The frequency of suspension failures in French cars. What is worth knowing?

It is generally accepted that French cars, despite their many significant advantages, are prone to suspension malfunctions. Automotive enthusiasts base their opinions not only on general knowledge, but also on ratings and tests, which are not always unambiguous. What do you need to know about the probability of failures of brands such as Renault or Peugeot? Is there anything to be afraid of?

The belief in the frequent suspension failure in French passenger cars did not arise out of thin air. This stereotype has been around since the 80s. How did it appear? German cars, popular in the second half of the 20th century, featured stiff and rigid suspension, which worked well on poor quality roads. Around the same time, French models with flexible air suspension began to enter the market. Needless to say, how such systems dealt with potholes and graves on the road.

Drivers accustomed to using the car in a different way began to complain about the failure rate. This has led to the myth of imperfect design. In fact, the problem was (and often remains) the poor condition of the roads themselves.

Special design
The myth of suspension failure in French cars is also related to the fact that many people are unaware of the specific design of these cars. Well, the rear suspension is supported by a beam.

For example, the Citron Xsara rear boom offers excellent driving performance and high driving comfort. Unfortunately, as a result, elements such as needle roller bearings in the beam wear out faster. They should be replaced after 60-80 km.

Many drivers are unaware of this, and as a result, the entire beam can be replaced after some time.

Is the hydropneumatic suspension broken?
The hydropneumatic suspension is uncomplicated and easy to repair. This is implemented by specialists who can boast of versatile knowledge in the field of mechanics, preferably in the maintenance of French cars. This design, provided it is well made, can be very complex and reliable, and the risk of leakage is minimized.

Official inspection data
Some drivers are convinced not by stories, but by reliable data. A lot of useful information is contained, for example, in reports on inspections of cars called to the service department for factory corrections. In 2018, it was Mercedes that called about 300,000 cars to its authorized service stations. For comparison, Peugeot - 60 thousand.

It is also worth taking a look at the German TUV (Office of Technical Inspection) report containing the inspection data [1]. The document shows the percentage of information about cars in which defects were found. Of course, one cannot distort reality and claim that French cars feel no worse than, for example, their German counterparts, but, for example, the Peugeot 208 in 2018 was rated higher than the Audi A3, and the Renault Scenic performed better than the BMW 1 series. Follow slin-go&melbet to learn about live betting tools and cash out.