2001 Renault Grand Espace from UK and Ireland - Comments

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.

Renault have some great cars in their range (design, safety, economy etc) but the many horror stories on this site, of which yours seems yet another, mean that I would never buy one of their cars. I have a Honda that is very boring, but very very reliable, and comes with a choice of local dealers who are totally customer focused. Good luck with your complaint - a useful tip is to threaten (and be willing) to turn up at their UK headquarters and make a fuss. I did this on a Vauxhall I had a few years back, and it really gets their attention. They just hate the thought of having to deal with a real customer face-to face! A problem that had dragged on for months, got sorted in an afternoon!

Lovely car to look at, it's just a shame about the expensive contents!

Computer system... Air conditioning system... Leaking seals...

Renault are onto a good number with Espace repairs. My friend (who also has a Grand Espace) class ourselves as being in the"£500+ Club" because every time we visit the garage that's the bill we're landed with... No fun when you have 5 children!!

Whilst we are pleased with the Renault as a concept, the number of faults and the cost of their repair has left us somewhat dis-enchanted. A problem with with the timing chain at 59,000 miles left us with a bill of over £1200, followed by a failure of the display panel (£500), and more recently a failed solenoid on the central locking system cost £330 (apparently they had to replace the whole door lock). All this within the space of 9 months.

Hello.. guys, we did own a Renault, we now THANKFULLY don't. We cut our loses and traded it. We lost a boat load of money, but it was like a massive weight was lifted off our shoulders, once the car had gone.

Renault do build safe and good looking cars.. BUT that is where it stops, because reliability is totally DIRE, as is their customer service 'your better off find a brick wall to talk to' or bang your head off one, you are sold up the river without a paddle.

My Grande Espace RT-X2.2DT is my third Espace - and by far the worst. It has had failures of computers, clutch, clutch hydraulics, air bag mechanisms plus all sorts of 'minor' (less than £400 repair cost) that, regardless of recently expired so called warranties, have produced no payment from Renault Customer Service. After £3000 worth of repairs at less than five years/60K miles old it is now facing the next repair: glow plugs @ £17 each that cost £270 to fit! You may have received in the mail recently offers of up to £3,500 off a new Espace... what a surprise... they can't sell them because finally even faithful Espace buyers are realising how much they are being ripped off! Point me to that nice new Previa...

Our Renault's clutch was replaced today due to 'wear and tear'- even though it 'went' after only 18,000 miles.This has cost us over £700.I assumed that Renault would honour our warranty - they haven't and even though we have had lots of cars which have completed far more mileage with no clutch problems, it seems that this is our fault. How??? Anyway I am going to ask the garage for the faulty clutch in order for a mechanic to look at it. Incidentally the Renault over -revved from the second we got it.We have asked them to look at this repeatedly - having had to send the car in for repairs when: i) our air bags were malfunctioning (twice) ; ii) our electric circuit failed so we had no dashboard or flashing icons; iii) the air conditioning unit failed (twice, second time they replaced it) and,iv) finally, they had to replace the milometer, because it stopped working. All this is very depressing because we would love to sell it, but can’t because we had it valued and its resale value is a grand less than we have left to pay on our loan. The car is still under three years old .

My Espace IV 2.2 DCI is 18 months old. I've just got it back from yet more repairs, though I don't hold out any hope that the problems will go away. To date the car has needed a new servo (off road for 10 days), new rear discs (seized caliper), air con packed in (fixed today, but I'm still not sure it actually works), clutch hydraulic cylinder replaced (to cure clutch sticking to the floor), new rear shockers, new catalyst (system sheared off after 12 months), new electric bit for seat belt system (not sure what that problem was), and I'm told it needs a new instrument panel. I've also had to replace headlamp bulbs five times so far. Lovely car, but you'd need a deep pocket to run one privately when out of warranty I suspect.

Renault Grande Espace 02 Reg 2.2 dci.59,500 mls. 2yrs.11mths&26days, vehicle booked in to main dealer with clutch problems, stated a new clutch required £780.Took vehicle to smaller renault garage who concluded the hydraulic system was faulty, agreed to replace under warranty,{i discovered the new hydraulic linkage now has a resevoir attached to the master cylinder}Garage now stated the work was not covered under warranty, threatened legal action,Renault stood the cost of the parts & the garage labour. Since then I have done 15,000mls.with no more clutch problems.

Did you find that your clutch pedal was slow in returning.

I own a 5 year old Espace, it it excellent, except when it comes to repairs: A torn cam belt: £800. A sticky steering fault, quote £800, I fixed it for 5 pence worth of oil! Now it is the clutch cylinder, I have not yet got a quote, but it will probably be like all other quotes on this car around £800. A possible £2400 bill in just one year is too much!

Aversion therapy works, so I am now looking in to buying a BMW, average cost of repair seems to only be £250, so it will save me loads!

I can agree with all the problems with regards to Renault Grand Espace. I have owned since new (2001) a Renault Grand Espace, and after leaking seals on sun roof, faulty starter motor, faulty door locks, faulty wipers, faulty EGR valve, the vehicle now has a faulty digital instrument panel and computer (estimate to repair over £1000) and no assistance from Renault customer services. This has been the worse vehicle for faults I have ever owned. Other than all the faults is has been a good car and has the advantage that there is still some space for luggage even with 7 people in the vehicle, unfortunately the number of faults means it is unlikely I would purchase another Espace.

Just reading these "horror" stories.. I am on my second Chrysler grand Voyager and am wondering wether to "trek" into Renault country.. My god what a lot of problems, and I thought my Chrysler was running "bad" on 18/20 MPG...It's a real shame because although you NEVER hear anything BAD about these EURO cars in the press. They always seem to slate the US cars. My advice give up and go for the YANK tanks...you won't regrett it at all... My van has NO problems AT ALL.. just has 67,000 on it... My car has just good old fashioned instrumental dashboard NO fancy read out's so in theory nothing extra to go wrong... Maybe I won't take a new Renault for a test drive.. they are nice looking cars though...

I have just taken my 4 year old Espace back to Renault for its third master clutch cylinder in under 2 years. Paid for the first one, second one was under warranty. Its been 8 months since this, but over 12 months since the first one so this is not covered. They said as its over 12 months from the first one Even with the part having a 12 month warranty am going to try trading standards see how far I can get. Last 3 cars have been Renaults never again.

The clutch pedal on my 2001 Espace (35,000 miles) has started to get sticky and slow to return. I look forward with trepidation to the results of the garage's investigation in view of the above comments! Will keep in touch!

(It's been a good car for us, a few relatively minor problems, including the digital display disappearing every now and again, and a new key that cost over £120)

Bought a 4 year old Renault Espace 2.2 dci earlier this month. The clutch was stuck to the floor the day after purchase. (I ended up calling the AA as I've no previous experience with such nonsense having driven two reliable Vauxhalls since our last Renault 21.) I returned it to the garage who found no problems - and for the last two weeks we've not had any problems either. However today the clutch has been sticking, still just about allowing gear changes; had to release the pedal by hand to get full movement. Having read this page I think I'll get it checked out again.

(Didn't, but the car from Renault, but they haven't impressed me so far by being incapable of answering my parts enquiries by email or in person.)