Renault Laguna problems, reliability and years to avoid
If you are considering buying a used Renault Laguna, these are the common problems worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 10 known faults for this model, 8 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Is the Renault Laguna reliable?
The Renault Laguna has 10 known faults in our database across 2 generations, 8 of them rated high severity. The most serious are electrics (the scuttle ventilation plenum drains block with leaves) and gearbox (the six-speed manual gearbox fails from inside). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
That is a count of the faults we hold, not a reliability score. Popular cars get written about more, and a newer generation has had less time to show its faults.
Which Renault Laguna years should you avoid?
No year is a write-off on its own. What matters is which serious faults a given year and engine can have, and whether the car in front of you has had them fixed.
Mk1, 1994 to 20012 high severity
3 known faults, the serious ones in the engine, gearbox
Mk2, 2001 to 20076 high severity
7 known faults, the serious ones in the electrics, gearbox, brakes, fuel system, engine
Years and engines with a serious known fault
2001 to 2007, All engines: the scuttle ventilation plenum drains block with leaves
2001 to 2012, Manual gearboxes of the PK family, especially the six-speed PK6, most often on diesels: the six-speed manual gearbox fails from inside
2001 to 2007, All engines: the brake pedal pivot can come loose so the pedal fails in use
2001 to 2010, 1.5 dCi (K9K - Delphi systems): delphi high-pressure fuel pump breaks down internally
2001 to 2014, Manual gearboxes (PK5, PK6, PF1, PF6): manual gearbox bearing failure, also found on the Vivaro, Movano and Primastar
1994 to 2001, All diesels: 2.2 D, 2.2 dT and the 1.9 (F9Q): the diesel's timing belt drives the water pump
Each one is set out in full below, with the symptoms, the typical mileage and a rough repair cost.
Generation 1 of 23 known faults · 2 good notes
Renault Laguna Mk1 (1994 to 2001) problems
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
The diesel's timing belt drives the water pump, and pumps have seized at as little as 59,200 miles and two years old, stripping the belt's teeth and causing 1,100 pounds of engine damage. The cambelt tensioner on the diesels was a bulletin item to be checked at every service because it could cause early belt failure, and all 1.9 diesels built 1997 to 2000 with gold-coloured alternator pulleys were recalled in 2002 because the pulley could break up and take the timing belt with it. The archive's interval is a belt every 35,000 to 40,000 miles.
Rough guide
£250-450 for belt, tensioner and water pump, 1100 or more for engine damage
Typical symptoms
no record of a belt and pump change within 40,000 miles
coolant weep from the belt cover area
rattle from the belt end of the engine
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All diesels: 2.2 D, 2.2 dT and the 1.9 (F9Q)
Typical mileage:
40000-80000 miles
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Transmission/DrivetrainMedium severity📝 Editorial
Manual gearboxes on the first-generation Laguna are subject to bearing failure, typically after six or seven years and 60 to 80,000 miles.
Typical symptoms
Whine or rumble from the gearbox that changes with road speed
Noise that alters on and off the throttle
Affected vehicles
Engines:
Manual gearbox
Typical mileage:
unknown miles
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Transmission/ClutchHigh severity📝 Editorial
The automatic gearbox on the first-generation Laguna is noted as a trouble spot. Its front drive clutch drum can split, and the gearbox fluid cooler built into the engine radiator can crack and let coolant into the transmission.
Typical symptoms
gearbox slipping or failing to drive
gearbox fluid gone black rather than dark red
coolant level dropping with no outside leak
Affected vehicles
Engines:
Automatic gearbox
Typical mileage:
unknown miles
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What owners like about the Mk1
2 notes
The Laguna offers a spacious cabin, a large boot, and a comfortable ride, making it suitable for longer journeys.
Estate versions of the Laguna provide very generous interior space, enhancing practicality for families and cargo.
