Melting Steering Wheel: Renault Reply

[timmmah]

My 182 (04 REG) with 52,000 has a steering wheel which looks like this:

Am I just lucky or can I expect this happening to me soon?

 

[CUPCRAZY]

My 52 plate cup is fine.

 

[r8byb]

Some must be lucky, mine is absolutly screwed:|

 

[Lee]

I didn't have any problems with the wheels on my 172, 182 or Trophy. The Trophy had the most miles on it at 42k, as well as doing the most track days, yet the wheel was perfect still.

 

[osbid172]

My fix

Mine was nearly as bad as the MarkCup wheel in the first pics.

I dont have any before pics.

It was certainly well melted by 20K

I used a piece of plastic - a credit card should do & just scraped the melty bits off the wheel - i've tried to shoe the technique in the pics - its not perfect but its so much better
just kept scraping & scraping - real smooth now

 

[John D]

Surely the only fix is to buy a properly engineered car next time?

Bingo!

All the moaning on this thread about "disgusting Renault" is a bit ridiculous really. Its a cheap French car. This kind of things happens! Everyones happy to pay the lower asking price due to poorer residuals than other German marques but does'nt want to have their cake and eat it. Fair enough if it falls apart within the warranty but I'm certainly not expecting Renault to do anything about a 2nd hand 6yr old 60k car like mine for instance. Why should they?

Before I bought mine I did research and read up on all the pros' and cons'. I was fully aware of the steering wheel and other build quality issues. I bought it as for the money it is a great car to drive.

 

[W111ALG]

Can someone put up the address of the department that deals with these complaints at Renault, I have a fair bit of experience challenging companies over things like this and would like to try my luck. Apologies if address has previously been posted.

 

[theduck]

It would be Renault customer services. Address hasnt been posted as there is a sticky gathering info at the moment for a joint complaint.

 

[tameracingdriver]

Renault are twunts. Mine was knackered, but was still in warranty yet they refused to repair it stating that it was "wear and tear" - in a 15K miles car. Absolutely ridiculous IMO.

 

[Karlos182]

A couple of months ago I noticed that mine has also started this bubbling/melting nonsense. Mines an 04 plate with 64000. I must say Mark's is the worst I think I've ever seen!

 

[sean_d]

if anyones split before the warranty is finished then theyll get replaced wont the :S

Mines fine at the moment but its only done 24000

 

[-J-]

The ammount of complaints we used to have at RUK when i was there relating to this issue. TBH its not just a Renault thing, My Ford KA i owned as a 1st car, i got it new and within 2 years the steering wheel had melted.

Ford told me to do one and wouldnt replace under warranty as said it was something on my hands causing it like aftershave.

Now with my 53 reg cup with 20k on the clock im on my 2nd wheel and thats now melting to LOL It becuase its not leather used on the wheel, but cheap plastic mock leather.

Im waiting for a trimmers to come back to me about a leather re-trim on one of my wheels.

 

[Andi-B]

Mines a 02 plate 1.2 16v Dynamique and the steering wheels starting to go soft and melting now, but after 6 years and 60K I can't claim a new one, even though it's the OEM wheel.

Will have to pay for a new one, but good luck taking action guys.

 

[Karlos182]

Ultimately, I can't see Renault helping out anyone outside their warranty period.
So that leaves us with three options:
1) New aftermarket steering wheel, whereby you would lose your airbag and cruise control buttons.
2) New Reanult steering wheel (sounds expensive).
3) Current wheel re-trimmed (no idea on cost for that one though?).

 

[scottyb]

my 03 52plate 1.2 is exactly the same. ive only done 43k

its just something i deal with tbh. it was like that when i bought it, just worse now. scrape it off like above?

 

[tameracingdriver]

2) New Reanult steering wheel (sounds expensive).

£300.

 

[Munday]

I have an 05 182 Cup on 32k miles and my steering wheel is showing signs of melting. I think it will be ok until this time next year because lets face it, the summer is nearly over.

I rarely use my cruise control so I would probably get an after market wheel when it finally does need replacing.

