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- Sep 21, 2017
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Hello everyone, my first post here so be patient with me, this is a long one
I want to share recent experiences with a FIAT dealership, Customer care and a local (specialist) garage in relation to my 2013 TA 4x4 that I have owned for 2+ years.
The story begins on July 4th; 50k miles and an oil change service with my local guy (who has previously serviced the car). Car is driven home and left on drive for a couple of days, wife goes to start and complains of total lack of power. I get home and drive a couple of hours later - no problem...
Next morning I experience same no power, stop start functionality is withdrawn and car is essentially undriveable running on one cylinder.
I take it back to local guy (who is Alfa trained and runs many Pandas as courtesy cars) who checks out coils, plugs, O2 sensors etc (over many weeks) since problem remains intermittent and I am out of Country and in no rush for car. Eventually we throw hands in air and take to FIAT Dealership for full plug-in diagnosis; result, failed uni-air unit £495 plus fitting. Me not so happy but let FIAT dealer make repair, so now it gets messy. I don't think this unit should have failed at this mileage and contact FIAT Customer Care (FCC) they get back promptly with case number and contact Dealership. FCC get back to me after 2 working days reporting that the Dealer has provided 10% discount on parts as "goodwill" gesture. Dealership cite contaminated oil and therefore changed it and filter, really, only 50 miles done since service??
Local guy collects and pays for work (as agreed with me) and says he wants to replace gear selector cables due to difficult selection, I mention FCC "goodwill" gesture and he says that's odd since Dealership called it a Trade Discount for him and didn't plan to pass it on to me...
Anyways, went to drive car home since gear selector cables were a week away in Milan, and it sure does have a gear selection problem. My immediate diagnosis is failed clutch which is agreed by local guy. Now he hasn't covered himself in glory at this point but Dealership surely shouldn't have let it out the door without mention?
So new clutch kit £99.00 oh and it needs dual mass flywheel (DMF) £250 cables £148 plus some labour...
Needless to say I'm not overly happy that the Uni-air unit failed and the "contaminated oil" diagnosis is all too convenient, when challenged Dealership did not retain oil as "proof".
So, if you have stayed with me, the car is great to drive and goes like the little rocket it is. FIAT reliability is suspect? And FIAT customer care has fallen silent. I'm not looking for sympathy but wanted to share experiences.
I want to share recent experiences with a FIAT dealership, Customer care and a local (specialist) garage in relation to my 2013 TA 4x4 that I have owned for 2+ years.
The story begins on July 4th; 50k miles and an oil change service with my local guy (who has previously serviced the car). Car is driven home and left on drive for a couple of days, wife goes to start and complains of total lack of power. I get home and drive a couple of hours later - no problem...
Next morning I experience same no power, stop start functionality is withdrawn and car is essentially undriveable running on one cylinder.
I take it back to local guy (who is Alfa trained and runs many Pandas as courtesy cars) who checks out coils, plugs, O2 sensors etc (over many weeks) since problem remains intermittent and I am out of Country and in no rush for car. Eventually we throw hands in air and take to FIAT Dealership for full plug-in diagnosis; result, failed uni-air unit £495 plus fitting. Me not so happy but let FIAT dealer make repair, so now it gets messy. I don't think this unit should have failed at this mileage and contact FIAT Customer Care (FCC) they get back promptly with case number and contact Dealership. FCC get back to me after 2 working days reporting that the Dealer has provided 10% discount on parts as "goodwill" gesture. Dealership cite contaminated oil and therefore changed it and filter, really, only 50 miles done since service??
Local guy collects and pays for work (as agreed with me) and says he wants to replace gear selector cables due to difficult selection, I mention FCC "goodwill" gesture and he says that's odd since Dealership called it a Trade Discount for him and didn't plan to pass it on to me...
Anyways, went to drive car home since gear selector cables were a week away in Milan, and it sure does have a gear selection problem. My immediate diagnosis is failed clutch which is agreed by local guy. Now he hasn't covered himself in glory at this point but Dealership surely shouldn't have let it out the door without mention?
So new clutch kit £99.00 oh and it needs dual mass flywheel (DMF) £250 cables £148 plus some labour...
Needless to say I'm not overly happy that the Uni-air unit failed and the "contaminated oil" diagnosis is all too convenient, when challenged Dealership did not retain oil as "proof".
So, if you have stayed with me, the car is great to drive and goes like the little rocket it is. FIAT reliability is suspect? And FIAT customer care has fallen silent. I'm not looking for sympathy but wanted to share experiences.