Renault responds to Clio bonnet report

Renault responds to Clio safety fears

Renault has responded to reports on the BBC consumer show Watchdog that there is a potentially dangerous problem with the bonnet catch of the Clio MkII (1998-2005, with Clio Campus MkII models continuing on sale alongside the current Clio MkIII).

Watchdog first reported on the issue in April 2006, telling of how Clio bonnets had suddenly opened while the car was on the move, obscuring the driver's vision and, in some cases, cracking the windscreen. In January 2007 it reported that more than 250 people had contacted the show to say the same thing had happened to them - in several cases, at 70mph on the motorway.

Renault said it had investigated the claims, and that it believed the problem had occurred because the owners had not closed their bonnets properly. However, independent specialists who inspected affected Clios suggested there was a design flaw with the bonnet's catch.

The report was followed up this month, when Watchdog said it had now received over 1,000 reports of the problem from Clio owners, and some stories of serious accidents as a result. Renault maintains that it has investigated the issue and not found a manufacturing defect, though it has ordered its dealers to check all Clio II bonnet lock mechanisms as part of routine servicing. It is now also contacting all known owners of Clio IIs inviting them to take their car to a Renault dealership for checks, with any necessary work to be carried out at no cost. Renault says owners can contact its customer services department on 0800 072 3372 or via e-mail - customer.services@renault.co.uk - for further information.

Renault has issued a further statement today saying that it 'has liaised fully with the independent governing body, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) on the issue and both Renault and VOSA have concluded that the bonnet catch mechanism of the Clio II has no design or construction defect...

'Renault and VOSA have concluded that the mechanism of the bonnet catch on Clio II is safe, reliable and fit for purpose, providing the vehicle is correctly maintained and the bonnet is closed as prescribed. Our investigations discovered several cases of poor maintenance on Clio IIs where the bonnet had opened whilst the car was being driven.'

Source: [url=http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=15915]Channel 4 News[/url]