 

[kristian]

1. Jaffa182
2. whatisjustis
3. John.med
4. Cupster
5. Clairemae
6. 182kev
7. martynrg
8. kevin.s
9. CupDude
10. koi
11. Hazza
12. Dajones
13. BioHzrd - Mk3 30K :/
14. dangerous daves mummys 182 @24k
15. Beatjunkie
16. Len_Beach
17. Martin_89 (Destroyed @ 47k / thumbgrip split at 21k)
18. Nafeun (Split thumb grip + melted, 2003 172 Cup @ 38k)
19. Goders172Sort ( 47K Melted & split thumbgrip)
20. kristian( 41k 182 melting at the top and side)

 

[portiapinks]

Hi I've just bought a 172, its a few years old, the interior is in really good nick...then u have a batterd looking wheel, asked renualt for a new one b4 I bought it.....said no!!!!!.
They must be faulty, renualt should replace them!!!

 

[BioHzrd]

Hi I've just bought a 172, its a few years old, the interior is in really good nick...then u have a batterd looking wheel, asked renualt for a new one b4 I bought it.....said no!!!!!.
They must be faulty, renualt should replace them!!!

Get used to renault saying No to your requests....

 

[Whytes]

1. Jaffa182
2. whatisjustis
3. John.med
4. Cupster
5. Clairemae
6. 182kev
7. martynrg
8. kevin.s
9. CupDude
10. koi
11. Hazza
12. Dajones
13. BioHzrd - Mk3 30K :/
14. dangerous daves mummys 182 @24k
15. Beatjunkie
16. Len_Beach
17. Martin_89 (Destroyed @ 47k / thumbgrip split at 21k)
18. Nafeun (Split thumb grip + melted, 2003 172 Cup @ 38k)
19. Goders172Sort ( 47K Melted & split thumbgrip)
20. kristian( 41k 182 melting at the top and side)
21.Whytes (49k 182 melting right hand side under thumb grip )

 

[scott7912]

1. Jaffa182
2. whatisjustis
3. John.med
4. Cupster
5. Clairemae
6. 182kev
7. martynrg
8. kevin.s
9. CupDude
10. koi
11. Hazza
12. Dajones
13. BioHzrd - Mk3 30K :/
14. dangerous daves mummys 182 @24k
15. Beatjunkie
16. Len_Beach
17. Martin_89 (Destroyed @ 47k / thumbgrip split at 21k)
18. Nafeun (Split thumb grip + melted, 2003 172 Cup @ 38k)
19. Goders172Sort ( 47K Melted & split thumbgrip)
20. kristian( 41k 182 melting at the top and side)
21.Whytes (49k 182 melting right hand side under thumb grip )
22. scott7912, (50k ish, right side melting and right grip v worn & split)

 

[dajones]

put names into the sticky list

 

[wiley]

1. Jaffa182
2. whatisjustis
3. John.med
4. Cupster
5. Clairemae
6. 182kev
7. martynrg
8. kevin.s
9. CupDude
10. koi
11. Hazza
12. Dajones
13. BioHzrd - Mk3 30K :/
14. dangerous daves mummys 182 @24k
15. Beatjunkie
16. Len_Beach
17. Martin_89 (Destroyed @ 47k / thumbgrip split at 21k)
18. Nafeun (Split thumb grip + melted, 2003 172 Cup @ 38k)
19. Goders172Sort ( 47K Melted & split thumbgrip)
20. kristian( 41k 182 melting at the top and side)
21.Whytes (49k 182 melting right hand side under thumb grip )
22. scott7912, (50k ish, right side melting and right grip v worn &
23. wiley(50k ish too) top was was melted, replaced with isotta :approve:
split)

 

[Neil G]

My 182 (04 REG) with 52,000 has a steering wheel which looks like this:

Am I just lucky or can I expect this happening to me soon?

That's tidy for 52k

Mine's just started melting and that's on 26k

I wonder wether keeping your car outside in the sun makes any difference to this?

 

[-J-]

Im on my 2nd steering wheel in 19k miles on my 53 plate cup and now that ones going as well.

 

[Neil G]

How much are new wheels from the stealer?

 

[Martin_172]

over £200 without the airbag iirc

 

[Michael172]

Re: melting steering: renault dont want to help

This is utter b****cks.

