10 February 2012
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renault trafic reviews by year of make: 1995 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Read all reviews
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Absolute utter garbage, never ever buy a Renault! If there is ever one piece of advice to take on board this is it.. trust me! Please, please please, do not waste your hard earned money on one of these over hyped skips. They may as well sell them either new or second hand with a tag saying ’beware this piece of metal your about to buy will require bank rolling’!!! Utter dog muck. If Carlsberg made vans, it wouldn’t be a Renault. Buy a Ford Transit! A proper van made to do proper hard work and won’t let you down.
Submitted: 13/05/2011 14:35:06
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Bought van new March 04. Looks and drives great, serviced at dealer for first two in order to validate warranty, very expensive, but had it done reg by local garage after that. Normal repairs per service brakes every two yrs on avg etc. New air mass flow sensor at 60k found by AA no power below 2000 rvs had to floor it just to get up a gear, cost £350 at dealer. New boost pressure sensor and diesel hose, diagnostic to find fault £325 at 70k. At 81k and 6yrs the gearbox has gone, apparently this is a common fault on all Renault, Nissan and Vauxhall vans, the cost of a gearbox fitted is £1200 inc vat, but all say do the clutch as well total avg £2000. Timeing belt at 81k avg £400, van is worth in 2011 market £3200. The van still looks great but if I throw the money at it, is it the start of the probs? Shame really the cost outweights the value. The vans are great but enginering lets them down, 6yrs from new isnt long for this to happen.
Submitted: 22/02/2011 21:01:55
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I had my van SWB 1.9 from new in November 2004 on the 54 reg. Paid £11.090 plus vat new , which included metalic paint/air con, electric windows mirrors etc and spot lights and full Bulk head in load area. I have not had a problem in 6 years of ownership until recently, the Power steering pump blew its back off when I put it on full lock one day. But at 116,000 miles in 6 years with a oil and filter change every 9000 miles it has performed very well. It is still on it’s original clutch but put this down to the way I drive and not holding it on it’s clutch on hills. Would I have another? YOU BET! The key is do a mid-service of oil and oil filter every 9000miles and use fully synthetic. As for the steering pump, well you expect something to give after 116000 miles and having read many forums on the trafic van this is it’s weak point power, steering pump or hoses. My front discs lasted until 80,000 miles, but the rears only lasted until 36000 miles? One track rod end and a new hand brake cable.
Submitted: 20/12/2010 21:38:03
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Garbage. Poorly made from poor materials. Can’t stop air getting into the fuel line. Gearbox clearly about to let go. Brake problems. well..they are Renaults.....shoulda known better.
Submitted: 17/12/2010 21:39:17
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I have a Renault Trafic 1.9 dci 100 hp what a van, excellent to drive, driver position is perfect, gears changes are a little too harsh, but if you want to run your van the best you can, use BIO DIESEL!! We average 60+ only thing is you have to change your filters every 6 months to keep it in top notch and on normal diesel we are looking at 40-45. Take care of it and you will be surprised.
Submitted: 15/09/2010 21:00:25
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I bought one at 3 years old, and all that went wrong was the electrical management box when the indicators wouldnt turn off. Then at just over 100k miles the gearbox completly went. The reconditioners moaned because it wasn’t usable. Then at 123k miles the gearbox went again. the gearboxes on these can go at any milage but around the 100k mark seems to be most common according to my mechanic who had one in at 30k just two weeks out of warranty and they wouldn’t repair it under warranty. Verdict smart at first, fast, quiet, then service costs begin to kick in . The gearbox ought to be redesigned, it’s not up to the job and it’s widely known now. Give it the boot. So I will probably sell it before it goes wrong again and buy a VW Transporter.
Submitted: 12/08/2010 15:00:01
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Bought new in December 2004. The steering rack went at 18 months old and was repaired under warranty. The alternator went at just over 3 yrs old but was replaced by Renault when asked, even though out of warranty. It has been well serviced from new and changed oil first time at 5k. It pulls like a train fully loaded and towing my 18’ caravan. You do pay the price at the pumps, with the big 2.5 lump, 31mpg at best. Only on second set of tyres and replaced pads once; discs, gearbox and clutch original. Think I must have been lucky so far. Considered buying a new Vito next but seen some real horror stories.
Submitted: 28/07/2010 16:14:05
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I own a Trafic 04 plate, bought it new. I was very happy with it to start with even though it went back after a week as fuel flap would not open. Problem fixed imediately. Took it to Renault dealer for first service where one of the workers there took it for a joy ride to the local macdonalds. Service cost over £200 pounds, most exspensive car wash ever! Anyway getting to the interesting bit, at 60,000 miles the gearbox got stiff, I took it to my local Renault dealers where they took it for a test drive and said everything was fine but it would be best to change gearbox oil, which cost £130. Three weeks after the clutch went. This time I took it to a very highly recomended family owned independent garage. when removing the clutch they noticed the bearings in the gearbox were shot. Yes you guessed it, I had to replace the gearbox. 12 months later and another clutch, the engine decided to blow up. To cut a long story short the van is six years old now it has had 4 clutches, new gearbox, new engine, 2 sets of bearings and that’s just the bits I can remember. Ok its done 115,000 miles now but it has been looked after and serviced regular. Please take time to read this if you are thinking of buying one. They look good and drive nice on a good day, but be warned. I have spent 8,500.00(pounds)on this van on top of what I paid for the van new. Owning a Renault Trafic can cause serious weight loss to your wallet.
