When you pull exterior door handle it doesn't always open the door so you have to repeat the operation.All GP's (in UK anyway) are to be checked for this whenever they are in the garage & modified accordinally.
Technical What defects have you had with your Grande Punto so far?
- Thread starter Adametz G
- Start date
Currently reading:
Technical What defects have you had with your Grande Punto so far?
- Status
stumac1985
New member
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2007
- Messages
- 215
- Points
- 36
1) On board computer reprogrammed, then replaced.
2) Knocking from steering wheel various bushes etc replaced
3) Flashing mileage display - not fixed but irractic
4) Glovebox doesnt close properly and has to be forced home - not fixed
5) Suspension droplink (connecting the lower arm to the ARB) broken - replaced
Other than that have been through one set of brake pads and 2 sets of front tyres (pirellis really dont last long) in 22k miles
EDIT:
Almost forgot, my road fund license is also £80 a year more than it should be! Dealer mis-sold me the car saying it was band B (now £35 a year and its not is band C which is £115 a year) Fiat dont want to know, finance company dont want to know and trading standards etc havent given me any usefull advice
Was also told that its a hydraullic clutch not a cable clutch..?
EDIT2:
Also get a crunch occasionally going from third to fourth - no fault found by garage
2) Knocking from steering wheel various bushes etc replaced
3) Flashing mileage display - not fixed but irractic
4) Glovebox doesnt close properly and has to be forced home - not fixed
5) Suspension droplink (connecting the lower arm to the ARB) broken - replaced
Other than that have been through one set of brake pads and 2 sets of front tyres (pirellis really dont last long) in 22k miles
EDIT:
Almost forgot, my road fund license is also £80 a year more than it should be! Dealer mis-sold me the car saying it was band B (now £35 a year and its not is band C which is £115 a year) Fiat dont want to know, finance company dont want to know and trading standards etc havent given me any usefull advice
Was also told that its a hydraullic clutch not a cable clutch..?
EDIT2:
Also get a crunch occasionally going from third to fourth - no fault found by garage
Last edited:
GP's have a hydraullic clutch.
Last edited:
1.3 Dynamic 1.3 Multijet, purchased March 2007
May 2007: 3500 miles. Knocking from front suspension: Dealer replaced anti-roll bar and drop-links but little difference. I immediately discovered steering rack had play in nearside (internal) tie-rod balljoint and after road test and inspection by second dealer, had to demonstrate it in their workshop before they believed me. No steering racks available.
End June 2007 Steering rack replaced by second dealer. However, replacement rack has been "superseded". Steering now stiff and had hysteresis. Knocking from front suspension resurfaced.
August 2007. 9500 miles. Original dealer had car for the week. Replaced front shock absorbers and mounts. Released and retightened subframe mounts. Steering remained stiff. Five drivers in dealership tested car and considered there to be no problem with steering in spite of my insistence.
September 2007. Technical Specialist at second dealer found steering problem within 500 yards of driving the car. Steering column shaft replaced.
October 2007. Knocking over bumps resurfaced.
November 2007. 13000 miles. Second dealer had car for a week. Many checks but no problem found. Subframe released and retightened. Problem resurfaced within one week and deteriorating fast.
1st December 2007. Letter delivered to first dealer asking for reimbursement at the forecourt price (rather than the trade-in price previously offered). Copy to Fiat UK who have also been informed of the sad story.
I wish you all the best of luck with your Grande Puntos. I loved mine but cannot stand the noises any more.
Mike
May 2007: 3500 miles. Knocking from front suspension: Dealer replaced anti-roll bar and drop-links but little difference. I immediately discovered steering rack had play in nearside (internal) tie-rod balljoint and after road test and inspection by second dealer, had to demonstrate it in their workshop before they believed me. No steering racks available.
End June 2007 Steering rack replaced by second dealer. However, replacement rack has been "superseded". Steering now stiff and had hysteresis. Knocking from front suspension resurfaced.
August 2007. 9500 miles. Original dealer had car for the week. Replaced front shock absorbers and mounts. Released and retightened subframe mounts. Steering remained stiff. Five drivers in dealership tested car and considered there to be no problem with steering in spite of my insistence.
September 2007. Technical Specialist at second dealer found steering problem within 500 yards of driving the car. Steering column shaft replaced.
October 2007. Knocking over bumps resurfaced.
November 2007. 13000 miles. Second dealer had car for a week. Many checks but no problem found. Subframe released and retightened. Problem resurfaced within one week and deteriorating fast.
1st December 2007. Letter delivered to first dealer asking for reimbursement at the forecourt price (rather than the trade-in price previously offered). Copy to Fiat UK who have also been informed of the sad story.
I wish you all the best of luck with your Grande Puntos. I loved mine but cannot stand the noises any more.
Mike
markeboy1234
New member
That's right you have to give the handle a good tug to open the rear doors. My misses can't open the doors on the first attempt and she moans like hell about it. I however have adopted a knack in opening it which never fails me. I'm not telling her as it really annoys her when she see's me opening the door first time round with ease.
Question: So what's the mod to the rear door assembly then? is it a metal bar that requires bending or is it a new handle mechanism?
