Technical 2011 new model Doblo - my first problem(s)

[Yobbo]

Well, its taken 30,000 miles of happy motoring in my new Dobby, but it is just about to go into the dealer with its first problem.

I have a very noisy front suspension strut, quite possibly the noisiest I have ever heard. Even when my late father had his garage I don't think I ever heard a customers car so bad. Something is far from right.

Secondly there is a slight bonking noise from the rear suspension, which sounds like dampers or bushes.

I would normally investigate myself but I am simply too busy at work at the moment to get out the jacks and axle stands so I will have to entrust it to the dealer hopefully under warranty. I am not getting my hopes up though on a warranty claim as some manufacturers consider suspension bushes etc as excluded.

The first MOT is in a couple of months so I need it all fixed for then.

I will keep you posted.

 

[Ulpian]

Get it fixed now.

My 2010 had to have both faulty rear dampers replaced, one was knocking when I took it for a test drive (at 21K) and they replaced them before delivery: a known fault!

And at @ 25K the top strut mount started grinding, so both of these were replaced: another known fault. It was just out of 'warranty' lol, so I had to pay half the cost.

I'm getting rid of mine as soon as I can afford to, because I don't like the often obstructive gear change, I can't see the instruments in some daylight situations, the indicators can repeat flash with only a slight kiss of the wand, the minor switches are poorly sighted, the off-line performance is poor, and the economy isn't what I was expecting, and no better than my last Doblo - probably worse. And I have to pump the seat up to the proper height for me every time I get into it. Soooo annoying.

It is comfortable on a run, and has real virtues, but the irritations often cause me to wince, so I hope to be rid of it by the end of the year. It was a stop-gap car bought in a rush, so I can't blame anyone but myself.

I repeat, get yours looked at and the faulty bits replaced

 

[dennis adams]

I had the same problem the engine mounting came loose on mine and snapped I was getting a grinding noise going round corners and this shock absorbers knocking on the rear

 

[Yobbo]

The front rattle has been found to be a broken spring.

 

[dennis adams]

Probably caused by all those lovely pot holes in the unmaintained roads

 

[Yobbo]

And the rear noise is apparently the same top damper bushes that others have reported having to replace on the Forum. All work is covered under warranty. It would appear that the the top damper bushes at the rear are going to be a problem for all of the latest model Doblo's at about 20-30k miles.

 

[Yobbo]

My car has had to go back for more work as although fitting the rear damper bushes improved the noise a bit, it did not cure it.

Two new rear dampers and the car is now fixed. As other have said the latest generation Dobby seems to be susceptible to rear damper problems as several of us have now had them fail.

The dealer didn't quibble with a warranty claim which was pleasing.

 

[jazz452]

This is without doubt the most stressful vehicle I have ever driven, is fine on a perfectly smooth road but in reality this is rare. Those speed bumps feel like mountains I have to stop to get over them but that doesn't help much I'm thrown all over the cab.