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512K views 1K replies 218 participants last post by  MaddogReynolds 
#1 ·
BBC Watchdog report :: Faulty Renault Clio bonnet catches

Anyone heard of any problems with the bonnet catch on Clios? My bonnet opened while I was driving along at 60 mph and caused £2,500 worth of damage even though the interior bonnet catch had not been pulled.

All information gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.
 
#426 · (Edited)
I agree with Aaron. If you don't speak to them you won't know. I am confident that they will help you out, but as I said before, it will be on a goodwill basis. Maybe you shouldn't say too much about getting rid of the car because you're in fear of the same thing happening to your girlfriend. But see how it goes and play it by ear. We all wish you well from our end.

Meanwhile, Meesh had a good idea of asking around to see if anyone has a spare black Clio bonnet for sale and a rather influential person asked what year and where in UK you are. I said you are in Wales and it is a 2001 Clio. I hope that's correct. This gent is himself in NorthWales so if he can find one, he is sure to let us know and then we will go on from there.

Best of everything, as always,
 
#427 ·
I agree with the above posts. It is worth getting back to them with your details and hopefully on this occasion they will do the right thing.

As Vass says I have someone onto getting you that bonnet. I think they are looking to do a report on the car as well I am just waiting on more info. I passed on your details hopefully you will now be in contact with them?
 
#430 ·
thanks meesh. just phoned renault but they can't find a case number from my initial email so they say they're going to phone me back. If i don't hear anything i'll try again tomorrow. Just looking at my service history i have stamps for 19k miles, 50k and 55k (when i bought it). theres a 3 year gap between the first two so i'm thinking renault may try to lay blame on this for the accident but we shall wait and see.

Thanks for the good will for the op, the only thing we're waiting for now is a date, the hospital is waiting for a key hole surgeon to become available! fingers crossed it won't be long.
 
#434 ·
They said that as far as they are concerned their is no problem with the bonnet catch on their cars! I asked them to examine it and they said no. They said that if I could get a report in writing to say it was faulty they would consider coming to look at it. In the end they said it was my fault and claimed that I didn't close the bonnet properly (bonnet hadn't been up for weeks and I always tug on it to make sure it is closed and do a visual to check it is flush).

I found it very hard to speak to Sandra, she is very polite and sorry for your accident but keeps just repeating the company line that they have been told!
 
#435 ·
ah right, well there's obviously something wrong with their catches or it wouldn't have been on watchdog. To make a point, i told a nurse in dialysis today what happened to the car, and she said 'don't tell me.... do you drive a clio??'. She'd seen the program on the bbc also.
 
#437 ·
hi meesh, do you know of anywhere i can get the hinges for fitting the bonnet? i'm guessing my ones will need replacing. and any idea what price i am looking at? also, i think i'll replace the hook mechanism to make the car safe for the next person, any idea what that will cost?

thanks again
 
#447 ·
My bonnet lock cost £19.17 +VAT and the bonnet pin cost £31.53 + VAT. Even though I claimed through my insurance they didn't pay for this part as they said it was faulty! My insurer did tell Renault this but wouldn't put it in writing!!

My excess was £400 and that me lost my 3 years no claims discount so if you can manage it cheaper then go for it.
 
#438 ·
Got info today that a flat primed black bonnet all in for £123.65 or you could try your luck on these sites -

The Parts Gateway: Find A Part
Car Parts. Used Parts. Engines & Gearboxes Used Car Spares & Second Hand Parts. Car Breakers Online
Renault Specialist Breakers, Renault Specialist Breakers

I am heading out just now but I will get onto checking out the cost of the other parts later for you.

Good luck today with the manager at customer services I will be interested in their response. Remember and tell them they are adding to an already stressful time.
 
#440 ·
hi guys i spoke with a manager, and he could only suggest getting my insurance to come out to assess whether the accident was due to a manufacturer defect or a personal error by me. He says this can take time which i don't really have due to needing the car roadworthy to make my dialysis sessions. What do you guys think?
 
#441 ·
Keep pushing, they won't offer a courtesy car as "they don't have any to offer", but you could say you will get a hire car, and it would be good if they could cover the costs etc etc - esp, since it's for special circumstances - just keep pushing them!

They did cave in to me, but unfortunately no one else (that I am aware off (yet)!)...

Else, you would have to claim through your insurance to get the courtesy car this route!

Good luck either way!!!!! A.
 
#443 · (Edited)
Did they email you back or did they phone? They seem to be inordinately afraid of putting things in writing. Do you feel up to asking them for a formal written reply before you engage your insurer to carry out an inspection? Be sure, first of all, that your insurer is not 'owned' by Renault in which case you won't be getting an impartial report, now will you? The chap (Anthony) you spoke to... is he very far from you? He is an engineer who might be able to give you an independent report. No harm in asking him (if you have his number), and he is very savvy and aware of the problem in topic.
 
#444 ·
they phoned me this morning. he said the only way i can do this is to contact my ins, then get my ins to come the same time as renault's assessor. to be honest i am not sure where anthony is from, but i will email him. my problem is that i need the work done quickly to get back on the road to be able to get to hospital 3 times weekly.

will it cost to get my insurance out to make a report?
 
#445 ·
If you are claiming from your insurer, they will inspect the car as a matter of course; they MAY then attribute fault in either way, but you can always ask for a copy of their technical report... it is your car and your insurance after all and you have paid for both.

Anthony is in north Wales somewhere but not sure where... that's unless I am mixing things up, but I don't think so. As a matter of fact, he may be very happy to inspect your vehicle to assess first-hand this polemic of the Clio II.
 
#446 ·
Ant did seem keen to inspect the car but I know he passed the details onto someone else who was closer to him. I would give him an email with all your info in it and see what he can do.

A report from the RAC or the AA costs about £65 if you don't want to go down the insurance route but that is adding to your expenses. Did you tell Renault why you needed the car? I am actually disgusted that they are not willing to fix your car as a good will gesture. Caring responsible manufacturer my a****!
 
#449 ·
Good, so is that your bonnet and windscreen sorted then for about £220 (I am presuming the windscreen excess is £60) not too bad. I think not claiming on your insurance is a big bonus, I am presuming you are my age ish (24) so any claim push’s the premium right up.

p.s hope you are all out their enjoying Valentines night, I am stuck at home as my boyfriend is at the pub watching the football! Don't worry he will make it up to me!
 
#490 ·
Hey Meesh,

You can increase the number of posts per page so that you don't have to reload 84 times. I have mine set at 20 posts per page but you can have even 30 or 40 if you wish.

Go to the "CP USER" link (leftmost on the toolbar) and then select "edit options" from the links on the left.

You can also choose to default to receiving email notification of additions to your subscribed threads.

I hope all is well with you.

vass
 
#452 ·
I think this thread is about being proactive; I haven't understood that anyone has suffered an incident. Mind you, I have one eye on the lappie and one on Bolton/Arsenal just now.

I think that, as far as bonnet safety is concerned, WD40 is too thin for what the devices need and some frothy creeping oil, which is much thicker, had best be employed on the slide (the black plastic bit fixed to the bonnet) after a clean with a small brush dipped in some diesel.
 
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