Since I got mine with 42 miles on the clock pre reg from the dealer, despite paying them lots of money to service it as required I've had the following go wrong on my 56 plate, 46k mile 8v 1.9
1 x ECU
2 x alternators
2 x boot catches
1 x pair of front driving lights (actually they've never worked)
1 x EGR failure (manifesting as a DPF issue requiring over £400's worth of oil and extra servicing)
1 x drivers door latch
1 x glass sunroof motor set
1 x drivers seat (honestly - it winds itself down)
10 x software reflash (at least)
2 x rear parking sensors
3 x alarm system resets (goodness only knows what this involved but the check vehicle protection system message was displayed for month s after I bought it)
3 x batteries, One of which wasn't even attached to the car by anything stronger than gravity becasuse it wasn't a Fiat battery and didn't even fit! The dealer denied that this might have damaged the electrics
1 x rusted tailgate gas strut
1 x drivers side windscreen washer nozzle (it kept popping out until I sealed it in place with silicone)
1 x fuel sensor (If I leave the key in the ignition when I'm filling it up it doesn't register as having being refuelled.)
2 x roof bar mounting points not threaded (fixed with a tap and die set I bought from B&Q)
1 x broken key fob

Is this the least reliable / worst built car ever?

And the dealer even managed to scratch it and then crash it getting the scratch repaired.

And then leave a polishing rag in the top of the engine bay after they'd fixed the bodywork they repaired after they'd crashed it. But not before they lost the handbook.

Still, could be worse.

And no doubt by tomorrow it will be.

It must be time for your rear wiper to pack in.

You've been exceptionally unlucky there. The Croma's probably less reliable than average, but your list is something else. Hopefully most of it was under warranty though.

Blimey, sounds like you have a real pig in the bag there. I thought my Croma was unreliable, but yours sounds like a nightmare car. My '06 JTD 8v Dynamic also has 46K and has only been surpassed in unreliability by a Citroen CX 2400 I briefly owned (Even your Croma was better than it).
My Croma's current faults in 18 months and 23K miles of ownership are:
EGR valve replaced
Alternator replaced
Rear door latch replaced
Rear wiper motor failed
Indicator switch faulty
Broken front springs (2)
Engine shown as overheating at random - still unresolved

I have now reappraised my car and compared to yours it has Toyota levels of reliability. Best of luck.

Have had mine just over a year, and have done from 39k to 58k miles. The following list is a little unfair on it, as I bought it with faults. The previous owner didn't seem bothered about fixing anything. However...

The following faults were present when I bought it:

EGR valve replaced
Sunroof mechanism replaced
Engine thermostat replaced
Sill badly chipped so was resprayed

The following faults have occured while I've owned it:

Rear wiper motor siezed
(and that's it)

So not bad then really - probably a similar story to most other mass-market cars.

EDIT: Forgot I had new rear springs, but I was carrying sand, cement, soil and bricks in it!

This could be the kiss of death for my car/me:

Thus far from new (56 plate) 16V 150 and 41K miles

Rear suspension geometry / tyre wear
Fuel filler cap latch
Broken wheel center hub cap
Worn front driveshafts - ** see below
Broken return spring housing in driver's door handle

** - Present but not yet failed - gearbox/drive train backlash & noise. This gearbox characteristic could have lead to uneccessary driveshaft replacement.

All-in-all I'm doing quite well thus far, and long may it last!

55 plate 16v 1.9 with 41K on the clock

1 ECU
1 EGR
2 DPF recharges
1 Battery
1 Alternator
1 gearbox management unit
1 ABS Unit
2 sets front brake pads
2 sets front discs
1 Mass sensor

However, I think I can officially say that you have the most unreliable Croma on the forum. Never mind things could be worse: you could have all this and be driving a Vauxhall Vectra

The worse thing for me is not the break down, it's the waiting for bloody parts. How common it is to hear,

"Oh they didn't sell many so we don't stock the parts". They don't relent any when you point out to them that the part isn't necessarily unique to the Croma (e.g. the alternator). My car has just been off the road for three days waiting for front brake pads of all things, because let's be honest they don't wear these out very often do they?

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for passing on your experiences so far.

I'm going to leave things for a couple more days before I start to do the regression analysis but it's already clear that we've got a car that's of a much poorer standard than the ones that had Toyota running for cover and compensating everyone in sight.

I've wondered whether getting the database from the DVLA would be useful - I think that it's unlikely that anyone's not had trouble with their Croma but I'd love to write to everyone anyway to find out - because I've thought for a while that the issues we suffer shouldn't happen on a new, modern car and the warranty is really just a staging post in Fiat's defence of "we're not really sure what we did but don't worry the dealer's will fix it".

:slayer:

As most of the problems are with Vauxhall parts, you could assume it's about as reliable as a Vectra.

It does have a lot of equipment as standard, which is bound to make the overall failure rate higher.

