Legal action against car manufacturer Renault-Nissan is being prepared. Motorists intend to file a criminal complaint Monday, June 5 against the Renault-Nissan group, with the conviction of having purchased vehicles equipped with an engine with a design defect leading to overconsumption of oil, which can cause engine failure.
400,000 vehicles potentially affected
According to the lawyer representing motorists, more than 400,000 gasoline vehicles are affected in Europe, including more than 120,000 in France. The injured customers own cars of the Renault, Dacia and Nissan brands.
Engine problem description
The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Maître Christophe Lèguevaques, explains that the design defect causes an overconsumption of oil, which ends up mixing with gasoline. This situation generates carbonaceous waste which accumulates in the valves, which can lead to the breakage of one or two valves between 40,000 and 80,000 kilometres.
Engine failure often manifests as a loss of power at high speeds, followed by a drastic decrease in speed. For the driver, this is a frightening event, as he must quickly pull over to the side to avoid a collision with vehicles approaching from behind.
In this context, potential buyers are strongly advised to be particularly vigilant if they are considering the purchase of a vehicle equipped with a 1.2 TCe engine, in order to avoid any risk linked to these reported problems of engine failure. .
Renault aware of the problem, according to the motorists’ lawyer
The lawyer maintains that Renault was aware of this defect in the 1.2 TCe engine since 2015, but continues to deny it. Recall that this engine is found in hundreds of thousands of vehicles manufactured between 2012 and 2018. The upcoming complaint will be based on the accusation of deception, because the manufacturers would have sold their customers vehicles equipped with an engine likely to break at any time without informing them.
The challenge of the legal action against Renault-Nissan
The plaintiffs, who feel they are in danger, are demanding the opening of a criminal investigation and asking for appropriate financial reparations for the harm suffered. At present, Renault has not yet responded to these accusations. Further developments in this case will be followed closely and covered in our news section.