I bought a Panda Dynamic 56 plate 2 years ago and have had one technical problem after the other. The car is just over 3 years old, 4 months out of warranty and only has 16 000 miles on the clock! I really would expect more out of this car and from Fiat.

It's been one thing after the other, and not general wear and tear items that you expect to replace!

Last year the abs light kept coming on, and various other dash lights, all intermittent and nothing could be found wrong. Shortly thereafter the key would not turn the car over, it would not swith immobiliser off. New ring decoder, still did same thing, finally a new key at a really extortionate price. Then the abs recall came in, and the unit was replaced.

However last week, the abs light started coming on again. i switched the car off and tried to restart. Completely dead ! No dash lights, no turning over no nothing. The radio still worked, the interior lights and the headlights even with the car off which my panda does not do..when the engine is off, the headlights go off! the headlight dash light also worked..the only thing that did (well when you press the key fob the clock came on too on the dash).

No other warning signs nothing, battery is fine it was checked..now everyone is stumped. I am so sick of this car, is it worth getting on to Fiat?

rmh0274 said:

......is it worth getting on to Fiat?

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Oh at just over three years old with a mere 16k on the clock? I'd should say so! As well as all sorts of other places if you don't get a result.
What does spring to mind is if you've been dealing with the same repair location throughout that you've been right royally screwed by some clueless idiots who couldn't find a rattle if it was a loose screw in their own boot. Have you been anywhere else, second opinion and all that?

It was a courtesy car from a Fiat Dealer, was bought with 5000 miles on it 2 years ago, so it was fully serviced etc when I got it. As it was under warranty it went back to the same Fiat Dealer (the only one in my area ) for all its problems, not one wear and tear item has needed replaced...its all been major things that one would expect to last a bit longer than 3 years...I am waiting on Fiat Customer service phoning me back...the dealer garage say it could be the engine board that has blown or the abs fault short circuiting the ignition..or basically anything..the last time they had my car for 3 weeks before I got it back...so no transport, no car...nothing. I am waiting on definite answer but dont feel I should be paying for anything that is not my fault! This car is problematic to say the least!!!

Given its history you should have some luck with getting it sorted. Problem is they will be reluctant to go changing expensive parts.

The abs error codes should be recorded so the fault will be apparent.

Sounds like the body controller is getting more confused than the engine controller as I am sure it will have more control over the lights etc.... .

Keep on at Fiat

They did the work on my old panda when it was 4 1/2 years old due to a failure in the power steering at 26k. Keep your cool and be persistant, worked for me. Good luck