2003 Renault Laguna Expression from UK and Ireland - Comments

Radio has not worked from new.

Started taking 3 or 4 button presses to start the engine.

Complete failure of car at only 452 miles.

The day after I bought the car, I tried to use the radio and it wouldn't come on. I contacted Renault and they said they would order one in and phone me when it was ready. I phoned them a week later to ask where the radio was and they told me the order had not gone through yet. They told me they would put the order though and call me to confirm when it would be ready for fitting.

Two days after my call to Renault the car started refusing to start. You press the button and the engine turns over for about 5 seconds, but doesn't start. You have to press the button 3 or 4 times to get it to start. I drove to the local Renault garage and asked them to sort it out. They told me I would have to book the car in and the earliest time would be 2 weeks. I was furious. I tried several local mechanics, but they said they were unable to work on the fault as it required the computer that they use at the main Renault dealers to test and reprogram the system.

A further 2 days later on, while driving home from work, the car cut out and died. I tried taking the keycard out and putting it back in again, but all that happens is aload of warning lights come on the dashboard, but the start button does nothing. Furious again I telephoned Renault and told them to pick the car up. I told them I need a car to get to work and they told me I would have to wait 2 to 3 weeks for a courtesy car. I picked up a hire car (what else could I do?) which I am paying £45 per day for. Renault took 9 days to pick my broken down car up from down the road, despite me calling up every day. Every time I phoned they just acted more and more annoyed, like it was my fault.

It has now been 37 days since the car broke down and I have spent over £1500 on a hire car and Renault still have not given me an answer as to when the car will be ready. I get the impression that it doesn't bother them one way or another. Well I certainly won't buy another Renault ever again, and I don't think that's something that bothers them either.

A friend pointed out this website (carsurvey.org) and I could not believe my eyes when reading the reviews of the 2003 model Laguna. At the time of writing this review 8 out of 10 reviews were negative. If only I had found this site earlier I would have saved myself a fortune and a lot of hassle. 3 cheers for carsurvey, which I will be sure to use next time!

Hello... I COMPLETELY sympathize with you.

We DID own a Renault, and just like yours it was a complete disaster, and the main dealers DO NOT care...period.

In fact they even damaged my car while it was in their care, although care NOT being the appropriate word of course.

We shall NEVER own another Renault, it was a complete nightmare, in fact I have not know a car to have SO MANY faults, in respect of it's age.

But 'he who laughs last'... the garage whom sold us the car did call recently, funny when they want something.

They wanted to know if I was interested in trading our car for another, newer Renault. Like a bull to a red rag, I point blank told them I did not own the pile of junk any more, and that the dealership were no better than the reliability of the very car in question which was complete and utter rubbish.

You see I did not give them the courtesy of telling them to take me off their telephone list, JUST LIKE when they NEVER NEVER EVER returned my calls.

The very best of luck to you... you'll need it.

I think it's a shame that the new Laguna is such a pile of junk. I have never driven anything, but Renault's, my R25 had 180,000 miles on it when I sold it for more than I payed for it after nearly 5 wonderful (and extremely reliable) years of motoring. My Laguna was also reliable (1998 model with 130,000 miles on) and I have now got a Safrane which has so far proved to be a superb car. My local Renault dealer salesman actually has a list of clients who want a Safrane like mine, but I don't want to sell! Interestingly, he told me not to bother with the Laguna as it wasn't very good!

Keep the Safrane until it drops. Excellent reliable car and proves Renault can build a decent car when they concentrate.

You are not alone in your Laguna troubles! (not sure that's going to make you feel any better) but I have had EXACTLY the same problems as you. After only 4600miles mine started failing to start just like yours until about 5100 miles where it completley failed and sat at the Renault garage for an incredible 45 days!!! I thought it was only Italian cars where you 'expected' delays like that in getting your car fixed.

The dealer was most unfriendly and unhelpful and really couldn't give a damn.

It is now my sole mission in life to tell everyone about my experience and to warn them of the problems they are going to face if they do ignore my warnings and continue to buy Renaults.

My advice to anyone who is considering buying a Renault or already owns one (QUICK! trade it for something else) is to carefully read ALL the reviews on here and other sites (Parkers, Top gear forums etc) you will find the number of dissatisfied customers in unbelievable. I do find it hard to comprehend that Renault don't take a look at these forums and think to them selves, wow... isn't it about time we did something to put these problems right?

I have to agree with all the above comments I have owned my 2001 laguna expression 1.6 since january 2002 and if I had known about this site I would have bought another mondeo. The so far have been electric sunroof stopped working after about 4 months, trip computer showing I was getting 97.7 mpg went in 3 times before they replaced the whole dashboard and set the mileage back to zero, the boot sometimes refuses to unlock until you press the lock/ unlock key several times. but the biggest fault is the key card holder which has started to come away from the central console, 4 times the car has been in and each time they refused to fix it under warranty and quoted me £1,350 pounds plus vat to replace it. despite calls to renaualt uk I have had no success in getting it replaced. two weeks ago the lock key on one of my cards stopped working and I now have only 1 key the contacts appear to have worn out.

