Dear all,

I've read this thread with shock and pleasure. I'd thought it'd happened only to me since the guy at the garage said he'd never seen it in a panda, plenty puntos...
I would like to pursue 'frustrated fiat owner' path. will you please send me the contact details of the person i should speak to?

I'm not very good in being assertive but the £560 quote shocked me and i can't afford it. More so, it seems like it'll get to £900 once i put the car in the garage...

I got a end of 2004 Panda active with 36,930 mile

I'd be grateful if people here could give me some tips re. how to start the whole thing.

Thanks

karen

you wnt hear from Frustrated Fiat Fool again I dont think. he's not been on for nearly a year, got what he wanted then off.

p.s. where did you get £900 from? done one recently for just under £300

My 2005 Panda steering has failed for the second time, car has done less than 20,000 miles. The last one was covered by Fiat, but I don't think this is acceptable. There must be a design fault with this unit if so many are failing so often. My wife had also said she wanted to upgrade to a Fiat 500, but now very reluctant to stay with Fiat.

Mind what car you get next because the EPS is not a Fiat design & is used in many 'popular' cars so check first before you buy.

T14086 said:

Mind what car you get next because the EPS is not a Fiat design & is used in many 'popular' cars so check first before you buy.

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:yeahthat:

Majority of cars are EPS now for environmental reasons.

I dont think this applies to the Panda problem, but just because the unit is used in lots of cars doesnt mean it will fail in them all.

Alot of reliability of sub-assemblies is down to the installation, e.g. heat build up, vibration, different manufacturers of fluid, torsional stress, manufacturers specing the cheaper version, units working near their maximum duty cycle etc...... .

Generally the engineering over here is fine if it works first time and its generally well thought out but the lack of concentration means things will rarely get looked at a second time around. With the steering it is unlikely it has even registered on the warranty spend list as most of them will be 4+ years before they fail or out on mileage.

Maybe if they stopped faffing around with the completely pointless city button and spent the 2cents saved on some better components in the pump things would work better.

Just thinking about the installation thing, I would if many of the LHD cars over here fail? cant ask many people at work as they all run german and french cars for some reason.

ivantate said:

Maybe if they stopped faffing around with the completely pointless city button and spent the 2cents saved on some better components in the pump things would work better.

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Gotta agree with that comment ours can be parked with one finger and is running with 15" wheels and wider tyres ..I believe the wussy button may actually be the reason why its failing and have instructed Mrs.PNL to keep her mits of it..

ivantate said:

Maybe if they stopped faffing around with the completely pointless city button

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In squirrile it's as redundant as a bra in a monastery

udtrev said:

In squirrile it's as redundant as a bra in a monastery

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Wimp

Always used it in sisters mk3 and my Stilo.

When in London City mode is never switched off in the Stilo :devil:

If it goes wrong it goes wrong, I'll probably bitch, but I'll live, and doubt it'd be caised due to 'city' being on, any more than it being off.

You don't need the ruddy button on a Panda, it's not exactly a 3 ton lorry !!!

If you can't turn the steering wheel in a Panda you've not been eating your weetabix

udtrev said:

You don't need the ruddy button on a Panda, it's not exactly a 3 ton lorry !!!

If you can't turn the steering wheel in a Panda you've not been eating your weetabix

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No, but the Stilo's another matter

Use it in Panda when negotiating really small spaces, like garage, or moving it in the drive.

MTFU, the Pandas steering is far too light to start with.

If you need it pushed to do anything you should really take you test again to make sure you are safe to perform any of the manoevures.

ivantate said:

If you need it pushed to do anything you should really take you test again to make sure you are safe to perform any of the manoevures.

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some people with light disabilities need it or find it useful.

udtrev said:

You don't need the ruddy button on a Panda, it's not exactly a 3 ton lorry !!!

If you can't turn the steering wheel in a Panda you've not been eating your weetabix

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I eat mine every morning it keeps you nice and regular to ..@ Jon you need a session or to in the Gym me laddo..

T14086 said:

some people with light disabilities need it or find it useful.

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I'm disabled and have never needed it..

PNL said:

@ Jon you need a session or to in the Gym me laddo..

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I tell you what, I had bigger arms this time last year when driving Classic Panda's all the time compaired to these mordern cars with all these driver aids

T14086 said:

some people with light disabilities need it or find it useful.

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This is true and independence is probably the most important thing for alot of people with a disability so the more people who can get out and about the better. But if you are having that much trouble with steering you really are going to have a problem when you hit standing water, or a kid runs out in front of you at a school etc.... .

I believe its more to do with parking, many people have told me they like this function due to previous accident/disease leaving poor strength in arm etc.....

T14086 said:

Mind what car you get next because the EPS is not a Fiat design & is used in many 'popular' cars so check first before you buy.

Click to expand...

Thanks for that information, I will check this when looking for a new car.

I have emailed Fiat UK Customer Services and will keep you posted,

This prob seems to be catching, there are posts on the Panda, 500 and Punto pages.

I must agree one would expect more than 41.000 miles of use from the unit, and you would think that Fiat must notice at some point the amount of steering units failing.

One other thing that puzzles me, it you purchase a Panda or 500 the warranty is 2 years Fiat 1 year dealer, yet my daughters new Punto is 2 year Fiat, 3 years dealer.?????

Ian