Renault Safrane Common Problems and Solutions
Rotten Smell Inside Car
Problem:
There is a rotten smell inside the car. Some drivers report it as smelling like rotten fish. There is also excessive condensation on the interior windows.
Solution:
The heater matrix on the Safrane is a known trouble-spot simply because they were poorly made. It’s a big job to remove the dashboard, but once that task is out of the way, installing a new heater matrix from our parts list is very straightforward.
Difficulty level
Heater Matrix
Manual Gear Slippage
Problem:
Your gears have started to slip occasionally, and the warning light may illuminate on your dash.
Solution:
This is a burnt-out clutch caused by an ATF leak. If ignored, this will lead to a complete breakdown of the clutch, and you won’t be able to change gears at all. Replace the clutch assembly with a newer version from our parts list, and don't forget to order new ATF lines as well.
Difficulty level
Gearbox Has Stopped Working (All Automatics)
Problem:
The automatic gearbox in your Safrane has suddenly stopped working.
Solution:
This has been a big problem for the Safrane, and it’s being caused by leaking fluid lines. The fluid is causing spontaneous self-destruction of the gearbox and is a big repair job. You’ll need to order a new automatic gearbox from our parts list, as well as more durable and long-lasting fuel lines.
Difficulty level
Gearbox Transmission Automatic
Heating problems
Problem:
You may be having problems with the heating controls in your car not working properly. If you find that some of the settings on the control do not work at all, or you smell a burning plastic smell then you have a problem with the heater regulator.
Solution:
You will need to replace the heater resistor to solve this problem. You can save money on a quality second hand heater resistor using our parts finder.
Difficulty level
Heater Resistor
Heat transfer issue
Problem:
There was a known problem where there was heat transfer from the exhaust system to the fuel tank on these cars.
Solution:
This problem was subject to a recall in September 1994 where Renault fitted a heat shield to stop the heat transferring.
Difficulty level
Suspension problem
Problem:
When you drive your Renault Safrane over bumps or uneven roads and you hear a creaking noise coming from the suspension, you most likely have a problem with track rod end.
Solution:
This is the common problem on these cars and you will need to replace the track rod ends. Check out the video below on how to change this part:
Difficulty level
ABS light on dashboard
Problem:
When the ABS light is permanently on your dashboard then the usual fault on the Safrane is not the ABS sensor, as you would expect. The usual cause of this is down to the seat belt pre-tensioner sensor that is at fault.
Solution:
The first thing to try is resetting the sensor. If this does not work, you will need to replace the faulty sensor.
Difficulty level
ABS Sensor
Oil leak at bottom of engine
Problem:
This problem occurs from time to time on the Renault Safrane. If you have noticed a small oil leak then it is usually down to one of two parts. It could be either the camshaft oil seal, or the oil pump seal that is at fault.
Solution:
You will have to identify which seal is causing the leak and replace the faulty seal to rectify the problem.
Difficulty level
Engine management light
Problem:
If you have noticed that the engine management light has come onto your dashboard, then it is most likely a problem with the coolant temperature sensor.
Solution:
You will need to fit a new coolant temperature sensor to resolve this issue.
Difficulty level
Coolant Temperature Sensor
Harder to Brake
Problem:
You have to apply more and more pressure to the brake pedal. You’ve checked your brake pads and discs, and all seems fine.
Solution:
If your Safrane was built between January and November 1999, then you may have a faulty brake servo. The reason is a bad valve in the servo itself, which is leading to a complete loss of servo assistance. You can easily install a new brake servo yourself, and they are very low-cost in the BreakerYard store.
Difficulty level
Brake Servo