Last week my drivers window came off the runner and now needs refixing. I plan on getting rid of the car and buying the mondeo which I should have done in the first place. I would never own another renault again even if it was given to me free. their customer care is truly awful for such a big company.

Renault will not be an option for me anymore.

Gearproblems

heavy turbo problems (second car in our company both at 125.000 km)

This.

I have owned a Renault V6 2003. I strongly agree with the poor Reliability issues. I have sold this nightmare that spent more time in the dealer shop than with me.

Sometimes there is also a good car between the renault laguna.

My experience with my laguna from 1996 are great, and the new one a grand tour from 2001 is also very great. No problems at all.

I fully understand the frustration of the owners comments already made on this page, however, I have owned two Laguna II, a 120bhp DCI expression and currently a 2.0ltr Initiale. The DCI expression had to have the complete card system replaced after only a couple of months and the cup holder would not stop vibrating, apart from that it was fine. My Initiale has covered 83,000 miles and has performed faultlessly. I can understand people's frustration with Renault main dealers, mine is mediocre at best. But remember these are individual companies that are not beholdant to Renault in terms of customer service. I have used independent Renault dealers who are far superior both in terms of service and price.

Yes I agree. I too fell in love with the Renault 25 a few years ago, but, since My 2002 Luguna Sport Tourer, never again will I buy a Renault. Three sets of keys in 3 and a half years, the car off the road for a month while the local dealer faffed about eventually replacing the computer (trying to bill me) and a few other minor problems. Come back Ford. All is forgiven!

In the interests of balance I have owned a Mk2 Laguna Expression Estate 2.2dci for 2.5 years and have put 70,000 on the clock.

The car has proved very reliable though the build quality has resulted in some irritating seat squeaks and dash rattles.

Dealer experience until I was lucky enough to relocate was pretty similar to previous comments otherwise I would seriously consider another... for the looks, performance and generous specification.

The last 2 company cars I have had have been Mk II Sport Tourers. The first was a Y plate and I did 110K miles in 3 years. The only problem in 3 years was a sticking throttle motor, but the dealer in Brampton left the wheel nuts loose and the wheel almost fell off in the fast lane of the M1. Luckily, I felt the judder on the wheel and sorted it at the road side. The dealer never gave me an apology and I've never used them again.

My second, a 54 plate GT Sport Tourer from October 2004 and has done 76K so far and had no problem until the climate control fan packed in last month. My new dealer in Coventry have been great so they're not all the same. My advice if you have a warranty issue and your dealer isn't responsive, find another dealer.

I bought a second hand 2001 Laguna 1.9dci 120bhp which seemed in pretty good shape.

I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR LITTLE OVER A MONTH, in this time my drivers window cable has snapped (IMHO really, really bad design) so my window is now jammed shut with a lump of plastic to keep the thieves out.

The rear suspension has slowly got worse & worse with loud creaking & banging going over potholes or speed bumps which is making the handling worse & worse

The tyre pressure sensors go off whenever they feel like it & one valve flew completely out of the rim when I was checking the tyre pressures, leaving me with a flat.

I was given 2 key cards with the car, 1 hasn't worked at all after the batteries were replaced & something has recently come loose under the lock button on the 2nd card so I can't lock the doors. as it is a keyless car (apart from OS door) the only way to lock the doors & boot is to use the cl button from inside then climb into the rear seats & exit from the back locking the rear door behind me with a screwdriver.

I much preferred my old k reg 318i! & feel a fool for buying a renault, I know its going to cost an arm & leg to sort it all out & once every things fixed that thing is gone & I'm never buying a Renault again.

I bought my Renault Laguna 04 cDI 1.9 after having owned a previous model 1.8 petrol laguna.

I was very pleased with it to start with.

I have had to replace both electric window winding mechanisms on the front windows, as the cables corroded and snapped. I have had to have new brake disks and pads which seem very expensive to me. I am told the bushes need replace on the rear axles, another expensive job.

I have just had to have one of the jets replaced on the engine: another expensive job. The car has done less than seventy thousand miles. I thought diesels were supposed to go on for ever.

Now the front seat won't move back and forward: no idea why. Also the lid that covers the Radio/Cd player won't stay shut anymore. I've also discovered that you don't actually need the key to start the car!!!! So much for security!

Everything seems to point to an expensive car, with only the promise of more things going wrong, although except for when the window winders broke in the open position, the car has not actually broken down.

I am disappointed because it seemed like a nice car to me and I love the shape. Perhaps Renault will improve.

I think they need to sort out their dealers too. My local dealer wanted to replace a part on my previous Renault at huge cost, which when I took it to another garage, it was discovered that there was no reason at all to replace the part!!!

It all adds up to disappointment really.

My experience is not very good with my Laguna 1.9dci (02 reg 105BHP) and (03 reg 120BHP). Major fault on the Laguna is the turbo, steering track rod end and the key card problem. Recently had a problem with the car; it doesn't start sometimes, and sometimes it's fine, so I had to replace one plug on fuel pump; it's similar to injector plugs.