Just had the same problem for the second time on a 2009 1.2 Sport. The car has just failed two MOTs in a row because of this bracket problem. First time it was fixed by Fiat dealer under warranty. Now it's going back one year later to the same dealer for them to fix having failed the MOT again. Am I mad? Has anyone got any joy out of Fiat UK who I've spoken to and who have been non too helpful. Has anyone reported it to VOSA ?

Had the same problem two years running on a 2008 1.2 sport!

Failed MOT one year ago with this bracket fracturing. First time dealer fixed it under warranty. Now its back to the same dealer one year later having failed MOT again because the "new" bracket has failed too. Have spoken to Fiat UK who have been none too helpful so far. Wait to see what happens next. Has anyone reported this problem to the VOSA?

Nothappywithfiat said:

Had the same problem two years running on a 2008 1.2 sport!

Failed MOT one year ago with this bracket fracturing. First time dealer fixed it under warranty. Now its back to the same dealer one year later having failed MOT again because the "new" bracket has failed too. Have spoken to Fiat UK who have been none too helpful so far. Wait to see what happens next. Has anyone reported this problem to the VOSA?

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Nothappywithfiat said:

Just had the same problem for the second time on a 2009 1.2 Sport. The car has just failed two MOTs in a row because of this bracket problem. First time it was fixed by Fiat dealer under warranty. Now it's going back one year later to the same dealer for them to fix having failed the MOT again. Am I mad? Has anyone got any joy out of Fiat UK who I've spoken to and who have been non too helpful. Has anyone reported it to VOSA ?

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You have two Fiat 500s from different years and it's happened to you four times? That really is bad luck.

I can't see how a 2009 vehicle would need two MOTs.

must be a 2008 model.

oh dear this is poor isnt it

is the part that fails the same on Panda?

Not heard about this happening on the Panda?

Nothappywithfiat said:

Had the same problem two years running on a 2008 1.2 sport!

Failed MOT one year ago with this bracket fracturing. First time dealer fixed it under warranty. Now its back to the same dealer one year later having failed MOT again because the "new" bracket has failed too. Have spoken to Fiat UK who have been none too helpful so far. Wait to see what happens next. Has anyone reported this problem to the VOSA?

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First of all congratulations on getting the first one done under warranty, my claim was refused. Secondly if it has broken in the same place as mine, it was the bit that holds the brake pipe on the side of the bracket, I certainly wouldn't be taking it back to Fiat to replace when can be easily repaired.

Spike

Apologies first for confusion over age of vehicle, you were quite right car was first registerd in 2008, but purchased from Fiat Direct in 2009.

Now this gets interesting. After a bit of back and forwards between dealer who examined car and confirmed the problem was indeed the same one, and Fiat who at first weren't really interested, I then received a "good will" offer to cover 50% of the second replacement bill. I refused to accept. The sticking point they claim is that the car is out of warranty so they have no real further responsibility. I've said that doesnt matter the problem is that they have a part that is faulty in design, manufacture or location of the bracket which puts it under undue strain. Therefore the responsibility is solely theirs.

I am now waiting a reply...

Meanwhile I'd value the opinion of any engineers out there as to whether the failure of this bracket could be considered dangerous. I don't want to raise this unnecessarily but it seems anything that is meant to assist in the operation of the brakes and fails might not be in the best interest of the driver!

I'll post an update as soon as I hear.

I know this is an old thread but I have the same problem. Although it passed the MOT with the brackets missing (lucky I guess) I want to replace them with somthing more substansial. I have a welder and am not afraid to fabricate some new brackets but if anyone has any drawings or pictures of how they solved it then it might save me some time.

Simonsfiat500 said:

I know this is an old thread but I have the same problem. Although it passed the MOT with the brackets missing (lucky I guess) I want to replace them with somthing more substansial. I have a welder and am not afraid to fabricate some new brackets but if anyone has any drawings or pictures of how they solved it then it might save me some time.

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I've recently discovered the snapped bracket problem on my 2009 Abarth 500. I registered the issue with the VOSA and they stated that there is a repair bulletin in place to cover all variations of the 500 with rear drum brakes. Which is no help to me at all as no abarth cars have drum brakes fitted.
Had anyone else had this problem on a rear disc brake equipped 500

Simonsfiat500 said:

I know this is an old thread but I have the same problem. Although it passed the MOT with the brackets missing (lucky I guess) I want to replace them with somthing more substansial. I have a welder and am not afraid to fabricate some new brackets but if anyone has any drawings or pictures of how they solved it then it might save me some time.

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I've recently discovered the snapped bracket problem on my 2009 Abarth 500. I registered the issue with the VOSA and they stated that there is a repair bulletin in place to cover all variations of the 500 with rear drum brakes. Which is no help to me at all as no abarth cars have drum brakes fitted.
Had anyone else had this problem on a rear disc brake equipped 500 of any variation?

As for fabricating your own stronger brackets, I'd be very careful. My understanding is that the brackets are being tugged by the brake hoses, so strengthening the brackets will mean that the hoses will tug excessively somewhere else - possibly at the caliper?
The problem needs to be sorted properly, but crappy fiat don't seem to give a damn. I certainly will never buy any kind of vehicle from fiat again.

Is the handbrake cable to blame? If it passes through the same bracket (I dunno.. don't have a 500) then that coould be fatiguing the metal over time as you put the handbrake on and off.

The brake pipes can't possibly move at all, under any circumstances. They are fixed at the master cylinder end and fixed at the caliper.. same as your household central heating water pipes.

A stronger bracket (or reinforcement of the problem area) would surely solve this.


Ralf S.

Mine went a couple of years ago on an 08 plate, the very nice man at McEwans (fiat Alfa independent specialist in derby) welded it back, and then re-routed the cables slightly to take the twanging force of the brackets when the car goes over bumps. cost me £50 quid.

When I asked if I should paint over it when I got the car home he said no need he'd already done it

I've done over 67k miles and not had an issue, very few speed bumps here though

306maxi said:

I've done over 67k miles and not had an issue, very few speed bumps here though

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Plus my missus who likes to get air when going over them. not good for the front strut tops.