General Croma - Most unreliable car ever?

[dicksonrwd]

Now had my 2006 Croma for 6 years, 19,000 miles to 102,000 miles. In that time I have had;
2 new alternators
4 rear wiper motors
2 boot locks
3 filler cap locks
4 new suspension springs
2 new front lower suspension arms
All belts and water pump changed
New tyres every year - the car's weight appears to kill them
2 windscreens
2 interior door handles
1 exterior door handle
3 new batteries
Numerous headlight bulbs

Now the heater is playing up.

But apart from all of the above its been a great car!! This will be the first and last big Fiat I will ever have, Had numerous small Fiats in the past and rarely had any problems.

 

[Doofer]

I've had about half of your list, but that's probably because I've only done from 39k to 90k miles. This will certainly be the last Vauxhall/Opel I ever have.

I don't agree on the tyres though - mine last pretty well, especially the rears. You should take it to a wheel alignment place where they know what they're doing - i.e. not the village mechanic who looks along the car with one eye shut and mumbles "in a bit". Also not the computerised chain garages where they don't have a clue. I managed to find a decent independent one that has the computer and they know what they're doing. He had a bit of a fight with the rears, as there wasn't enough adjustment and one change was fighting the other. He got the best compromise, and it's been brilliant since. That was now 4 years ago.

You can't blame the car for the windscreen though - that really is tough luck. I suppose it is big and expensive though.

Actually you've had a fair bit of bodywork trouble, which is Fiat. Mine's been almost all the Vauxhall oily bits.

 

[dave]

i removed the spring from my fuel flap, i use a sucker to open it. it still locks.

i fixed my alternator instead of replacing it, that saves loads of money.

i fitted non oem springs as soon as i got the car originals are still not broke and are in the attic. isn't all the suspension gm stuff? if so no point not buying another fiat because of the non fiat bits breaking
i used an independent for new windscreen, saved loads on screen excess that i'd have to pay for insurance approved company.

I changed all belts tensioners and idlers and water pump, but that's standard job for any car

 

[Doofer]

Going slightly off-topic - I've had two new screens on mine. One was a pebble that came from nowhere (not driving up anyone's back end), the other was 100% my fault, as I put a 3m sewer pipe in, then shut the boot. It was sticking out, and the back window didn't break but propelled it into the front and cracked it.

I can't blame the Croma for either.

Anyway, I insisted on an acoustic windscreen both times, as that's what it had originally. Both windscreen companies (different each time) first turned up with a funny brand non-acoustic.

I've only ever driven mine with an acoustic windscreen. Does anyone else have a standard one, and if so do you get wind noise from the screen?

It should have a symbol on if acoustic (see note 12):

http://www.nationalwindscreens.co.uk/repairs-replacement-useful-information.php

 

[Telegraph]

Hi we have been tested by our Croma for four years the Heater blower was one the trials, another Job for the shed! I have a procedure to get to get fan on the move again if that would help.
Other Trials
Inlet Manifold change,Rear sus links, two alternators,Hatch latch, power steering,
Hydraulic lifter Clack(still to fix),Sunroof , Tire wear,exhaust fexi and the gear stick spring. In the Car defense it has only been towed home once.

 

[s130]

Well for the 40+ years I've owned Fiats I've only ever had to be recovered home 3 times.

1) my Uno SX after an accident (not my fault)
2) my Coupe 20V after a premature aux belt failure when the cords then got wrapped around the crank sprocket and throwing the cam timing off (no damage done)
3) my Croma when the clutch cover plate assembly failed .... long recovery from Dove docks and a real nasty bill to pay....

Strangely I see that Honest John website referrers to GM/Vauxhal clutch failures as a common problem. Am I the only one here who has had this happen?

 

[buster]

Well mine has been pretty brillant.4 years ownership.Besides my utter inability to change the engine oil properly,which cost me dearly its had.

2 x parking sensors which only affected it in frost.

1 x inner door handle.

1 x exhaust downpipe due to blowing flex.

1 x transmission flash programme at dealer.

 

[BrianMcL]

Hi s130,
You don't seriously expect any of us to post that our clutches have been fine do you?

 

[dave]

1 x transmission flash programme at dealer.

what was that for?

 

[BrianMcL]

Mine was a complete nightmare whilst I was relying on the main dealer (who couldn't even get the engine to work - yes it was the EGR) and since I discovered this forum (and people who actually know something about cars) it's been fine.

I had a Vauxhall Sintra which was so bad that the main dealer told other Sintra owners that they didn't fix that particular model and they had to take theirs elsewhere. I vowed after that I would never have anothe Vauxhall. What did I know?

 

[evo-number-one]

When I bought my Alfa 166, several of my mates said I should have bought a "reliable" German "executive" saloon instead of an Italian car.

