Melting steering wheel, sagging glovebox etc...

[-Eddie-]

I know people have some issues with their steering wheel etc, this thread may be of some help..

Up until a couple of weeks ago my steering wheel wasn’t annoying me, but since then it has gradually got worse in condition. I e-mailed my local Renault dealer (as a longshot) and got a call back almost instantly – car is booked in for a full interior health check to include steering wheel, the sagging of the glovebox, Recaro’s (though my seats are in good condition) etc etc etc. Basically what they do is check over everything inside, write up a detailed report and send off to Renault UK. Renault UK will then come back and decided how much of the bill they are going to cover.

All in all, happy with the customer service so far. Car is booked in for 9.30am Thursday morning so will keep updating this with correspondence from Renault UK!

roud:

 

[Willis]

Nice on Eddie, let us know how you get on!

 

[-Eddie-]

Quick update.

Went to my local dealer this morning for the interior health check. As mentioned, the check indicated the problems previously mentioned – melting steering wheel, sagging glovebox and also on the driver side Recaro the material was coming away. I was sent on my way and told to expect calls later on...

Got a call before lunchtime, the cost of the work BEFORE they see what discount etc Renault UK can offer is £1,032 inc VAT and labour. This cost is for a new steering wheel, new glovebox and Recaro repair.

I have been told to expect another call this afternoon or tomorrow with Renault UK’s proposals.

So far though, very impressed by my local dealers aftersales help and high level of customers service. Heres hoping to some discount of the £1,032..

 

[luke3]

Holy god £1032!!!!!!!!

Steering wheel will cost £150 from Karl, can get a retrim from edge on here as well for £600 or so!

 

[-Eddie-]

Holy god £1032!!!!!!!!

Steering wheel will cost £150 from Karl, can get a retrim from edge on here as well for £600 or so!

The leather steering wheel from the R27 with the controls etc is only £150 new!? Really?

 

[Fernandez]

Just sat in Renault now whilst they replace my steering wheel... :thumbsup:

 

[Roy]

£150 for the wheel £300 for the wheel and air bag all you need is the wheel

 

[-Eddie-]

Just sat in Renault now whilst they replace my steering wheel... :thumbsup:

Free of charge? Suppose you must be under warranty?

 

[luke3]

Wheel also comes with a steering wheel trim, then sell your old one for 40-50quid only costs you £100 for a new wheel bargain!

 

[-Eddie-]

Wheel also comes with a steering wheel trim, then sell your old one for 40-50quid only costs you £100 for a new wheel bargain!

Good thinking. I'll drop Karl a message. Thanks mate!

 

[Fernandez]

Free of charge? Suppose you must be under warranty?

Under warranty, looks spanking, although on the drive home I got showered with rubble from a lorry and have just noticed a small stone chip on the carbon bonnet... Not impressed, guess I'll just have to put a vented one on when they are ready

 

[-Eddie-]

Under warranty, looks spanking, although on the drive home I got showered with rubble from a lorry and have just noticed a small stone chip on the carbon bonnet... Not impressed, guess I'll just have to put a vented one on when they are ready

Forget the bonnet, I want the Recaro carbon spines!lol

 

[-Eddie-]

Update

Renault UK customer relations manager today called me to discuss the problems. The call itself lasted around 40 minutes and covered all aspects of the problems I am experiencing and what I am expecting or hoping to achieve. The lady on the other end of the phone was extremely helpful, explained that because this was a RenaultSport model Renault UK have to be seen to be proactive in helping with any customers problems.

I am now onto the next ‘stage’ where I have to take the car over to my local dealership and get photos taken so they can be sent off to customer relations. From this they will review the problem, the photos, the price and come back to me within 24hours with an offer.

I mentioned I was active on this forum – she focused on the fact I had mentioned that, so it may be worth mentioning for anyone who choses to go down this route. I am taking the car to my dealer this evening, my next update should be with an offer from Renault.

 

[matt_p]

sounds promising, keep us all updated!

 

[Stu197]

Steering Wheel

My 197 is on a 56 plate with 36000 on the clock...it suffered the dreaded steering wheel melt




I contacted my local Renault garage who said due to age of vehicle, lack of service history with Renault there was nothing they would do, it's not a know fault...new wheel fitted would be £518..!!!

Email with pics to Renault direct, then spoke to a lovely girl called Rachel in customer services/complaints....I only have to play £250 and they will pay rest!! Which is not bad...wheel is £156 alone and I get it fitted by Renault with 12 months warranty...!!

 

[-Eddie-]

Update

Received the call today with my offer.

The 3 faults to have repaired if I were to pay full price would be £1,035. This price includes labour and VAT. After a brief discussion today, the best Renault can offer me is a 50% saving. This brings the total cost down to £517.50.

Now, I don’t really know what to think about the offer as it only comes with a 12 month warranty and as we all know, the 3 faults I have complained about are all very common. If in 13 months time the steering wheel melts again etc – I won’t be happy paying any money to have the items replaced, as to me it is obvious the parts are not up to the job.

I have been given a ‘cooling off’ period and will think about what to do. The steering wheel is top of the agenda for me, the glovebox is annoying to look at and the Recaro fabric shouldn’t be coming away in the way it is. I may give them a call back and see if there would be any way to split payments up, or finance the work out over the course of the year as £517.50 is a lot to shell out just for these problems!

 

[Ian_R]

What plate is the car and how many miles on it? The steering wheel is a common fault on them as is the Recaros, is the car financed etc, if so i woud also mention this to Renault as at the end of the day they own the car, and say anything was to happen its in there interests for it to be tip top and free from defects (Failure of an item & not caused by you)

As the sale of goods act states that items must be fit for purposes etc, i.e. not degrading after 2 year and only 30k. So depending on the situation with mileage and year of the car i would also mention this.

Its worked for me on more than one occasion even tho i am still in warranty - i had to get a shock replaced and the dealer said as it was outside of 2 years they wouldn't touch it, call to Renault and they sorted it - i explained the car only had x amount of miles and was rarely used so this shouldn't be happening/

 

[frediiii]

has anyone ever made a poll about weather or not people suffering from melting steering wheels are using hand moisturing cosmetics of any kind? i have talked to several people from the twingo scene who suffer from similar problems with their wheels and all of them seem to be regular skincare users... I had the twingo for 4 years and never had a problem with the wheel while others where "melting" a few months after leaving the factory... also a friend of mine is car salesman for citroen. his colleague used lots of skincare products too and since he started working there they got 3 steeringwheels replaced under warranty from the cars he's driving regularly...

 

[smiler]

or possibly steering wheel problem could occure from wearing a wedding ring or something similar?

 

[-Eddie-]

There where 12 of us at a meet yesterday and the thing that detracted from the interior of at least 7 or our cars was the steering wheel melting. To think that Renault don't recognise this as a common fault is beyond me. The dealer also told me that a guy bought a new 200 cup, steering wheel was in a terrible state 8 months after he bought it and Renault wouldn't replace it under warranty.

I understand there is general wear and tear on items, but when you look at the leather Recaro's in the likes of the Trophy, Meganes which don't have any wear it makes me wonder how the steering wheel can get so bad (i'd look over it if we lived in an extremely hot climate...but Northern Ireland is anything but hot lol.)

Anyway, i'm going over to the dealer tomorrow to try some face to face negotiating. If Renault would stretch to 70% I would have the work done no problem. The rest of the car is IMMACULATE, inside and out so its not like I have abused the car and i'm chancing my arm with some discount.