Hi chaps

I've joined to see if I can get any support and advice regarding a few problems I've had with the Panda. I got it 1st September 2007 and its done 4200miles.
First thing in the morning the gearchange is very very stiff. The first change from first to second gear is very hard to do, feels like you are going to snap the lever. Then when changing into third it usually crunches. It get a lot better once it is warm, but will crunch going into 3 if you dont do it slowly.
The dealer says that its normal and is due to the fact that the gear oil is cold first thing. Not had this on other cars though. They say there is nothing they can do and that is that. Not very happy about this on a new car.
Another problems. When I go over a bump in the road or pothole there is clunck from under the car. Passengers can feel it through the floor. Does not clunk on speed humps, only on single potholes. Dealer has looked and said it is OK, even though they drove it and heard it!!!

Best advice? Take it to a different dealer, even if it's a long way away. And if it's near enough, never go back to the first one who is, quite frankly, taking the p......

sounds like the mechanism needs a bit of adjustment? I'd suggest as the above, try a different dealer, if that doesn't sort it, then try calling customer care

I think the dealer is fobbing you off regarding the gearchange,mine is always the same hot or cold.I also have the clunk coming from the back but it only happens on certain bumps,I think it's coming from the plastic bumper as when I move it it resembles the noise I hear,I checked to see if it was loose but the mounts were solid,maybe the plastic is just to thin and flexible

The gearchange should be free and easy whether its cold or not.

Mine is the same whatever the weather, very light and precise.

Agree with other posters - gearchange is definitely not right, but I do get a clunk from underneath sometimes (which I'm not concerned about). Would be about the gears though...


('56 Dynamic with Skydome - brilliant!)

Right then gents!
A local gearbox rebuilder very kindly test drove the car today even though they know its nearly new, under warranty and they won't get any work out of it .
The chap reported that the gear selection mechanism inside the gearbox is either broken or wrongly assembled at the factory He stated that I should not have been sold the car in that state.
Tomorrow morning I shall be banging the desk at the dealer

The clunk I am suffering comes from the front, not the back. Passengers in the front seat can feel it under their feet. The funny thing is it doesn't happen over a speed bump, even going quite fast, which I don't usually. It happens if I strike a single bump or pothole with one of the front wheels.

Panda57 said:

Right then gents!
A local gearbox rebuilder very kindly test drove the car today even though they know its nearly new, under warranty and they won't get any work out of it .
The chap reported that the gear selection mechanism inside the gearbox is either broken or wrongly assembled at the factory He stated that I should not have been sold the car in that state.
Tomorrow morning I shall be banging the desk at the dealer

Click to expand...

Try and get the gearbox technician to sign something saying that's the problem - the dealer may be unwiling to take your word for it otherwise.

they may be able to do a report on the car for you, they will probably want a fee, but they will be straight with you because, as you said, they're not getting any work out of it

Got a result today!

After some argument and me getting a bit hot under the collar, the dealer finally admitted that there is something wrong with my gearbox. 'Just one of those things' as the service manager put it (I think not!).
I will have to be without the car for a week or so whilst the gearbox is stripped and checked. At 6 months old I think its too late to reject the car (this may be why they were stalling me).
Certainly has put me off buying Fiat again
They will also look again at the clunk from the front which could now be a faulty shock or suspension linkage they say.

Panda57 said:

Certainly has put me off buying Fiat again

Click to expand...

It's a shame you have a problem, but at least it looks like they are going to fix it....

I understand it's tainted your view of Fiat, but just remember....not every dealer is the same....

Finally can you actually reject a car at all once you've taken it away? I would have thought that the company (in this case Fiat) is under obligation to fix it rather than exchange it....?

Then again I may be wrong....

Had they admitted to the problem from day 1 and tried to fix it I wouldn't have minded. But there was a problem and they lied about it. A couple of months ago I asked to drive another Panda to see if mine was typical or not. But they told me that they didn't have one available (despite there being half a dozen on the forecourt).
I am disappionted with the car and dealer. I am also alarmed to read about all the other problems with gearboxes that people are writing about in that other thread. The thing is, once you have added a few extras (which are standard on a lot of other small cars) the Panda is not really all that cheap. especially when you consider they make in Poland and pay the workers buttons. Some decent customer service is needed, they need a shake up.