Generation 2 of 27 known faults · 3 owner reports · 3 good notes
Renault Laguna Mk2 (2001 to 2007) problems
Fuel SystemHigh severity📝 Editorial
Delphi high-pressure fuel pump breaks down internally, sending metal swarf throughout the entire fuel system
Rough guide
£1500-3000
Typical symptoms
flashing glow plug or engine management light
engine misfires or stalls
non-start
metallic glitter in the fuel filter
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.5 dCi (K9K - Delphi systems)
Typical mileage:
60000-120000 miles
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Transmission/ClutchHigh severity📝 Editorial
Manual gearbox bearing failure, also found on the Vivaro, Movano and Primastar: the bearing preload is set far too tight at assembly, so the bearings wear out and can destroy the gearbox, in some vans from as little as 20,000 miles, however the van has been driven or serviced.
Typical symptoms
whine or rumble from the gearbox that rises with speed
noise that changes on and off the throttle
loss of drive as the gearbox fails
Affected vehicles
Engines:
Manual gearboxes (PK5, PK6, PF1, PF6)
Typical mileage:
20000+ miles
1 more owner report backs this up
November 2013A manual transmission in a Laguna suffered bearing failure and total destruction, potentially due to excessive preload during assembly.
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ElectricalHigh severity📝 Editorial
The scuttle ventilation plenum drains block with leaves and water then runs into the car and into the engine ECU. Water in the ECU short-circuits it and the car tries to start itself while the alarm sounds, the wipers wipe and the washers spray; one owner described a near fire from it. The archive calls it increasingly common and vital to prevent, and one owner warns that the drain fixings break when you clear them.
Rough guide
£0-50 to clear the drains, 400-900 for an ECU and coding, more if the loom has corroded
Typical symptoms
car tries to crank or the alarm sounds on its own
wipers or washers operate uncommanded
damp under the scuttle cover or in the passenger footwell
random warning lights and non-starts after rain
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All engines
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ElectricalMedium severity📝 Editorial
The second Laguna's electronics fail in every direction: card keys, the electronic steering lock, window regulators, the sunroof, tyre pressure warnings that flash without end, climate control and radio faults, and ignition coils, with one car on its eleventh coil. Three readers' lists on the archive page run to long catalogues of faults, Which? pushed for a recall of the petrol ECUs, and by 2013 some dealers were refusing the model in part exchange because of the come-backs.
Rough guide
£50-100 per coil, 150-300 for a card key, 300-600 for a steering lock or window regulator
Typical symptoms
card not detected or the steering lock will not release
window stuck down
tyre pressure warning flashing constantly
misfire from a failed coil
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All engines
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Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
On the dCi diesels the EGR valve sticks shut, exhaust temperatures climb, the turbo bearings fail and oil enters the induction so the engine runs on its own oil until it destroys itself; turbos have been replaced without the valve and the new turbo soon follows. A valve stuck open gives rough running instead. The 130 version added a particle filter that cut the service interval from 18,000 to 9,000 miles on special oil, and a filter that is not cleared by regular fast runs locks the car to 3,000 rpm, a 300 pound dealer procedure or a 1,000 pound filter. The 2.2 dCi's exhaust also cracks just after the catalyst.
Rough guide
£150-300 for an EGR valve, 800-1500 for a turbo, 1000-1300 for a particle filter, 3000 or more for an engine
Typical symptoms
rough idle or hesitation under load
blue or white smoke and rising oil consumption
turbo whine and loss of power
particle filter warning and a 3,000 rpm limit on the 130
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.9 dCi 100, 120 and 130 and 2.2 dCi
Typical mileage:
50000-100000 miles
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Transmission/ClutchHigh severity📝 Editorial
The six-speed manual gearbox fails from inside. The Mk2 page notes a second-gear problem on the six-speed and increasing premature clutch failures, especially on diesels; a 2013 report on the Mk3 explains that the PK5 and PK6 boxes shared with the Vivaro, Trafic and Movano are assembled with the bearing preload massively over-torqued, so the bearings fail and destroy the box from as little as 20,000 miles whatever the driving or servicing, and only a rebuild with correctly shimmed bearings cures it.