How is this to be expected after 50,000 miles of normal use...plainly the materials are not fit for the purpose...

Makes my blood boil!!!

gd grief, i actually havnt seen one worse than that lol

i just lol'd

 

[AliasOmega]

1. Jaffa182
2. whatisjustis
3. John.med
4. Cupster
5. Clairemae
6. 182kev
7. martynrg
8. kevin.s
9. CupDude
10. koi
11. Hazza
12. Dajones
13. BioHzrd - Mk3 30K :/
14. dangerous daves mummys 182 @24k
15. Beatjunkie
16. Len_Beach
17. Martin_89 (Destroyed @ 47k / thumbgrip split at 21k)
18. Nafeun (Split thumb grip + melted, 2003 172 Cup @ 38k)
19. Goders172Sort ( 47K Melted & split thumbgrip)
20. kristian( 41k 182 melting at the top and side)
21.Whytes (49k 182 melting right hand side under thumb grip )
22. scott7912, (50k ish, right side melting and right grip v worn &
23. wiley(50k ish too) top was was melted, replaced with isotta
split)
24. AliasOmega - onto my 2nd wheel, and now its melted again, ringing renault today. infact.. now..

 

[rich_h]

1. Jaffa182
2. whatisjustis
3. John.med
4. Cupster
5. Clairemae
6. 182kev
7. martynrg
8. kevin.s
9. CupDude
10. koi
11. Hazza
12. Dajones
13. BioHzrd - Mk3 30K :/
14. dangerous daves mummys 182 @24k
15. Beatjunkie
16. Len_Beach
17. Martin_89 (Destroyed @ 47k / thumbgrip split at 21k)
18. Nafeun (Split thumb grip + melted, 2003 172 Cup @ 38k)
19. Goders172Sort ( 47K Melted & split thumbgrip)
20. kristian( 41k 182 melting at the top and side)
21.Whytes (49k 182 melting right hand side under thumb grip )
22. scott7912, (50k ish, right side melting and right grip v worn &
23. wiley(50k ish too) top was was melted, replaced with isotta
split)
24. AliasOmega - onto my 2nd wheel, and now its melted again, ringing renault today. infact.. now..[/
25. rich_h - whole wheel is fucked (was like it at 2 years old with 39k on the clock)

 

[Pimpdaddy]

Add me too. RH thumb grip stuck down with superglue and looks a complete mess.

 

[crazycup]

1. Jaffa182
2. whatisjustis
3. John.med
4. Cupster
5. Clairemae
6. 182kev
7. martynrg
8. kevin.s
9. CupDude
10. koi
11. Hazza
12. Dajones
13. BioHzrd - Mk3 30K :/
14. dangerous daves mummys 182 @24k
15. Beatjunkie
16. Len_Beach
17. Martin_89 (Destroyed @ 47k / thumbgrip split at 21k)
18. Nafeun (Split thumb grip + melted, 2003 172 Cup @ 38k)
19. Goders172Sort ( 47K Melted & split thumbgrip)
20. kristian( 41k 182 melting at the top and side)
21.Whytes (49k 182 melting right hand side under thumb grip )
22. scott7912, (50k ish, right side melting and right grip v worn &
23. wiley(50k ish too) top was was melted, replaced with isotta
split)
24. AliasOmega - onto my 2nd wheel, and now its melted again, ringing renault today. infact.. now..[/
25. rich_h - whole wheel is f**ked (was like it at 2 years old with 39k on the clock)
26.Crazycup - split in the right thumbgrip which has now started to open and fall off! 36K

 

[crazycup]

we need to keep this going. There is no way this should be happening on such low mileage cars!!!

based on average 14k per car new its £364,000 worth of money spent at renault - least they could do is change the steering wheels!!!!

