1998 Renault Scenic RXE from UK and Ireland - Comments

Automatic gearbox had to be replaced.

I was stunned to be landed with a near £1900 bill (LATER REDUCED TO £950 as a goodwill gesture) to replace an automatic gearbox that had done only 28,000 miles. How many other people have had this problem I wonder. Is there a design fault? I'd like to know.

You must be unlucky. My car has now done 36,000 miles with the same autobox and never had a problem. In fact it is the best box I have ever had. Could it be the driver?

Bought a 2.0 16v Sport Alize with 2800 miles on the 'clock' from new, in 6 months.

2000 miles later (never taken over 3000 rpm by me) the 5 speed manual gearbox had to be replaced following investigation into a low whining noise.

To be fair, Renault were very good and did the work without any problem.

Our Scenic (automatic) has had 2 new hydraulic assemblies & a new gearbox and has only done 50000 miles. The gearbox bill was originally £2,500! It is back in the garage since it still doesn't run properly since the gearbox has been changed!

My Scenic 2.0 16V Automatic, bought new last July, has 7600km on the clock and is currently awaiting a gearbox change.

It started slipping and going into "failure mode" occasionally after about 2000km. Problem appeared to occur mainly after stop&go traffic or several short trips but wasn't reproducible at the garage.

I didn't bother too much at first but the it gradually got worse.

After a lot of fiddling to read the diagnostics they changed some hydraulic part, but didn't fix the problem.

They (my Renault dealer) claim they aren't aware of any "known" problem with the automatic gearbox. That's why I thought I'd surf a bit... HA!

I have only just found this website and it's very informative!

I only wish I had discovered it before I purchased for my Wife an R Reg Scenic RXE 2.0Ltr Auto last summer. I noticed at time of sale that although only having relatively low mileage for its age it had a new auto gear box put in. I will now be waiting to see how long it lasts and whether it's resell value would outweigh the cost of a new gearbox.

I must confess it is good fun, highly practical and has made it to France and back on holiday.

I bought a Renault Scenic RXE Automatic R reg 15 months ago. It had 40,000 on the clock and within seven months I had to have the gear box replaced (fortunately it was still under warranty).

Since then I have had problems with the central locking which has cost me nearly £400 to sort out. It's still causing me problems. This afternoon I couldn't get the door to close because the lock appears to be jamming.

I have lost all confidence in the car and have decided it will have to go.

Renault appear at the fore front of innovative ideas and design.

It's just they cannot get the the small issues right, possibly now with it's Nissan counterpart Renault Just might start building more reliable cars, where flair and sturdiness with reliability to boot go hand in hand?

I recently bought a scenic 1.6 alise and it had done 31,000 miles and it is working perfect and nothing new has been added. I think they are very good cars and some people must just be very unlucky.

I have a Scenic RX4 and the gearbox is currently being rebuilt. The car broke down on the 31st of December and due to shortage of parts it is still in the garage. Renault have agreed to pick up 70% (753 pounds) of the price to repair. The car has only done 30,000 miles and is 1.5 years old. I also found some good information on a French site that explains that there is a problem with the bearings on the gearbox which, in turn, works a bolt lose and strips 5th gear (my exact problem). The other common failure appears to be the exhaust which has no central bush so as soon as it starts to weaken it will break.

January 2003 I am curently on the look out for a renault scenic and I am having great difficulty in finding one if they are as bad as some people have experienced why are they so hard to get a hold of.

Is this problem with renault scenics a very common one because I am on the look out for one and had my heart set on one, but I am reconserding it I don't want to end up with a load of trouble 2003 JANUARY.

We had our hearts set on a Scenic, but now some 14 months into ownership I GREATLY regret buying one it.

It is a nice car with all the nice touches, it goes well,

doesn't drink fuel, and the seats are the most comfortable i

have sat in, BUT the dealers are a complete shower of ...... and reliability WELL where do you start?

I'am contemplating getting shot of the thing before the warranty runs out... i'am thinking of buying a Toyota, maybe not as much flair as Renault, BUT a DAM sight better built and reliable.

Look else where believe me.

1998 Scenic 2.0 RXE Auto, 30,000 miles and requires new transmission. Main Renault dealer declined at first to admit this was a 'known fault' but later admitted, guardedly, that it just 'might be'. Full service history allowed them to halve the bill, but half of £2,670 is still a very substantial amount to pay.

Otherwise, a very acceptable car, but... and it's a big, but, this just should not happen.

Might go and take a look at the Picasso. Citroen have now brought out an auto version...

I've been driving a scenic for a year now. it's a w reg company car and has done 52,000 miles. no problems and nothing I know has been replaced. I think it's a great car, a little heavy on petrol in town (22mpg) but OK for long distances (36mpg). its got great load carrying capacity and easy to jump in and out of. parking is a cinch as it's an automatic. it does feel you're like driving a van, especially after I borrowed a Honda Civic from a colleague for a week.

Would I buy one if I had to spend my own money? well it depends on who you are. I'm a 28 year old guy with no kids and I really want a sports car, but my firm won't give me one. if however, I were a 28 year old guy with a couple of kids, I can see the advantages.

We bought an S reg Scenic RT auto in December 2001. The transmission had to be replaced at 40,000 miles. Thankfully it was under a warranty. Now, 6000 miles and 10 months later the same symptoms of failure are showing. We are getting it fixed and getting rid of it. We love the car, but with two young children, can do without the unreliability.