Renault Laguna with endless problems

Bought a 2002 Laguna 1.9 cdi in April from a service centre near maclesfield that has looked after me well for 2 or 3 years. The main mechanic who is the brains behind the operation said he had checked it out and with an extra £400 of repairs and replacement parts on top of the fair sale price, he gave me a pretty nice car. 6 months of motorway driving later, the clutch went, along with flywheel, £1300.

As a self employed decorator, no vehicle, I also lost 2 weeks off work while it was sorted. Nearly sunk me. Radio code was lost when repair was done to clutch, then random stuff failed, ie the fan went, alarm going off for no reason. But at least I was working, and it was driving, and the heater does work, just doesnt blow, so didnt get too bent out of shape.

Then driving along the motorway at Christmas, the red light came on STOP. The engine just cut out, that was scary. Pulled on hard shoulder, waited a minute, thought give it a try, engine started, off we drove. No discernible issues. Got home, normal service light coming on, so didnt drive it for a while. Couldnt afford to repair it.

Last week the car started, drove literally 10 yards and it cut out and wouldnt start. RAC came out, said there was no fuel pressure. Got it started with a manual pump. Ran a diagnostic and came up (hopefully) old codes for busted flywheel. Reset computer, and left. Within an hour of driving, the Service light reappears. Engine fine, but on way home, cut out 4 times when driving, so we just manually pumped the rubber ball under the hood and got it home.

Booked car in to be serviced, they screwed me around another 2 days never came to pick up car. Today had no option but to drive to work, 30 miles in traffic, no problems, just service light coming on. Garage picked up car, could not replicate the cutting out either, just dropped it off, no explanation of anything, service light still flashing. I drove home, runs OK, but I am really not happy wondering if engine going to just die on me for no reason.

When I say it runs OK, it has patchy pickup in low gears, rattles like a non turbo diesel in low revs. This car could literally bankrupt me if I dont get some sort of closure, cant afford to sell off, cant afford to keep if it is a pup.

If you want a -good- Laguna, buy the older models. I have a 1998 (1.5) RXT Grandtour, owned since new, -very- few problems... biggest issue with it ever was the waterpump failing. Also, don't go to dealers for repair... they overcharge and don't know crud about how to actually assemble/disassemble things...
Once I had the airbag light come on. The dealer couldn't connect diagnostics to the computer and told me I needed a new computer for ridiculous amounts of money cause it won't respond. Took it to an independent tech, he cleaned the obd connector and immediately everythign worked... turns out the seatbelt fastener's plug under the seat had come loose... I left the guy 10 quid as he didn't ask for any money for fixing it...

I would doubt it Mick but I really am looking forward to some of the replies you receive. Why don’t you print of a copy of the WG & take it to show your garage? In fact I would recommend all owners of foreign cars who have griped to do the same.

My Renault Dealer Told Me that My Laguna Diesel Could take off if I did Not get the intercooler cleaned out and Pressing the stop/start button would not stop it and if I pressed the clutch the engine would blow up is this true ??

Hi all have the same problem with a 03 1.9 dci laguna, tought the head was gone but the block was cracked got the engine rebuilt drove the car for two days gray smoke started goming out of it and car reved its head off and sucked all the of the oil out of the engine (turbo blow up) and the engine was scrap on its second engine now recon turbo and leaking oil like a there is no tomorrow would not buy a renault again after that, and as for them f****g cards don`t talk to me.

I bought a Renault Laguna 1.9 dci 2005 in November 2010 from a small garage . Had to return it to the garage having driven 4 miles in it. Garage cleared the fault. A couple of day's later on came the blasted warning light again " check emissions" garage cleared fault . On came the light again so I took it to a Renault garage they cleaned the egr valve and said " it should be ok now ".oops I recognise that light " check injectors now. error code now means it could be the particulate emissions filter oh and I apparently have no air in my front tyre . looks ok to me. stupid car

1.9 dci laguna on a 02 reg was the worst car I have ever bought. Wud take me a week to list the problems I had with it !!!!!!!!

