(T) Fiat not honouring Warranty - Advice needed.

In January of this year a problem was discovered with the front springs on my 02 Stilo JTD while getting new tyres fitted. The garage said they were not road worthy and I sould get them looked at asap. I bought my car from Fiat Piccadilly in Ripon North Yorks in April 03 so I took it back as it seemed to be a warranty issue. The dealership told me that beacuse I had my car serviced elsewhere I had invalidated my warranty because the garage had used non-Fiat parts and they said it would cost over £400 to fix the problem. The garage I had my car serviced in is a very good VAT registered mechanic and he gets all his parts from Plunketts (I know this because my mother in law works there and I have been assured that the parts are of the same quallity as Fiat parts). I thinks it was only oil and air filters which were changed. Because of how I was treated by the dealership I used my contacts to order replacement springs and get them fitted by the mechanic who serviced my car. When he was changing the springs he noticed that the broken springs were made by a company called AMK which is the same company who made the replacement springs i.e. the broken springs were NOT GENUINE FIAT PARTS. So it looks like they had been replaced by FIAT before I bought the car.

I think this forum is a great wealth of knowledge and I would appreciate any opinions on how to handle the problems I have encountered.

Thanks in anticiapation.

Everybody needs to read their warranty terms carefully as with some you can have your car serviced anywhere but others state that you must use the approved dealer only.

Not always true Deckchair.

No work has been undertaken on the springs by a 3rd party and they are not a service item.

The Fiat dealer can only refuse to honour the warranty if the part fails because the service schedule has not been complied with or work undertaken by a 3rd party has compromised a part that has failed.

I'd push this one big time...

That's funny I could have sworn I said
"Everybody needs to read their warranty terms carefully as with some you can have your car serviced anywhere but others state that you must use the approved dealer only".

I work for a Fiat dealer.,

Warranty

2 Years manufacturer - Unlimited mileage, must be serviced at appropriate intervals, using GENUINE FIAT PARTS.

1 Year dealer - Only valid if vehicle has been serviced using the Fiat dealer network.

So basically if you get your car serviced at a Fiat dealer everytime there would be no warranty issues, if you get your vehicle serviced elsewhere MAKE SURE they are GENUINE Fiat parts - but you also LOSE your 3rd year warranty.

I would suggest getting written confirmation of the above. I was under the impression that as long as the garage was VAT registered and the parts were recognised as equal/better in quality to those fitted by a dealer, the cannot avoid responsibilty for their warranty.

Never forget though, a manufacturer's warranty is in addition to your rights under English Law, not instead of. So if need be, seek legal advice.

Interesting read:

http://www.oft.gov.uk/business/marke...warranties.htm

Update

Fiat Picaddilly said it was not their problem as the work was done before the car came to them so I contacted Fiat UK customer services who after a lot of hastle got back and said that the car was bought by the dealership from auction! This worried me and after checking the car registration document it says that the car was orriginally a Fiat House Company car from slough.

Am I worth persueing this issue as I am still having problems with the susspension on the car and everyone seems to be passing the book?

Shaun, going back to your original point, how did you identify the make of springs you had already on your car? The reaosn I ask, is that I cant find an identifying marks on original springs except paint marks. On your other point unfortunately things would have been simpler if you had let the dealer do the repair and then any problems would have automatically been the dealers or Fiats. Please get back to me.

Original fiat springs have yellow/white paint at the ends and this is the only identifying mark. The AMK springs have an amk serial number etched into the ends. I know what you mean about getting the dealership to do the work but £400-£500 is a daft ammount of money especially as I have been quoted £180 for a lowering kit to be fitted including springs.

I would seek legal advice on this one. Call the C.A.B. or check out the classifieds for Solicitors that offer free 1st appointment legal advice.

Your situation is complicated by the fact you ended up getting the initial problem fixed by a non Fiat garage, but this was only after you were rejected by Fiat - so it might not be as big an issue as you fear.

As far as Fiat claiming the problem isn't theirs as the springs were changed before they bought the car, I don't see how this can be true. Where they got it from and what was done to it prior to their taking ownership, is not your concern, it's theirs. You bought it from them and your contract is with them. If the springs weren't road worthy, they shouldn't have sold it. I would say that was grounds for a legal complaint. It doesn't matter if the car was new or had 5 previous owners, it has to be roadworthy, i.e. fit for it's purpose and of merchantable quality.

If they sold it with a warranty, ask them to show you where it says the springs weren't covered, or where it says the warranty on the whole car is null and void if you get another garage to change the tyres or replace an oil filter.

This is all based on my interpretation of the Sale of Goods Act, so please ask the professionals.