badly let down by major faults arising from manufacture/assembly.

It is swift, feels very good in terms of handling, is comfortable for all.

In one year, excluding service, insurance, mot tax and general running costs the car would have cost me in the region of £3,000 if I have to pay for the repairs myself.

The car is now only three years old and I have only done 10000 very careful miles in it.

My former car has done 140,000 miles, 80,000 with me in it. Other than normal servicing and running costs etc. I don't think I have spent anywhere near the figure for one year's motoring in the Renault over the 10 years that I have owned the Nissan.