Hi all.

A few weeks ago my n/s tail light cluster on my 65 plate 500x Pop Star became dimmer than the o/s. Took it into my local Fiat dealer for a diagnostic check (which cost me £117) who discovered that some of the terminals in the connection block had melted in addition to some of the bulb holder/connections in the cluster itself. They have provide me with an estimate of £411 to rectify.

Car was registered late September 2015 so is a few months out of warranty. Current mileage if 15,700. I bought it in September 2016 when it was just under a year old from a franchised dealer (not Fiat).

Anyone else had a similar issue with their 500x? Plus I welcome people's thoughts on having a fault of this nature on a relatively new car.

Thanks in advance.

If it’s got a service history, I would take it straight to Fiat for their opinion.
This isn’t going to be something that has simply occurred since the warranty expired, more that it has been a continued fault since the car was built.

Pedrolami said:

If it’s got a service history, I would take it straight to Fiat for their opinion.
This isn’t going to be something that has simply occurred since the warranty expired, more that it has been a continued fault since the car was built.

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it's had it's first 2 services at 9,000 (Sept 16) and 11.500 miles (Aug 17) respectively. But i didn't have it serviced due at 3 years (or 24k miles) due to the low milage and the fact the manufacturer's warranty had expired. i'm sure you will agree that this isn't really a serviceable item anyway and even if i had had the last service done, the fault would of no doubt still presented itself.

i have already approached fiat customer services (in italy) and i am disappointed with their response. Firstly they are saying that due to the lack of warranty means that any assistance will be under a "good will" process. Secondly they keep banging on about the last service not being done in August 2017 and as such, reduces what they are willing to offer as a good will gesture. But most bizarrely they also mention the fact that i didn't buy the car new and didn't buy it from a Fiat dealer. The dealer i bought it from used to be a Fiat dealer and the car itself is an ex demo from another Fiat dealership in essex making me the first retail owner.

Fiat's offer is that providing i have it serviced asap, they will make a 50% contribution to the cost of repair. i'm no mathematician but considering what a service will cost me in addition to paying 50% of the repair, how does this help me?

Obviously i have the option of looking at approaching the selling dealer under my statutory rights under the consumer protection laws, but i (as you) feel this is a manufacturing fault so it should be Fiat that should be footing the bill. i can't help thinking the servicing argument is simply a cop out.

Yes.. sounds like some earth or something wasn't doing it's thing and it's built up some resistance (i.e. heat).

I can understand Fiat's position but they're not giving you the best after-care in the world either.

On the other hand.. £400 sounds a bit shocking for someone to replace the rear light, basically. Can you find a cheaper light unit (even a very good seconda-mano one on fleabay) and either fit it yourself (screwdriver and/or a 10mm socket required) or get your friendly local vehicle electrician to fit it?

It's probably a 30 minute job. A sparky would also be able to verify that the current/resistance is all looking good. You'll certainly have change from the £400 your dealer wants.


Ralf S.

I imagine the price also includes replacing the connector plug too.

Although, I would look on eBay for a scrap car locally and go along to cut the plug for a replacement.

Ralf S. said:

Yes.. sounds like some earth or something wasn't doing it's thing and it's built up some resistance (i.e. heat).

I can understand Fiat's position but they're not giving you the best after-care in the world either.

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Thanks for the response. Personally i think their 'offer' is abysmal considering the age of the car. As far as i'm concerned it's a build fault thus fiat should be sorting it at no cost to myself. Of course there is the possibility of exploring my statutory rights under the sales of goods act but I would need to aim such action at the dealer that I bought the car from. I have contacted them to see what they have to say but am awaiting a response. Let's face it, this kind of defect should not be happening on a 3.5 year old car.

Ralf S. said:

On the other hand.. £400 sounds a bit shocking for someone to replace the rear light, basically. Can you find a cheaper light unit (even a very good seconda-mano one on fleabay) and either fit it yourself (screwdriver and/or a 10mm socket required) or get your friendly local vehicle electrician to fit it?

It's probably a 30 minute job. A sparky would also be able to verify that the current/resistance is all looking good. You'll certainly have change from the £400 your dealer wants.


Ralf S.

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Well the Fiat dealer has quoted £180 + vat for the tail light and £65 + vat for the 'connection kit'. then there's their hour's labour at £97.50 + vat.

i have sourced a new genuine light unit for £150 inclusive via ebay but unable to source the 'kit'. Due to the kit, i'm not sure it's a straight forward job. The selling dealer is reluctant to do it due to they not having access to the wiring diagram etc.

