The boot locking mechanism on my 5 month old 1.2 Lounge has just stopped working. That is to say, that when I unlock the car with the fob, the doors unlock but the boot doesn't. This is just what happened on my 2 previous mk 2 Pandas - really annoying as I will have to arrange to have it replaced. Anyone else had this problem?

Think this is standard - you have to use third button at bottom of remote fob

I can't see why remotes can't be like my old Doblo one. Only one button: press once to unclock everything, and press once again to unlock everything. How simple is that! And it still has its original ten year old battery.

Now we get three buttons, and try fumbling around feeling for the right bit to press in the dark: annoying is not the word.

This is right up there with automatic lights and wipers, gunk instead of a proper spare wheel, automatic 'hand' brakes and a whole host of other annoying junk they are lumbering us with when we look at new cars.

No, it's not standard. The top button should unlock all 5 doors. Went into Fiat today and they've ordered the new part which seems to be the whole of the panel/trim. Fitting next week. (And it's exactly what happened on my two mk 2 Pandas, and my mother's! Definitely a weak spot...not impressed!)

This has happened to my 1.2 Easy, which is 7 months old, as well. The garage is taking a look on 3rd November (annoyingly I can't get there before due to work commitments).

Hmm, sounds like a common problem on the 500s as well - bit irritating I'm sure! It does look exactly the same though so you would assume it's the same old thing.

There was an old thread on the 500 section, does this help much at all? Appreciate you have the cars booked in to see the dealer but it sounds like a similar thing (post 5 of that thread also links to another one which is useful):

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/287875-boot-unlock.html

The other thing I've noticed with the boot is that if you open it up yourself and close it too quickly after releasing the button, the lock mechanism stays open. Has caught me out a couple of times.

Oscar said:

The boot locking mechanism on my 5 month old 1.2 Lounge has just stopped working. That is to say, that when I unlock the car with the fob, the doors unlock but the boot doesn't. This is just what happened on my 2 previous mk 2 Pandas - really annoying as I will have to arrange to have it replaced. Anyone else had this problem?

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The Classic mk2's didn't have electronic tailgate releases so must have been dodgy after market setups, unless you're on about the mk3

Yes you're right - I was 'on about' the Mk3..It was definitely a common problem with the Mk3 Pandas - several threads about it ages ago.

Oscar said:

The boot locking mechanism on my 5 month old 1.2 Lounge has just stopped working. That is to say, that when I unlock the car with the fob, the doors unlock but the boot doesn't. This is just what happened on my 2 previous mk 2 Pandas - really annoying as I will have to arrange to have it replaced. Anyone else had this problem?

Click to expand...

I booked my TA in last week to have the external rubber beading on the driver's door replaced, as it had distorted and formed a perfect water trap. I had to wait until yesterday before a courtesy car was available, and in the meantime the dreaded boot lock failure reared its head. I mentioned this to the young fellow on the service counter.Since I have grey hair, I was treated to the pitying look reserved by the self-confessed young genius for the senile. He then informed me that the boot only opened by pressing the dedicated boot remote button. I said this was not the case, but he was not convinced until he tried it out on the courtesy car, whereupon he conceded that I had a point, and the "technician" would examine it.
I asked which engine model was the courtesy car, and he said "the 1.6 litre" which was a surprise to me, but I couldn't be arsed to pursue it; it must be a prototype Panda they've kept very quiet about.
They kept my TA all day, then rang to say it was ready, but they hadn't done the job as the rubber seal replacement was the wrong part.
I went to pick my car up, and the receptionist apologised for the cock-up, saying that Kia were always sending the wrong stuff. I said that it was no wonder it wouldn't fit, as my car was a Fiat. She then told me that the boot mechanism was faulty, and would be fixed under warranty. It actually sounded like she thought this was a big concession on their part. But, she said, we are awaiting delivery from Korea. I said I'd rather they got it from Italy. Oh yes, she said, I get them mixed up.
Anyway, we'll let you know. Could be a couple of weeks.
So after a wasted day, I took my car home.
There, I looked at the progress sheet. It said, job delayed, parts ordered from Kia.
I hope that Chorley Motor Group, Blackpool branch know what they're doing, but my confidence is shaky.
Mike.

Oh dear Mike! Sometimes you wonder how companies manage to survive when they display such incompetence.

