Renault Modus road tests and consumer car reviews

Renault Modus 2004

The designer of the Modus needs his head examined. Who in their right mind would make a car that you have to take off the front to change a bulb? Has anyone tried to change the fuel filter on the 1.5DCI? It’s not the easiest, tucked away behind the offside wheel arch. I have had to fit 2 new front coil springs after 55000 and it can be heavy on tyres. The spare wheel is another gripe, my last car was 7 years old when I sold it, the spare had never been on and went with the car like new. The spare tyre on the Modus is underneath and looks as if it should be 25 years old. It is also rubbish when you have to change tyres with a stupid cable affair; if you want to stay clean you need to call some one out. The Renault main dealers think that your pockets are lined with gold with the prices they charge. Otherwise the car is not too bad.

Responses to this review

What is your actual mpg please? - Marty Cleary from County Tyrone

Renault Modus 2007

Two weeks ago a head lamp went. My son spent over two hours taking the front of the car off in order to get to the lamp. Seriously, you have to detach the body work at the front of the car, how crazy is that? Today, once again, when all the garages are closed, the other lamp has gone. This means we have to do without a lamp until a garage can book it in as a job next week. You have to undo screws underneath the car, above in the engine, and then in the wheel arch. Then you have to remove the front body work above the bumper. Only then can you begin to think about how to change the bulb. This is a serious safety flaw with this car. You ought, for your own safety, be able to change a bulb without it being booked in to be done by a garage for a lot of money. The bulb went on Saturday evening, which means we have to drive illegally until after the weekend. I will never, ever buy a car with this design fault again. My advice? Don’t buy one.

Renault Modus 1.5 DCi Expression 2004

I have had my 1.5 DCi for 5 years it’s the most reliable car I have ever driven. This owes me nothing, I have only replaced the rear wiper and it has never failed an MoT.

Renault Modus 1500 DCI 2004

I bought my diesel Modus met red from NTShaws of louth 04 plate, cost £5,300 aprox., with 34 thousand miles on. The car has only one little fault, every now and then it refuses to start on the first key, about 3 times a month, but saying that the car is like new been seviced and looked after, it does approx 62 around town or 66 on a run. The little 1500 DCI is good,runs well, gears perfect, tons of headroom, plus they look trendy,not an old peoples car, it also is nippy, does not drag its heels. Would I have another one? Yes, I would, but go for the 08 model or after; the later ones are cheaper on road tax if you get the right model, but go for diesel not petrol. It’s a funny little car. Marks out of 10? I give it 9 only because the idiot who designed it forgot to leave a gap to change the headlight bulb; don’t go to Renault to get it changed, they are all the same, they dont stop laughing when they tell you the cost to put new one in... How much????!

Responses to this review

I had the same problem a while back which was really noticable in winter. All I did was first clean out the fuel injectors with a cleaner I got from Halfords. You pour the entire contents into the tank and then fill up. Then I changed from buying cheap supermarket diesels (I understand they lack the expensive detergents that go in premium brands and tend to be "waxy" in colder weather) to a standard premium brand like Shell. That was the end of my problem - Don Tracy from London

Renault Modus 2007

Hi, I have had a Renault Modus for six months. It’s very easy for parking, the only bad point is the way that the car accelarates as it’s very slow.

Renault Modus Diamonique dci 1.5 2007

Great car to drive, good all round vision and easy to get in and out of, also lots of cubby holes for storage, I especially like the one under the passenger seat, which is perfect for my handbag when no one is sat there, stops it falling off the seat. Only a few gripes, when I turn into my drive in 2nd gear it tends to speed up even though the drive is at a slight incline, also there is a vibrating noise on the passenger side where the air bag is and finally the brakes are very keen and sometimes my husband nearly goes through the windscreen when I brake too hard.

Renault Modus 1.5dci 2009

A super car to drive around town - it has a fantastic turning circle, great visibility and driving position, is suprisingly whizzy and goes forever on a gallon of diesel. Next time I will choose one with the sunroof and in a brighter colour.

Renault Modus dynamique 2005

My 2005 modus 1.4 dynamique has had 1 coil replaced at 3 years old with 18000 on the clock then at 4 years old and 22000 miles mine also suddenly developed a steering fault out of the blue. The column was sent off for repair but 10 months later it has gone again at 25000 miles. I face a huge bill when it goes into the main dealers for investigation and I will not be keeping it after. I am very disappointed with the Renault make.

Responses to this review

Exactly the same has happened to us. We had coils replaced last year and now have a steering fault that will probably cost us an arm and a leg. I would love to know how your problem solved itself - we will find out next week how much the dealer will rip us off for! - Paul Tyack from Hampshire

Can I just ask, did anybody manage to resolve their steering problem with the Renault Modus? My power steering has gone and the diagnostics say it is the ECU that has failed. I can’t afford a new part from Renault. Does anybody know anywhere where column can be sent for repair? Thanks - Debbie Brown from Yorkshire

Renault Modus Hatch 2005

Well I have changed my mind about my Renault Modus. Back in 2008 I gave a report about the car. I said it was bad on rear tyres. I found cheap tyres on the net and doubled the mileage. The car has now done 140,000 miles and I am totaly besoted, and it definitley loves me back. I said in the last report that I would never buy another. I may not have to, the way this little car is driving I see it out living me. It is totally imaculate and could be taken for a two year old. Brilliant.