I had the same problem with mine. That yellow light is just a emissions problem. But this is caused by the end float going in the turbo caused it to lock up and not spin. The garage wud have known from the start what it was

yeah... I understand your frustration. I don't think all garages work that way, just a few unscrupulous ones. They unfortunately tar all those honest guys with the same brush. I've just bought an 02 Laguna 1.9 dci.... after reading all the comments made on these forums it pretty much fustifies all I've ever thought about French cars... Funky by design, great for the first couple of years and then nothing but trouble and expense..... good luck to all those other laguna owners out there, I'm off to work out how this intercooler comes out!!!!!

this is what happens when we get a used garage car several time the same problem araises or the new one and we get frustrated on it better to get a new one alwaz atleast it wont have the same problem again and again

My advice never by a 2001-2005 laguna especially diesel they are the worse ever.If anyone really wants a Renault Laguna go for a older model 1994-1999 great cars not sure on diesels,but I once owned a 1999 Laguna 1.8 Sport petrol its was a great car.I unfortunately purchased a 1.9 DCI Laguna 2002 and its a nightmare over £800 spent and now springing oil leaks everywhere.
I would consider Audi or Volvo diesels.Beware of French diesel engines useless and unreliable.

I can relate to this article because my car has gone though exactly the same thing. What is confusing me is why Renault cannot just fix the fault and be done with it? I paid a £1000 plus for the repair that has lasted about 3 months, for that price or even a little more surely they could have just fixed. Very strange; What we need is an organisation to whom we can complain to with the ability to challenge these companies and make them pay. Very sad!

I have had a 1999 DTI Luguna for two years now. I could have bought a spang new car and paid off monthly deposit instead of constantly having to fix this piece of dirt. Similar prob to many on this site, loss of power. Turns out that the timing on the fuel pump was off. The Shellborne gargage in Portadown (Co. Armagh) are meant to be a Renault gargage, but they cost me over £500 and never fixed this problem. My advice is to NEVER buy renault and NEVER go near a Renault gargage, esp the one in Portadown, Co. Armagh, N.I. P.s. had had the car fixed by an independant gargage to £60!!! Everyone time I meet someone with a Renault they seem to have some sort of problem. Terrible cars, worse mechanics.

Hello All, no wonder I do have simillar problem with this piece of garbage (NO OFFENCE).
I have laguna 16V expression petrol 2001, the problem is after travelling certain distance the engine start reving and the yellow spring like symbol appear on dash board, the speed goes down from 50 to 20 and have no choice but to pull.
I diagnose it many times and change both throtle pump and paddle sensor, still message (Potentio circuit fault) appear after putting up diagmostic kit.

Please need guidance what to do, so far I have spend £400 for this mess.
Jack

I have the same problem, check emissions light coming on. Renault want £79 just to use a diagnostic machine, my local garage do it for nothing. Is there anyway of clearing the fault for good as it keeps coming back on. I have added a diesel additive to try and clear it

anyone else ad similar probs and what did you do about it please!!

had awful time with renault garage !! told me could not repair my laguna as as my car was 11 yrs old and the immobilier now not made after keeping me waiting a week they told me to take it to a scrap dealer!!!!! my car is in good condition new mot and drives well. I was appaled. got it taken to another garage where it was fully tested and repaired for under 100 pounds!! this garage told me they had rung renault and admitted that they had not even looked at it despite keeping me waiting a week with no intention of even looking 4 the faul!!! I rang to complain to their head office only to be met by a could not care less attitude. what a appalling service to customers

Sound like he egr valve getting dirty then sticking, which then effects the turbo. if te egr is not cleaned or replaced the turbo will blow its seals and fill the intercooler with oil and debris. the lack of power is the turbo not coming in properly. worst case the turbo blows burns the engine oil which you cant stop by turning off the engine and it then wrecks engine.
Fix regularly keep an eye and clean the egr valve. one other thing that also can affect power etc is a crack appearing on the intake manifold. these issues are not just Laguna issues, Go onto you tube and search for BMW X5 turbo problems

I find it inexcusable the a garage can charge ( Renault ) two hundred pounds for a replacement part when a computer operator who never gets his hands dirty can buy the part from the trade counter and fit in thirty minutes.

"the laguna was and is one of the worst built cars EVER minefield of faults expensive and difficult to repair, "

It's French .... overdesigned and under engineered. Shoddy crap