Pedrolami said:

I imagine the price also includes replacing the connector plug too.

Although, I would look on eBay for a scrap car locally and go along to cut the plug for a replacement.

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Thanks for your suggestion although it's not really what i want. i am of the opinion that fiat should cover the repair cost in total considering the age of the car. i am convinced it is a manufacturing defect.

I would be tempted to have a GOOD LOOK at the connections yourself..

Looking for the 'mode of failure'

Ir the contacts were somehow mis aligned in the plug.. only offering partial contact.. that is an obvious HOT SPOT and will have been there from day one.

Is this an LED light unit or all bulbs?

It will be filament bulbs. Unfortunately manufacturers (particularly German ones) seem to stick rigidly to their 3-year warranty obligations. Manufacturers are obliged to support customers for up to 6 years in the event of a design fault, but as there don't seem to be any other reports of this problem I'm guessing it's a manufacturing error.

Just a quick update.

Been in touch with fiat again but they don't want to know other than the original "good will" gesture of paying half of the repair cost subject to me arranging an annual service. Agreeing to that would cost me more than simply paying for the repair myself!

Anyway, i've obtained a light cluster for around £100 less than the Fiat dealer quoted and have arranged for the supplying dealer to sort it.

Obviously I am extremely disappointed in Fiat's response given the age of the car and it's certainly made me less enthusiastic about buying another new (or relatively new) Fiat in the future. surely they should last longer than 3.5 years without such a fault!

A 'conditional' goodwill gesture seems a bit out of order to me. 50% seems to be the industry standard, but never heard of a goodwill gesture with conditions before

Alanw47 said:

A 'conditional' goodwill gesture seems a bit out of order to me. 50% seems to be the industry standard, but never heard of a goodwill gesture with conditions before

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My thoughts entirely. Which is why i am disappointed after all the Fiats i have owned since 1978. Obviously the regime at Fiat has changed during that time.

It's amazing how many times I read about dealers (of many marques) behaving like this. I appreciate they are probably on tight margins, but you would think they would like to foster future business.

I went to 2 different FIAT agents for my repairs.

Chalk and cheese..

Go elsewhere.. they all have the capability of warranty work..!!

Such goodwill gestures are often reliant on having the car serviced at a dealer.
Car sales are low profit, and generally cars are very reliable, meaning the dealer has little work to do. Insisting on dealer servicing to maintain warranty, and any later out-of-warranty payments, helps the dealers with more work and greater profitability. Without profitable dealers, there are no new car sales.

portland_bill said:

Such goodwill gestures are often reliant on having the car serviced at a dealer.
Car sales are low profit, and generally cars are very reliable, meaning the dealer has little work to do. Insisting on dealer servicing to maintain warranty, and any later out-of-warranty payments, helps the dealers with more work and greater profitability. Without profitable dealers, there are no new car sales.

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While I fully understand that (having worked at a dealership myself in the mid 90's), I would of expected a more favourable "good will gesture" than 50% of the repair bill on the proviso of an annual service being done which will cost in excess of £200. Added to the cost of the repair (to me), that would put me more out of pocket than not having the service and paying the total repair myself. I don't call that a very good "good will gesture" given that defected component isn't a serviceable item and should last the lifetime of the car.

I have just had the same problem with my 500X identical to yours 65 plate Pop Star. I noticed that the N/S rear light looked dim a couple of weeks ago then a few days ago all the lights on that side stopped working! Took to auto electrician, he took it apart and showed me where one of the connectors (tiny little pin) had melted! Fiat cannot supply just the connectors so I had to have the whole unit replaced at a cost of £430!!! £430 for the sake of 1 tiny pin!! Not impressed especially as the car has only done 23000 miles so don't really expect this and it's clearly a design fault as it seems to be rather common

Had the same issue with our 500x Pop last year. Photo of melted connection.
pilonidal dot com dot au slash images slash zoo slash uploads slash 500x_1.jpg

Forum won't let me post URL

If you are OK with a soldering iron, easy fix. I pulled out the melted wire from the plug, soldered a new wire from that to inside the light. Will have to cut the wire if the tail light ever needs removed.

Didn't take a photo of end result, sorry.

arekp said:

Had the same issue with our 500x Pop last year.

Will have to cut the wire if the tail light ever needs removed.

Didn't take a photo of end result, sorry.

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Eh.. sounds drastic..??

Can you replace bulbs though?

replacing bulb is still the same, easy

drastic, you be the judge: 1/2 hour work, zero cost, no travel to dealer, no need for loan car etc