Submitted: 27/07/2010 11:24:07
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I’ve had my van 5 1/2 years from New, November 57 plate, renewed oil after first 6 months then every 9 months after that all its service life added fuel injector cleaner every year. Apart from blocking windscreen washers and a hand brake cable sieze recently the van has been faultless. Apart from air con has discharged though, and has a leak in its system. I would buy another, mine is still on its original clutch at 110,000 mile and front discs lasted 76.000 miles, rears went at 35,000? Look after the engine with regular oil changes and it won’t bite you later on in life.
Submitted: 16/05/2010 22:07:58
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Similar van to the Vivaro, where do I start ... Electrics kept cutting out while driving along – it would just stop. I went into an auto electrician and fixed it for £200; they said a wire was tracking in the loom? OK for 600 miles then went out to it one afternoon and there was no central locking, no immobiliser and lamp flashing on the dash. I called AA, they couldn’t fix it. I started searching on the net - could it be the black box under dash? I took it out wiped the board inside and reconnected it. It started fine for a day then nothing again… I sent the box off for repair as I thought it may be faulty. It was sent back with no faults at all, put it back in and it started again no problem. OK for another day... then nothing again. So I decided to take out the ECU and maybe send off for check. So I took it out completely and put in the garage to pack for sending, went out to the van and guess what? The immobiliser light was flashing on the dash, put ECU back in and drove around the block, OK. Left the van for 3 days, just kept checking that light was flashing, went out to use it and light had stopped flashing of its own accord and nothing ... What next I ask?
Submitted: 15/04/2010 15:21:15
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What a crock of s**t. I would advise anybody who is thinking of buying a van with this engine to seriously think again. It is nice to drive, comfy and a great size but the mechanics/electrics are c**p and it is not reliable in the slightest, in my experience. I have had a new gear box, clutch, alternator, EGR valve, air mass sensor plus numerous other bits and bobs. I would stay STAY CLEAR.
Submitted: 11/05/2009 08:52:40
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I bought this van brand new, my problem was the paintwork (unfortunately I bought a red one) and after 18 months white cloudy circles started to show - first on the bonnet then on most of the panels. I took it to my Renault dealer and the first thing he said to me was "Renault won’t be interested in this" (van still under warranty). I even had a phone call from France, all they did was to cut the paintwork back. It lasted a couple of years. Had to sell it before I wanted to due to deterioration. I don’t rate Renault after-sales or my local dealer (Fish Bros.) and would not buy another Renault ever.
Submitted: 14/04/2009 11:58:01
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I had the same problem but I had a rattle so, being under warranty I took it to Renault and they told me it was the dual mass fly wheel making the rattle so they took it in only to find out my van had a solid fly wheel - do they know what there on about? I thought they would of checked the serial number on the van first? So they put it all back together with a new clutch & master cylinder & wanted £1000. I told them they got me in the garage under false pretences & only paid £200 - never trust main dealers. I have a 54 plate that carries its maximum wait every day and I get around 42 mpg which I think is pretty good... and I don’t hang around.
Submitted: 12/12/2008 17:03:11
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This was my second Trafic - the first has major fuel system problems (2 new fuel pumps, new injectors, new tank, new alternator, new power steering pump etc etc) but as the dealers were very good I tried a Renault again. Unfortunately this one has had major problems also. As the back brakes were sticking (after being checked 6 times at the dealers), it required 2 new back disks and pads. Just before the warranty expired, it wasn’t starting just as it should for a few months and I thought it was just needing a service (which was due soon). About 2 months after the warranty ran out, it was getting really difficult to start so I had a quick look on the web at the forums - it seemed that it might be a problem with the TDC sensor - a common problem seemingly and about £100 to fix. I put it into the Renault dealer and they said it was a faulty injector at £440 to fix. I complained to Renault UK who eventually said they would cover 50% of the cost as it was just out of warranty. Unfortunately, the cylinder head was destroyed (somehow) and (all of a sudden) the 4 injectors were faulty. It ended up costing (with the 50%) discount over £1,500 to put right. Now a few months later, the clutch is slipping and the water pump is leaking and there is an oil leak from somewhere (I think oil is leaking onto the clutch). I have given Renault 2 tries by buying 2 new vans but although they are nice to drive they are quite greedy on fuel and seem to be catastrophically unreliable. Please also note that both vans did break down because of the EGR valve at least once and had to be towed home. I am never buying another Renault.
Submitted: 26/08/2008 11:01:51
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