I guess you have to put up with this standard being fairly typical, sadly.

Perhaps your expectations are higher as you bought it almost new. I'm pretty happy with what I got for £6k.

06 Prestigio 2.4
Purchased at 23000 miles, 2.5 years old. Had to get an auto, Alfa GT previous.
The Aisin 6 speed auto is brilliant.

2 years and 10000 miles
Replaced wheels with 17's off new 159, Michelin Premacy, cost £300 (set of 4)
Original 18's now on another Croma
N/S front inner door handle "chrome" plastic handle split, cost about £16, self fitted
Poked out drain hole in rubber below left wiper, did you know you had one?
Clock goes about a minute a week slow.
Not going to risk opening skydome.
Very little driving in traffic, usual minimum is 10 miles 40 / 60 mph A road
Average mpg 40. DPF regen about every 400.
Have recently researched several potential replacements, I thought the Croma was heavy, but the big Kia is well over 2 tons. Plenty of problems with Mazda, who tend to have a reliable reputation. Not changing yet.

keithglos said:

Poked out drain hole in rubber below left wiper, did you know you had one?

Click to expand...

Given up poking mine. Lasts about 2 days.

Attached to the back of the hole is a rubber tube to guide the water away from the cabin pollen filter/air intake. This is an even finer bore than the little hole on the top and is some 6 inches long. A two year old child could have designed a better one.

Next time I change the pollen filter I'm going to look at putting a drain hole somewhere else. Possibly in the middle as this area is already open with the air grille vents. Might have to also glue/bond a drip vane to ensure that the watter cannot run backwards but cleanly drops to the bottom.

I think you are very unlucky Brian.Had my 06 Dynamic since last Dec. done 12000 miles (out of 62000), so far alternator and the driver door latch(self fitted) have failed.I must say I was disappointed that the alternator went after so few miles,but then my previous motor was a merc.I did 85000 miles before the alternator gave up and that was on a car with over 200000 on the clock when I got it.On a previous post somebody said the spring on the door latch seemed too strong.To me tho the latch looks like its made from the sort of plastic Xmas cracker toys are made of.
However I'm pleased with my purchase, the engine is simply the best I've ever driven!

55 Prestigio 1.9/16v 150hp 42av.mpg

issues with current owner (39.4K – 53.4K mls)
Feb/2010 (46.7K mls) – new alternator
Mar/2010 (47.4K mls) – new EGR
Apr/2010 (48.7K mls) – H7 bulb
July/2010 (51.4K mls) – new battery
known faults: tailgate catch only operates by k/fob.

known issues with previous owner (33.0K – 39.4K mls)
Feb/2009 (34.1K mls) – skydome
Mar/2009 (34.7K mls) – wheel align
Mar/2009 (35.0K mls) – 4xtyres
Mar/2009 (35.5K mls) – new EGR
July/2009 (38.0K mls) – 4xtyres

.

Caravadossi - I had issues with the boot release on mine. It was fixed by a software update from the Fiat dealer. It was under warranty at the time, but I'd hope you could twist their arm and get it done for nothing.

I forgot about my new battery too. I'd put that in the maintenance category with bulbs etc, rather than a fault though.

Doofer said:

It does have a lot of equipment as standard, which is bound to make the overall failure rate higher.

I guess you have to put up with this standard being fairly typical, sadly.

Click to expand...

My Croma replaced a 1.8 Turbo Rover 75. This was also a high spec car (computer, climate, cruise etc. etc) In 50,000 miles not one aspect of this car went wrong, until it blew a head gasket (which was always a known weak spot on the 1.8 motor from the start - and really my own fault for not forking out for the V6).

I actually think that the high level of faults be they Fiat or GM based are unacceptable for a modern car, and for manufacturers to wash their hands of the issues after three years is appalling. Bear in mind after three years most cars will not have reached 50,000 miles. Also bear in mind that the Vectra had been on the market a good few years before the Croma came to being. If the manufacturers were acting responsibly all these faults should have been sorted long before the first Croma left the production line.For example someone on this forum has said that water pumps can fail at 40K miles.

Manufacturers are going to have to get their act together soon though. With the likes of Toyota and KIA starting to offer 5-7 year warranties, others will have to follow suit and hence get their products sorted from the start or face excessive warranty claims.

Radlet6 said:

Manufacturers are going to have to get their act together soon though. With the likes of Toyota and KIA starting to offer 5-7 year warranties, others will have to follow suit and hence get their products sorted from the start or face excessive warranty claims.

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I agree it's not brilliant. I've always assumed that some car companies engineered parts to fail, so you have to buy replacements.

Vauxhall are now offering a Lifetime warranty! Up to 100,000 miles, no limit on age. It has some smallprint though - only major items are covered, you must have it inspected every year (for free), and they have the right to write it off and cancel the warranty if repair costs exceed the vehicle's value (not hard for a Vauxhall!).