Re the rubber beading - I wonder if I've got the same issue as you. Have got wet a couple of times getting into the car, also when you open up the door it sounds as though the rubber part is sticking (particularly when the car's been sat for a while).

Didn't think too much of it but I will take a look.

Mike, that is truly amazing incompetence...how did you remain calm???? At least in my case, Fiat in Norwich realised that the boot mechanism was faulty so I didn't have to argue about it. (With my first '04 Panda, a 1.2 Dynamic, they more or less told me I was making it up about the boot opening with the doors, and, as I hadn't discovered this forum at that time and hearing about owners with the same problem, I left, fooling cross that they didn't believe me.)

I have the car booked in for next week, for the replacement part to be fitted...Good luck for your next visit to Fiat!

Hmm, Just for clarity can someone confirm my thoughts below.

My 1.2 62plate Easy has a remote key fob with three buttons:

Top Button unlocks my doors (but not the boot)
Middle button closes all doors and boot.
Bottom button only opens boot.

Are we saying that the top button (which does not open my boot) is supposed to open? I wouldnt like this as when im driving and stuck in traffic in theory someone can come along and open my boot and take out whatsever in there. I prefer the idea that the top button doesnt open the boot.

However, if its supposed to do this i will contact fiat and get this sorted.

If you are sitting in traffic all you have to do is push the inside door handle in and all the doors and boot will lock. This is better IMHO than having a separate fiddly button, but it seems a multiplicity of buttons is the new way to go

Just activate 'drive lock' so all your doors and boot lock when you drive off and issue solved

Scorchio12, the top button on the fob for my 12 plate 1.2 Lounge originally opened all 5 doors. Now, it only opens the 4 doors and not the boot. Middle button locks the 4 doors (now the boot is shut, it is locked) and the bottom button unlocks the boot only. Man at Fiat said the mechanism in the tail gate had stopped working, and it is being replaced under warranty next week...

Ive had this problem on ours as well.

It's been replaced twice now, sometimes if you open the hatch then try to close it straight away it doesn't close as well.

It is a little annoying, but the dealer said it's a known problem.

stringy said:

Ive had this problem on ours as well.

It's been replaced twice now, sometimes if you open the hatch then try to close it straight away it doesn't close as well.

It is a little annoying, but the dealer said it's a known problem.

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That's very disappointing to hear.

To be honest with you, I don't understand why Fiat haven't sorted this out for the new Panda - it's been a "known problem" for a long time! And not just for the Panda, it's also been the same for the 500.

I know there are far worse things to go mechanically wrong with your car, but to me it just seems such a careless fault.

Anyway, hopefully we won't see too many more of these issues with our fellow members on here.

So I went along to Fiat this afternoon, as arranged, only to find that the new tailgate mechanism had not arrived in stock. No one there had kindly thought to let me know, (phones in Norfolk are a bit dodgy...) so that was a 25 mile wasted journey. No date for parts to arrive - apparently they have raised the issue with Fiat directly. ( I was given 10% off my first service though, for the inconvenience...). Ho hum!

Oscar said:

So I went along to Fiat this afternoon, as arranged, only to find that the new tailgate mechanism had not arrived in stock. No one there had kindly thought to let me know, (phones in Norfolk are a bit dodgy...) so that was a 25 mile wasted journey. No date for parts to arrive - apparently they have raised the issue with Fiat directly. ( I was given 10% off my first service though, for the inconvenience...). Ho hum!

Click to expand...

Any chance of letting us know the part number in question so when i contact fiat i will have all the 'ammo' i need to get this replaced.

cheers...

Just an update:

Firstly good to see the site back up again!

Anyway, took my panda to my fiat dealer few days back and explained the problem. The Tech guy said no the bottom key only opens the boot i said no it doesnt the top button open alls doors and the boot.

He then said that the new car he had in and has just PDI'd doesnt open as well with the top button. I then said you better get a few more keys and check the vehicles on the forecourt as i believe the new car you have is also faulty.

Guess what, all the cars we checked out the forecourt all opened the boot with the top button! Oww he said sorry it appears yours is faulty and now the parts on order and awaiting a call to get it fitted. Its the first time hes come across this problem. So whoever is getting the new car they have in will also have the same problem!!!

I also mentioned that the passenger window electrics you have to hold your finger on the button for it to go all the way up, we tried about 6 pandas and it appears that fiat were to tight to install a button that like the drivers windows is a one touch and it goes up on its own.