Unreliable
Engine has started running on 3 cylinders below 2000 revs. renault liverpool dealer wanted £75 for 4 spark plugs.the plugs in the car are only 3000 miles old, replaced at the last service (32,000miles)
Very comfortable car, but very unreliable.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 30th April, 2006
Brilliant in all respects except the 1.9 dTi engine
Had the car around a year, the garage-supplied warranty expired, with no real problems (apart from the high level brake light unit that was loose).
However, come July 2005, I had a serious engine problem happen... twice.
I was driving along one Saturday afternoon when all of a sudden the car started revving itself up uncontrollably - at first I thought the pedal had stuck to the floor, but what had actually happened was that the turbo had leaked oil into the top of the engine, and then head gasket had blown aswell.
This was repaired (dTi engine from a scrapyard £900 inc VAT, garage labour £400 inc VAT) then, a week after having it back, it happened again!!!
The car had been leaking oil over the past few days since having it back (monitored via garage floor marks, and the dipstick) and the Monday morning I got into the car, and the "check oil" reminder came up - on the dipstick, it was right down to the bottom of the little ball on the end.
I topped it up, and went about my business - then the engine started revving uncontrollably...
The same thing happened as before - the engine was hydraulically locked, and the turbo had blown.
The garage tried to tell me that I'd overfilled the engine - if this is how the 1.9 dTi engine responds to overfilling (when any other engine would just burn it off) then BEWARE.
In general, I was very happy with this car, in particular the raised driving position.
In addition, it returned 53 mpg (average over a tank-load when I did mainly motorway miles, going steady at 60 mph).
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 23rd August, 2005
EXCELLENT! Even though I don't like the French!
NOTHING!
I have owned many cars, including a SAAB, a LandRover 90 2.5 petrol, two Range Rovers, one a 2.8 Isusu Diesel and the other a 3.5 Petrol V8 but for comfort, economy and reliability nothing comes anywhere near my Scenic!
I have towed a 10 feet trailer with a boat on top to Tarragona and got about 40 MPG. I would recomend this car to anyone (The Diesel, I know nothing about a petrol version).
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 28th August, 2004
Excellent standard specs. but a disappointment over three years
Within days of delivery, the arm-rest hinged between the front seats, gave way when leaned on. The manufacturers 'tightened' it, but it continued to give way. I have mentioned it at every service, but the consensus from the Service dept. is,
"Arm rests are not really for leaning on". I now keep it permanently up.
After 15,000 miles, the ignition/electrics failed causing engine to sound and move like a tractor at 10 mph. This was easily mended by fitting a new coil at cost of about £250 - and then it happened again at a later date.
At 20,000 miles, occasional scraping sounds from undercarriage worried me, but as no warning light appeared on dash board - I ignored it until convenient to drop in at Renault Service later in the month. It turned out to be very dangerously worn break shoes - (I wasn't even allowed to drive away) and Renault Service explained that the warning light only shows up (in the case of break shoes) in one corner - mine were in the other.
Key handle/fob comes away from metal "key stick". On the first occasion this happened I thought I had lost it, hunted everywhere, only to find it still firmly lodged in the ignition! I stuck it back with super glue but it came away again later.
Tailgate needs very firm 'wham' to shut tight - so anyone helping to unload has to be warned of this (or you might drive away with hatch dangerously loose and waste the interior lighting/battery).
Fuel - a bare 30 mpg. but the tank allows for 400 miles of driving. Computerized mileage/fuel indicator very helpful.
Steering wheel radio/cassette controls are great.
Disappointed by the poor acceleration when needing to overtake on country roads. (Same engine power as the Golf, but heavier chassis makes it sluggish).
Love the high driver's position. Seats are comfy - Very roomy too as a rear passenger - great capacity when rear seats are removed.
Rear window opener hardly used.
Climate Control efficient and essential - but noisy.
Helpful bleeper to remind you if lights are on after engine is turned off - but it doesn't recognize fog-lamps (hence my dead battery after a day's parking with fog-lamps on).
Hooter - (operated from either side of steering hub) - VERY stiff - and by the time you get it to hoot - the moment has passed and your wrist aches!
This is a light and airy car, well designed (for the most part)for internal comfort, with plenty of ingenious storage nooks. It is easy to handle and would probably be better as a family or school-run car than as a one or two person vehicle - as it has been for me - chosen for its van-like quality and storage space.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 8th August, 2004
I too have a 2001 Renault Scenic 1.6L. I'm having problems too leaking coolant bottle, loss of engine power have to rev it past 4,000 rpm to get it going. It has 110 HP it should be quicker as it only weights 1250 KG.
I too have just had the Ignition coils replaced costing £40 per coil costing me £200 Pounds in total, but it seems to have sorted out the loss of power problems.
The ones that my mechanic put on the car they were modified ones.
Well it seems that no matter where you live - Renault service stinks!
Here in South Africa we also have the problem with coils, but my bugbear is the fact that once the ambient temperature reaches 34 deg C the fuel pump packs up. This has happened to me on 3 occasions on the road between Cape Town and Namibia. On one occasion I was left stranded for 5 hours with the temperature reaching 44 deg C!
After the 3rd time I eventually managed to convince them it was the fuel pump. A week later (today) and another coil problem!
Last time I buy French!
24th Aug 2005, 11:47
If you over fill a diesel, it is possible that the engine oil can be drawn up and burned. The engine then runs on its own oil, rather than the diesel. This can potentially happen on any diesel, it is not a fault with Renault engines.