 

[Clioextreme05]

1. Jaffa182
2. whatisjustis
3. John.med
4. Cupster
5. Clairemae
6. 182kev
7. martynrg
8. kevin.s
9. CupDude
10. koi
11. Hazza
12. Dajones
13. BioHzrd - Mk3 30K :/
14. dangerous daves mummys 182 @24k
15. Beatjunkie
16. Len_Beach
17. Martin_89 (Destroyed @ 47k / thumbgrip split at 21k)
18. Nafeun (Split thumb grip + melted, 2003 172 Cup @ 38k)
19. Goders172Sort ( 47K Melted & split thumbgrip)
20. kristian( 41k 182 melting at the top and side)
21.Whytes (49k 182 melting right hand side under thumb grip )
22. scott7912, (50k ish, right side melting and right grip v worn &
23. wiley(50k ish too) top was was melted, replaced with isotta
split)
24. AliasOmega - onto my 2nd wheel, and now its melted again, ringing renault today. infact.. now..[/
25. rich_h - whole wheel is f**ked (was like it at 2 years old with 39k on the clock)
26.Crazycup - split in the right thumbgrip which has now started to open and fall off! 36K
27. Clioextreme05 - Melting on right hand side. (05 reg 1.2 16V).(19k Miles)

 

[Pimpdaddy]

1. Jaffa182
2. whatisjustis
3. John.med
4. Cupster
5. Clairemae
6. 182kev
7. martynrg
8. kevin.s
9. CupDude
10. koi
11. Hazza
12. Dajones
13. BioHzrd - Mk3 30K :/
14. dangerous daves mummys 182 @24k
15. Beatjunkie
16. Len_Beach
17. Martin_89 (Destroyed @ 47k / thumbgrip split at 21k)
18. Nafeun (Split thumb grip + melted, 2003 172 Cup @ 38k)
19. Goders172Sort ( 47K Melted & split thumbgrip)
20. kristian( 41k 182 melting at the top and side)
21.Whytes (49k 182 melting right hand side under thumb grip )
22. scott7912, (50k ish, right side melting and right grip v worn &
23. wiley(50k ish too) top was was melted, replaced with isotta
split)
24. AliasOmega - onto my 2nd wheel, and now its melted again, ringing renault today. infact.. now..[/
25. rich_h - whole wheel is f**ked (was like it at 2 years old with 39k on the clock)
26.Crazycup - split in the right thumbgrip which has now started to open and fall off! 36K
27. Clioextreme05 - Melting on right hand side. (05 reg 1.2 16V).(19k Miles)
28 Pimpdaddy - melting RH side 34k

 

[marsh182cup]

1. Jaffa182
2. whatisjustis
3. John.med
4. Cupster
5. Clairemae
6. 182kev
7. martynrg
8. kevin.s
9. CupDude
10. koi
11. Hazza
12. Dajones
13. BioHzrd - Mk3 30K :/
14. dangerous daves mummys 182 @24k
15. Beatjunkie
16. Len_Beach
17. Martin_89 (Destroyed @ 47k / thumbgrip split at 21k)
18. Nafeun (Split thumb grip + melted, 2003 172 Cup @ 38k)
19. Goders172Sort ( 47K Melted & split thumbgrip)
20. kristian( 41k 182 melting at the top and side)
21.Whytes (49k 182 melting right hand side under thumb grip )
22. scott7912, (50k ish, right side melting and right grip v worn &
23. wiley(50k ish too) top was was melted, replaced with isotta
split)
24. AliasOmega - onto my 2nd wheel, and now its melted again, ringing renault today. infact.. now..[/
25. rich_h - whole wheel is f**ked (was like it at 2 years old with 39k on the clock)
26.Crazycup - split in the right thumbgrip which has now started to open and fall off! 36K
27. Clioextreme05 - Melting on right hand side. (05 reg 1.2 16V).(19k Miles)
28 Pimpdaddy - melting RH side 34k
29. marsh182cup - melting on top and right hand side (05 35k)

 

[AliasOmega]

I rang customer services, need dealer to inspect it, then ring them back. It looks like the rubber is moving about, and setting hard.

Car is not under warranty, its my 2nd wheel so no repair, im off to watchdog.

 

[dajones]

guys theres a sticky topic in the clio part of media. thats the official list and i think its on 130 names now so add you names to that one
maybe this thread should be closed to avoid confusion

 

[Trevor]

That's a ridiculous letter from Renault,get onto Watchdog and send in the photos.