Renault UK has responded sharply to reports in the British media of the bonnets of Clio II hatchbacks opening while the cars were moving and admitted it may have caused "some distress" to the drivers.
The BBC's Watchdog consumer programme first investigated the story in April 2006 after which it received more than 250 reports of the same happening to their Clios. The cars have been in production for about seven years.
Alan Hecht, for example, was travelling at 113km/h when his bonnet flew open. He tried to pull off the road but a bus hit the back of his car, which was written-off. Amazingly, nobody was hurt.
Rebecca Wheeler was driving her Clio when the bonnet flew up and she had to make an emergency stop in the fast lane of a freeway.
She said her garage reported the fault was with her car's safety catch which, it said, wasn't designed to withstand high speeds.
Renault didn't accept the report so Wheeler got a second one from the company that does inspections for the AA. That report, the BBC said, stated the damage occurred during normal use.
The BBC aired a second Watchdog programme about the Clio on January 23, 2007, to which Renault replied with a statement issued on March 14.
The company said it had investigated every case it had received in co-operation with independent governing body the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, including carrying out vehicle inspections, and concluded that "the bonnet catch mechanism of the Clio II has no design or construction defect".
The mechanism was safe and reliable, it insisted, providing the car was correctly maintained and the bonnet closed as prescribed.
It did, however, say investigators discovered several cases of "poor maintenance" on cars whose bonnets popped.
Renault UK said it would write to all British Clio II customers to invite them to visit their local Renault dealer where catches would be checked "to ensure correct maintenance is being undertaken".
If poor maintenance was detected, it said, the bonnet catch would be repaired at no cost to the customer.
- Renault SA, asked by motoring.co.za about the situation in South Africa, responded thus:
Renault SA acknowledges that individual cases regarding suspect bonnet catches have been reported in certain European countries.
Taking into consideration the weather and road conditions, it is very unlikely to encounter the same issue in South Africa.
Up to date, no cases have been reported in South Africa. Renault SA is closely monitoring the situation and, at this stage, a recall of affected Clio IIs is neither likely nor necessary.
However, should there be any possible risk to Clio II models, we will respond immediately with a communication advising of action that needs to be taken.
- motoring.co.za would, however, suggest Clio owners check that their bonnet catch is clean, properly lubricated and it clicks firmly into place when the bonnet is closed.