[Guest]

My car was with the dealer yesterday to have some stuff looked at. The main issues were:

- The paint on the driver's side front alloy wheel cracking under the lacquer
- The leather on the driver's seat bolster worn through to the material underneath the top layer

So far the dealer has said that wheels aren't covered by the anti-corrosion warranty but that they'll speak to Renault customer services (after first of all trying to brush it off as my fault for using abrasive materials on the surface!), and that the seat is simply wear and tear.

Neither of these answers seems particularly acceptable to me. The wheel is clearly defective (someone I know from another car forum worked for O.Z until recently and has said it sounds like botched painting, leading to the cracking - therefore manufacturing defect) and I fail to see how a bare patch in leather trim can possibly be considered normal wear and tear after less than 15k miles.

Has anyone else experienced these problems, or more importantly managed to get them fixed not at their own expense?!

Cheers

 

[Alex_172]

I don't think its unreasonable at all mate.

The wheel is a hard one to prove, purely coz they always have the arguement of what you've cleaned it with but I'd still push for them to fix it. Lets face it a wheel to them is pence so why shouldn't they replace or refub it.

The seat (I don't feel) should have worn like that in only 15,000 miles. I had my 172 for 14,500 miles and there wasn't a hint of wear on the seats. Cause and even bigger stink about that coz that shouldn't happen.

 

[Guest]

i got the drivers side seat cover replaced under warranty, the car had 16k on it and the leather looked worse than the 60k mk1 172 i had just px'd.

I just pointed out i wasn't happy and as the car was only 16 months old surely renault didn't expect the seats to only last 16 months of it's life.

 

[Guest]

I had the same problem with the leather seat and managed to get it replaced under warrenty had 18k on the car at the time.

With regards to the wheel i'd get on to renault Uk if you have no joy with the dealer's i'm sure they will do what the can to get if replace for you like Alex said it's pence to them :wink:

 

[uncle]

I am not sure about the wheel but the seat should not show that sort of wear and tear after such low milage. This is not classed as fair wear and tear. The Seat is "NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE" and quote them that on your return or e-mail. The seat material has either been specified incorrectly or manufatured wrong, either way it should not show this amout of wear after such a short life.

Uncle

 

[andy bassett]

i also had the same prob with the seat and got it replaced under warrenty, only the cover tho not the seat.

 

[Alex]

Im getting mine replaced on friday as my fas ass flatened some of the padding. from what ive been told if you have heated seats then there is a chance the whole seat base gets changed including hte leather bit.

 

[Bucky]

I have an 05 with 13K on the clock and its going in next week because the drivers seat looks well worn in comparison with the passenger seat.

 

[Guest]

Mine is the same forgot to mention it today when i took it in

 

[Alex]

Well for the record i took the last leather base with grey stitching that has heater seats

 

[BlackRat250]

Give it ago mate, I think they should replace it. If they don't consider taking it to a different dealership.

 

[Guest]

It is the cloth on mine it has gone all bobbly :?

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all the replies. I have told the dealer that I'm not happy or convinced by their explanation, and the service manager has said he'll take it up with RCS - I intend calling them myself anyway.

Alex - if you've had the seat base, can I have the backrest?! - it's that bit that's gone tatty on mine!!! :lol:

 

[Alex]

lol....got the car back today. Its only the base they have changed and put the old leather back on it.

If your not happy consult your dealer.

 

[Guest]

The dealer called today saying they'd spoken to RCS... still no can do, still sticking to the wear & tear line.

So I called RCS myself and was basically told that, if that's what the dealer said, then that's what they had to believe, despite the fact that, in the case of the alloy wheel anyway, I have third party specialist opinion that it's a manufacturing fault with the paint.

So I'm going to another Renault dealer tomorrow to see if they are more accommodating. Whoever fixes these gripes gets all my servicing and MOT business!