2001 Renault Laguna Dynamique Sport Tourer. 1.8 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Nice car to drive handles well, but really unreliable

Faults:

Bought ex demonstrator on the Renault 2 go option. On taking delivery the following faults where found:

1. C. D Player didn't work.

2. Traces of masking tape and over spray on roof and pillars (Renault had denied that any bodywork repair had been done)

3. Bulge in front off side tyre.

4. Rear off side wheel was only secured with 2 nuts. The other 3 where finger tight.

5. Rear seat was not secure.

6. Drivers side windscreen wiper upside down.

7. Black sealant around one of the rear doors.

8. When tailgate was raised and lowered it rattled due to some debris in the door.

If that wasn't enough in the next year I had faults with the following items:

Flat Battery.

Steering pump.

Two new dash boards due to the trip computer failing resulting in the mileage being reset to zero.

Roof lining coming loose.

Thats just the ones I can remember. As there where also many little niggly things too.

General Comments:

Really Comfortable to drive.

Handles well.

Very versatile.

An absolute nightmare for reliability could never trust it to get me where I was going. On average it went into the garage once a month.

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

Review Date: 21st July, 2004

16th May 2005, 15:34

Most all of these faults are not manifacturers. It sounds like the car has had a rough previous owner.

2001 Renault Laguna sports tourer Dynamique 1.8 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Lots of potential. no support network and poor reliabiltiy

Faults:

Gearbox - It wouldn't stay in 5th gear. Was told I was lucky it didn't do more damage.

Catalytic converter. Requires replacing, it has collapsed.

Tailgate lock switching unit. The tailgate wouldn't open (including the glass section!)

3 Resets required on ECU.

Throttle body - Don't ask me!

Throttle position sensor - This caused the car to go into emergency mode and was intermittent before finally being identified.

Many minor niggles like 97mpg and the door sensor not sensing a closed door.

General Comments:

I like the design of the car, looks far more than the money. However the car was cheap (originally interpreted as value for money!) and now I am paying for it!

I have very little confidence with its reliability and even less with the dealer network. It appears that everything is a problem to them; they offer no explanation to failures and fail to recognise the inconvenience of not having a car.

I generally need to book the car in to the garage about 2 weeks before it breaks down.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 26th February, 2004

5th Jul 2004, 12:27

This review has a very familiar ring to it!

My Laguna has had 25 repairs under warranty and still going! It's latest fault is the dashboard loses power intermittently and it keeps adding millage (7K in one week!)

21st Sep 2004, 11:31

I have a 2002 Laguna which goes into emergency mode on startup on an intermittent basis. I had the throttle body replaced as I was told this was the problem, but 5 minutes after leaving the garage, it happened again. I have now been told that the car needs a new computer to resolve this problem. Unfortunately the car was just out out warranty when problem occurred so it has been an expensive problem to date, but thanks to your suggestion 'Throttle position sensor' I will refer back to the dealer and hopefully save myself 900 euro.

Declan, Ireland.

2001 Renault Laguna Dynamique Sport Tourer 3.0 V6 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Needs to be treated with suspicion

Faults:

To continue-

Cruise control switch

Air conditioning pipe

Loose suspension strut!

2 Ignition coils - Renault replaced all 6.

Creaking and squeaking dash- No cure

Creaking drivers seat - removed and lubricated.

Damaged wheels on not too bad pot holes.

General Comments:

Car is potentially good if the general reliability is good and materials of dashboard learn to live together without squeaking.

So far dealer has been OK about fixing problems.

Since I increased front tyre pressures to be inside the "high load" setting, no further rim damage.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 13th February, 2004

10th Oct 2004, 10:55

2001 3.0 V6 Initiale.

1 new Heated Windscreen:

(At about 10k miles, some of the drivers side elements had gone) replaced FOC under Renault warranty.

2 ignition coils:

(First at about 10k & second at 16K miles) but first coil took out fuel computer.

1 Fuel/dash Computer:

(At about 10k first faulty coil took it out) replaced FOC under Renault warranty.

Awaiting replacement second ignition coil delivery to see if it has caused any other faults (car now out of warranty)!!

Any thoughts to stop coil faults appreciated, as I still like the car (pending delivery and installation of second ignition coil).

23rd Oct 2004, 15:53

Ignition coils are a well known fault on Renault and VW. Under sale of goods act, itis probably possible to argue that goods are not fit for purpose and a reasonable time for a major failure is 6 years. Coils should be replaced for free, that is why I insisted Renault replace ALL 6 of mine. If 2 fail together, the rest will follow, ask any statistician.