Rough guide
£600-1000 for a bearing rebuild, 1500-2500 for an exchange gearbox, 500-900 for a clutch
Typical symptoms
whine or rumble that changes with road speed in every gear
difficulty selecting second or jumping out of gear
clutch slip or judder on a diesel
Affected vehicles
Engines:
Manual gearboxes of the PK family, especially the six-speed PK6, most often on diesels
Typical mileage:
20000-100000 miles
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BrakesHigh severity📝 Editorial
The brake pedal pivot can come loose so the pedal fails in use, and a second report explains that the pivot is hollow plastic, which is why the pedal snaps off so easily. The archive's advice is to check the pedal pivot on every car.
Rough guide
£50-150 for a pedal assembly and fitting
Typical symptoms
brake pedal feels loose or moves sideways
creak or click from the pedal box
pedal travel changes between presses
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All engines
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What owners report on the Mk2
3 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Engine · September 2019A 2008 Renault Laguna with the M4R 2.0 litre engine experienced heavy oil consumption, requiring frequent top-ups.
Gearbox and clutch · December 2017A 2008 Renault Laguna experienced unspecified clutch problems, leading to a poor driving experience.
Bodywork · November 2013The windscreen of a 2003 Renault Laguna began to delaminate, indicating a potential issue with the glass integrity.
What owners like about the Mk2
3 notes
Quality significantly improved after the 2005 revisions, resulting in fewer reported problems and greater reliability.
This model achieved a Five Star Euro NCAP crash safety rating, demonstrating strong occupant protection.
The Laguna achieved a top Euro NCAP safety assessment, earning five stars and 36 out of 37 points for occupant protection.
Other years0 known faults · 1 owner report · 1 good note
Other Renault Laguna years: owner reports
What owners report
1 single report, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Interior · May 2013A Laguna Coupe owner found the ride too firm on 18-inch wheels and tyres, also noting dashboard and trim rattles.
What owners like
1 note
The Laguna Coupe stands out with its unusual and distinctive exterior design, offering a unique aesthetic appeal.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 28 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Renault Laguna advert and we check it in seconds.
Cambelt changes every 35,000 to 40,000 miles on the first Laguna. The diesel's belt drives the water pump, and pumps have seized at as little as 59,200 miles and two years old, stripping the belt and causing 1,100 pounds of engine damage, so change the pump with the belt; the diesel tensioner was a bulletin item to be checked at every service, and 1.9 diesels built 1997 to 2000 with gold-coloured alternator pulleys were recalled in 2002 because the pulley could break up and take the timing belt with it. On the V6, Renault advised belt, tensioner and water pump before five years or 73,000 miles.
Engine oil and filter (low-ash oil, particle filter)
When the 1.9 dCi was raised from 120 to 130 bhp Renault fitted a particle filter, and the service interval came down from 18,000 to 9,000 miles on a special oil costing about 50 pounds for five litres. A filter that is not cleared by regular long fast runs locks the car to 3,000 rpm, after which a Renault dealer charges about 300 pounds to clear it or 1,000 pounds plus fitting for a new filter.
Always confirm against the vehicle handbook. Intervals vary by engine, and several manufacturers revised theirs after failures in service.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: November 2026
Renault Laguna buying questions
What are the most common Renault Laguna problems?
Three stand out. Electrics: the scuttle ventilation plenum drains block with leaves and water then runs into the car. Gearbox: the six-speed manual gearbox fails from inside (typically 20000 to 100000 miles). Brakes: the brake pedal pivot can come loose so the pedal fails in use. The full list above is grouped by generation, with typical mileage and a rough repair cost for each.
Which Renault Laguna years should I avoid?
No Renault Laguna year is a write-off, but the Mk2 (2001 to 2007) carries the most serious faults: electrics, gearbox, brakes, fuel system and engine. The Mk1 (1994 to 2001) has high-severity faults on record too. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.
What should I check when viewing a used Renault Laguna?
Ask the seller about the electrics, gearbox and brakes faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for car tries to crank or the alarm sounds on its own, whine or rumble that changes with road speed in every gear and brake pedal feels loose or moves sideways. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against all 10 known faults before you travel. Check a Renault Laguna advert →
What is the real MPG of a Renault Laguna?
Owners report 43.1 mpg on average across the Renault Laguna engines with data, about 90% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 395 owner submissions. Renault Laguna Real MPG by engine →
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Renault Laguna owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
Knowing what a Renault Laguna goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.