Mark
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2007
- Messages
- 5
- Points
- 2
Have had my 1.4 Sporting since 1st september and woz going fine until two days ago i tried to adjust my mirrors and - nothing! They sed over th fone that it is probably the switch has broken and they wil fix it next week! The truble is that the mirrors are set right down so all i can c in them is the road!
One of my problems also. However, you can manually adjust the glass. Just move the glass around gently and it will move up a bit. The dealer must have had a go at trying to repair mine during the PDI, cos you can see where some monkey has used a screwdriver or similar implement to remove the switch plastic surround. Beggars belief that a trained mechanic would do such a thing to a brand new motor.
Had a new dash facia fitted, due to the original being damaged on arrival....so much for the PDI.
No other problems..yet, although the "new" fascia still isn't perfect, which p.isses me off.
No other problems..yet, although the "new" fascia still isn't perfect, which p.isses me off.
I like Grande Punto's...I've owned 2 already. They're the best looking hatch around, good value for money, the bodywork quality is excellent and of course the engines are superb. (The Italians certainly know how to make good Diesels!)
BUT WHY OH WHY OH WHY!!!!! is the interior build still SO poor! It feels nice, looks nice but it just moves and rattles around like a 25 year old milk float. I like Fiats in general, which is why I buy them, but it's such a shame that after all their recent efforts they STILL can't get this. Unfortunately it’s gonna look real bad for them and our very own residuals when it comes to long term reviews in a couple of years time.
I can hear Jeremy Clarksons's relentless barrage of insults already….
BUT WHY OH WHY OH WHY!!!!! is the interior build still SO poor! It feels nice, looks nice but it just moves and rattles around like a 25 year old milk float. I like Fiats in general, which is why I buy them, but it's such a shame that after all their recent efforts they STILL can't get this. Unfortunately it’s gonna look real bad for them and our very own residuals when it comes to long term reviews in a couple of years time.
I can hear Jeremy Clarksons's relentless barrage of insults already….
Only issue ive had so far was them not screwing the rear passenger side wheel arch liner in.........1 trip to Fiat and a couple of screws later and shes fine
Apart from that its a great car
Apart from that its a great car
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2007
- Messages
- 13,617
- Points
- 2,161
Comes down to money at the end, producing a mass market car for a low price, means something somewhere has to be of lower quality. It seems some are worse than others, mine seems fine after 16,500 miles. Had the drivers side lock problem, washers squirting the wiper blades, glovebox door latch broke but thats it really.
Its really not that bad.. remember its only a Fiat and not a Merc..
Maybe a little over the top....but I think it's all about expectations. We live in an age when reliabilty is a prerequisite when buying a car. Apart from the odd Peugeot any car these days is trust worthy if treated well.
So why can't interiors be solid and sound.....if I buy a new laptop I wouldn't want that to rattle or have panels moving around....
So why can't interiors be solid and sound.....if I buy a new laptop I wouldn't want that to rattle or have panels moving around....
what I dont understand is if so many here dont like the interior why did so many here buy the car?
Apart from the odd Peugeot any car these days is trust worthy if treated well.
Bit of a sweeping statement. The only manufacturer I have never had a problem with is Peugeot. I have owned 4 Peugeots from new and not one was near the dealership other than for servicing to maintain warranty, mind you that was a few years ago. It really is all very subjective. If you personally have been lucky enough to have experienced little in the way of ownership problems other than with a Peugeot, then you will be of your opinion. I have found Fiat to be absolutely woeful. My GPS 130 spends most of the week in my garage cos I really cannot be a...d taking the risk. Meanwhile, I drive my 1994 Pug 306 diesel to work almost every day. Have covered 31,000 miles in past 2 years and has never once let me down. I service the car myself and it has never been near a garage. So you could say I am biased towards Peugeot and fricking hate Fiat, but that has been my experience.
Bit of a sweeping statement. The only manufacturer I have never had a problem with is Peugeot. I have owned 4 Peugeots from new and not one was near the dealership other than for servicing to maintain warranty, mind you that was a few years ago. It really is all very subjective. If you personally have been lucky enough to have experienced little in the way of ownership problems other than with a Peugeot, then you will be of your opinion. I have found Fiat to be absolutely woeful. My GPS 130 spends most of the week in my garage cos I really cannot be a...d taking the risk. Meanwhile, I drive my 1994 Pug 306 diesel to work almost every day. Have covered 31,000 miles in past 2 years and has never once let me down. I service the car myself and it has never been near a garage. So you could say I am biased towards Peugeot and fricking hate Fiat, but that has been my experience.
Sorry T,
Problem is, you don't realise the problem until you have parted with your cash and are driving the car home.
but if you dont like look of interior you dont buy it after all you have to spend hours inside it.....as for poor build quality most buyers have a good 'play' around inside before parting with the cash/sign dotted line.
I can honestly say I have had very few issues with rattling trim in a GP since its launch...from memory one C pillar trim (which owner damaged with set of golf clubs) and 2 rattling cluster surrounds which were fixed in 10minutes.
I can honestly say I have had very few issues with rattling trim in a GP since its launch...from memory one C pillar trim (which owner damaged with set of golf clubs) and 2 rattling cluster surrounds which were fixed in 10minutes.
- Status
Similar threads