The Kia one isn't transferable to a second owner, unless it's low mileage from a Kia dealer.

You seem remarkably forgiving of a car that blew its head gasket! I'd much rather replace EGR vales etc.

Hi all,
06 8V Dynamic,
Under warranty the following;
Both front struts at 18 months,
Alternator at same time,
Passenger door side mirror glass (not demisting),
Driver's door external handle (floppy),
EGR valve at 24 months (acting up again!)
At 40 months new steering rack fitted.

Front suspension is starting to knock again (60,000 miles). what aftermarket shocks/struts have members fitted an do they last longer/improve ride?

We are a dedicated bunch!

CJLAR

hi i have a 08 1.2 Grande
so far after 25000 miles i have had:
1x ecu
1x airbox (split down middle seam)
1x set of headlights

new steering rack as apparently this was a recall

the whole front suspension collapsed including snapping both wishbones in the process due to all the f**king speedbumps near me or so thats what fiat blamed it on

i keep getting a message saying that the engine temp is too high and that i have to turn off engine then restart car (9 times out of 10 though this is before i have drove any where when engine has been left off all night )
exhaust came loose on M69 and was dragging on floor, by the time i stopped it had basicallty fell off so i just took off what i could and took it to dealership with only my manifold attached sounded like a right chav ... bad times

Doofer said:

Vauxhall are now offering a Lifetime warranty! Up to 100,000 miles, no limit on age. It has some smallprint though - only major items are covered, you must have it inspected every year (for free), and they have the right to write it off and cancel the warranty if repair costs exceed the vehicle's value (not hard for a Vauxhall!).

The Kia one isn't transferable to a second owner, unless it's low mileage from a Kia dealer.

You seem remarkably forgiving of a car that blew its head gasket! I'd much rather replace EGR vales etc.

Click to expand...

Not brilliant!!!!? Doofer, in 33 years and nigh on 750,000 miles of motoring this is the most unreliable car I have driven and certainly the one that has caused me the most stress, and I have had some oddball motors in my time (Pontiac Firebird, Capri RS 2600, Jag XJ6 V12). Maybe I have been lucky.

Re the Vauxhall, well that's it then we won't see any Vauxhalls over six years old on the road then.

I didn't know about the KIA one - that is a bit of a fix then. However, there are people who will still qualify. I had my Rover for nearly five years. I have looked at the Toyota one, that is transferable.

However, it will only be a matter of time before longer warranties become the norm. A standard warranty in the States is now SEVEN years. So if BMW, Volvo etc etc can offer them there why not here? Because the American legislature supports the consumer instead of the producers.

Have you ever tried to sue someone under the Sale of Goods Act? Let me tell you it will cost you at least £3,000 just to go to court and even if you win you are not guaranteed to get 100% of the purchase price back or your costs.

Re the Rover. I knew when I bought it that this was the Achilles heel of the car. Like I said I should have ought the V6; and I wasn't all that forgiving - I chopped it in for the Croma.

Hi folks - my first post on here... after over 30 years of mainly owning Italian cars my best ever for reliability, performance & economy was a new Stilo 1.9JTD 3dr. After 4 trouble free years I traded up to an Alfa 159 JTDM Lusso 1.9. That then became my best ever car for the same reasons plus fantastic looks. Sadly after 18 months I suffered my own 'credit crunch' and the Alfa had to go. For the last 3 years I have made do with a succession of cheap cars. 3 weeks ago I bought a relatively cheap Croma 1.9 8v thinking that I had almost worked up to a quality performance car again (a close relation to the Alfa 159 I hoped) for not very much money but now I'm not so sure.
Day 2 headlamp bulb blown
Day 3 alarm failure warning
Day 4 alternator failed
Day 5 Glow plugs warning
Day 12 develops oil leak while towing caravan - front of 'van covered in film of oil

From reading this and related threads maybe there is more/worse to come? Oh dear.

Nickb500 said:

Day 2 headlamp bulb blown
Day 3 alarm failure warning
Day 4 alternator failed
Day 5 Glow plugs warning
Day 12 develops oil leak while towing caravan - front of 'van covered in film of oil

From reading this and related threads maybe there is more/worse to come? Oh dear.

Click to expand...

Welcome to the wonderful world of Croma ownership! Just a thought - what sort of quantity of oil are we talking about? I'm just wondering if it happened to do a DPF regeneration while you were towing, in which case what comes out may be a bit stickier than normal. Actually, does the 8v have a DPF?

An Alfa could have exactly the same engine issues - it's the same engine. Ditto for the Vectra, Saab 9-3, lots of other Fiats. I don't think they press the "don't work properly" button when they fit one in a Croma. Others may disagree.

I had a wall of stuff to do when I got mine. The previous owner seemed to be of the "put fuel in and don't worry unless it stops" mindset. It's been pretty reliable since though.