Responses to this review

What tyres do you use? Tony Wright from Cornwall

Renault Modus 2005

Bought my Modus in May 2008 when it was 3 years old. A year later all the coils went, 2 at a time so numerous trips to garage. Now the power steering and column costing £990 has gone, no warnings or problems just stopped and of course only the Renault dealership can sort the problem! It’s only done 30,000 miles and all the Renault dealership said well it is 5 years old! I bought it at 3 years old they didn’t say in the sales pitch it will conk out after 2 years of having it. My husband’s Honda Civic is 10 years old and never had a problem. I didn’t have a problem with my Corsa until 9 years old and 60,000 miles! Never again!

Responses to this review

We have a 54 plate 1.5 dci Modus. Two electric window have had to be replaced, the road spring has failed on right rear and now had to pay £1,250 for a power steering column replacement. Nice to drive but typically French reliability and build i.e. not good - Anthony Holingsworth from Hampshire

Renault Modus Grande 2008

Great litle car to drive, very good MPG, goes well. Big Gripe: Brakes grab until worn in every trip, leave the car for over hour and brakes grab even at very low speed under 2mph. Had car back to dealer who found no fault of course, not brakes, had been worn in. Anyone had same problem? Please advise.

Renault Modus expression 2006

Horrible,depressing recycled plastic interior. Nylon like fabrics worthy of the 1970s. Carpet like egg box material. Performance of a snail. Shadily designed car that requires the financial input of a Jag to maintain, due to designed in difficulties, such as the ridiculous front lights and rare tyre designs.

Renault Modus 2005

My Modus has done 43,000 miles and gone through 8 coil packs. Then the cam belt went - £ to sort this out. It’s only 4 years old. Great car, apar from the dodgy 1.4 engine. No more Renault’s for me...

Renault Modus 2004

Don’t ever try to change a headlamp bulb on the Modus!! In fact, don’t try to change anything under the "bonnet" of a Modus. Thanks Mr Modus designer for costing me £40 for a new £3 bulb!

Renault Modus 1.4 16v Oasis 2006

Super little car, flies up hill for a small engine,and returns good mpg but has anyone had to change a front sidelight bulb? No? Well I have! The bulb costs about £1 - to change it at the local Renault garage costs about £30!!! Why? Because the bumper has to be removed, fortunately my local garage found a short cut, long story, but didn’t cost anything! Then there’s the oil filter, what a stupid place to put it, you have to be pretty agile to change it, took another local garage 1 hour to change the oil and filter at a cost of £29 ,the poor guy that did the job said "We wont be doing any more of these at that price". Why do the makers try and make little jobs so complicated, I cannot believe that they want us to take our cars to main dealers every time the slightest little job has to be done!!!

Renault Modus 2006

I bought my car second hand and can honestly say I didn’t have any problems until THE SUNROOF IMPLODED on me!! This happened as I was travelling down the motorway at 70mph and could have been disastrous!!! Suddenly finding myself covered with glass was not something I expected... nor was there any warning!!!! Having checked on the internet, I have since found that this is NOT an isolated incident and is a recurring problem with Renault cars!!!!! I will NOT be buying another Renault!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Renault Modus 1.5 dci 2005

It has been a great little car in many aspects. The one huge gripe I have though is that it goes through rear tires like there is no tomorrow. After 60.000 miles and 6 set of tyres I think I will not be buying another. John Greig

Renault Modus 1.5 dCi 106 Grand Dynamique 5dr 2007

Brilliantly flexible car that I just love to drive. Extremely spacious for it’s size - I have two teenage boys, both over six foot and they find sitting in the back very comfortable. Very cheap to run and quite stylish.

Renault Modus Oasis 2006

I’ve been driving my Modus for nearly 2 years and its great - smooth handling, good MPG, loads of headroom and has a nifty double-opening boot! Great!

Renault Modus 2005

I love my Modus! I have had it from new and it is quite simply the best car I have ever driven. You can park it easily, the fact that the seats can collapse/move is an added bonus, and you sit nice and high and get good visibility of the road. I also feel very safe in the car and it is so easy to drive. When my lease expires in April 2008, I shall probably end up getting another Modus. Well done Renault!

Renault Modus 1.4 16V Expression

Nice compact car with very spacious interior. It’s extremely responsive and therefore very easy to drive although I am going to mark it down regarding visibility as the windscreen pillars are quite chunky. The other downside is the boot space which is a bit mean although you can slide the rear seats forward. Good car but nothing special.