Yes, I had several annoying things go wrong/stop working, but they were all parts made in bl##dy GERMANY!! :devil:

 

[halilson]

Now had my 2006 Croma for 6 years, 19,000 miles to 102,000 miles. In that time I have had;
2 new alternators
4 rear wiper motors
2 boot locks
3 filler cap locks
4 new suspension springs
2 new front lower suspension arms
All belts and water pump changed
New tyres every year - the car's weight appears to kill them
2 windscreens
2 interior door handles
1 exterior door handle
3 new batteries
Numerous headlight bulbs

Now the heater is playing up.

But apart from all of the above its been a great car!! This will be the first and last big Fiat I will ever have, Had numerous small Fiats in the past and rarely had any problems.

Most of the items you list are through lack of use and would happen to a lot of cars that spend most of their days sitting around doing nothing.
Apart from the alternator and springs, you don't seem to have experienced the problems that other Croma users have had.
I have found that a bit of preventative maintenance (mainly thanks to this forum) has meant that I have avoided a lot of the common problems associated with the Croma.

 

[buster]

That juddering it used to to when it was warming up Dave.I now believe it was in the middle of doing a dpf regen.I suspect they did a forced regen and charged me for the flash.I rate them as an good car.Were now on our second 500(new one came 2months ago)and they,ve been sound to.Early days with this 13 plate i know but the previous 60 plate was sound.I think were all very lucky as most our minor problems.I can remember back to bmw,s problems with the 4 cylinder diesels sucking swirl flaps in and digesting them.I know of a girl who went through 2 engines and both out of warranty.Now that is painfull.

 

[dave]

aww i though it may have removed what ever it it that stops you changing up when you want to

 

[dicksonrwd]

The Croma has finally gone, hooray, never again!! 104,000 miles now on it, needs more suspension work needed and tyres. Finally had enough

 

[buster]

Wear and tear springs to mind with that one.Also the state of the roads.

 

[iainiain]

Oh, my Croma has certainly been the least reliable car I've ever owned - see below for what I posted on the "goodbye Croma" thread. Sadly, it wasn't a good buy, my Croma...

I, too, have a 2006 1.9 multijet 16v diesel auto...and it's far and away the worst car I've EVER owned. Loads of things gone wrong with it (eg the driveshaft issue that I've noticed being discussed here, all sorts of electrical problems, all the time, parking sensor needed replaced etc etc).
In all, I've spent about £2500 extra on it since I got it, 2nd hand - and it's still not quite at 55000 miles!
Driveshaft replaced; suspension struts replaced (mind you, I do drive on Edinburgh's "roads"); parking sensor replaced; three brake bulbs replaced; front side-light bulb replaced (but warning light stays on - go figure!); battery light only goes off if I start the car twice...I could go on.
I live in fear of it breaking down in a really inconvenient place at a really bad time.

MOT and tax due in April; it'll be getting traded in then, against whatever I can research to be the most reliable car I can afford!

Loathsome car - but thanks to this site I at least managed to sort out the window safety warnings/lights (which is how I came to find the site), so that's something. Thanks, whoever posted the tip about holding the buttons down.

Anyway, a charming way to say hello, I know, but I've just had to replace yet another brake light bulb only to have the side-light blow the next day, so not feeling well disposed towards my so-called car.

 

[Bazm]

Hi Telegraph,

Do you still have that procedure to get to the blower fan? Ours is screeching and needs to be fixed or replaced. Thanks in advance.

 

[mrw99]

Had my 2006 Croma 1.9JTD 8v for 3 years now. Has been relatively reliable for a > 10 year old car the 30k miles since purchase.

• Anti-roll bars
• Battery
• Brake pads and discs all round
• Both rear springs
• Cambelt, tensioners and water pump
• MAF sensor
• Stereo kept scratching CDs. Replaced with a Sony unit.
• Brake bulbs x 3
• Speakers blown drivers side
• Front side lights x 1
• Tyres wear heavy, although to be fair the fronts were under-inflated for a while
• Glovebox replaced after I couldn't open it
• Drivers interior door handle broke
• Poor FM reception - bought a £3.99 amplified replacement from Halfords

Bought for £1200 in Feb 2015 with 55k miles. Good value I think.

Great load carrier and tows a caravan brilliantly. Comfortable on long journeys. Most of the issues listed could happen i any car, or were routine service and/or wear and tear.

Will probably keep her running until something expensive breaks.

Mazda 6 SkyActive diesel when the time comes.

 

[BrianMcL]

Hi mrw99,
I've had a similar experience over the last few years.
When I look back through my posts from many years ago it's hard to believe it's the same car.
A lot of the issues are niggly details that Fiat could have fixed early on in the manufacturing process - door handles and the rear wiper motors for instance.
I agree completely about towing. Mine gets the caravan on the back, kayak on the roof, dog in the boot and 4 adults inside and can still manage 30mpg according to the computer anyway ��