General Steering Fail Notification, Panda, Just Me?

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General Steering Fail Notification, Panda, Just Me?

Has Your Fiat Developed Early Steering Fail Problems?


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Hello
thanks for the help, it was actually the full service that tested the steering column not the MOT.

Also, in terms of age it is 5 years old, so i dont think it should start having such major failures just yet!
Ive just also been told the suspension needs a part replaced at £1000 :eek:.

I think its just going to keep getting worse! lol :cry:

Ive also replaced the brakes a year ago which were ceased on and in a bad way!
Also, 4 new tyres last year due to excessive wear on the edges!
The paintwork also failed and water got under the laquer and bubbled it all up!(fortunately this was covered under warranty, but it doesnt look good)
Water gets into the headlight and the boot handle is intermittent.

So in a nutshell :bang: , is how I feel!!
 
Water getting into the headlight units is more than likely to be because someone hasn't replaced the covers correctly after changing a bulb!

And what suspension part that costs £1000 needs changing?

I personally would have said you need to change your garage.

There are plenty of PS motors on eBay so you can get one a lot cheaper than youve been quoted and if you go to a reasonable backstreet garage it'll only be 2-3 hours labour tops.
 
Thanks for the advice, will have to really think about it all, as I havent got that much wonga spare to pay for it all anyway!

Think i will write to Fiat and see what they can do.
Will keep my fingers crossed and in the meantime ride my bike ;)
 
Hello
thanks for the help, it was actually the full service that tested the steering column not the MOT...........................
Sorry, but if that was the same garage which is now wanting to charge you £1000 for a "suspension part" then, as Most Easterly Pandas has said, find another garage! Try asking for proof that the steering column was "tested" during the service and then ask them to explain why they did it - because it's not included in any of the servicing schedules. I reckon you're being well and truly lied to. Contact Fiat customer care and go elsewhere for quotes and the work.
And.....if you claimed for the paintwork under warranty and it was repaired, umm,,, how come you can see the join? You seriously need to go somewhere else.
 
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well if fiat are not going to cushion the blow, i wont be able to get the repairs done at all.
I will ask them what they think of the situation and hopefully come to some kind of resolve.

With regards to the paint job, despite my many complaints they wouldnt redo it under warranty. Given that I had other more pressing matters in my life at the time, I just didnt have the impetus to argue the point any further.
The colour difference and quality seems to be looking worse with time too.

Oh dear, I am full of woes with my Panda :(
 
Looks like my better half's 2004 active has fallen foul of the faulty EPS motor, just had it make the loud buzzing as if the power windows were going up and a loss of power steering this morning, bum :( No warning lights yet but imagine only a matter of time.

Hopefully wont be too much bother to have it refurbed with BBA reman just hope her classic passes it's MOT in the next couple of days so she has something to drive to work if the new one is off the road!
 
My first post on the Forum! My Panda has had "Steering Fail" coming up for a couple of years. At first it was every few days, then if would go weeks without a message. Then a few months ago it became every day. It was rather distracting - so I set the 'beep' volume to zero so at least it didn't disturb :) The steering is fine - clearly the power steering is working. The City button worked too, but I never used it.

Then today we have a serious problem. The car won't start at all, and shows 'steering fail' and 'airbag fail'. The engine doesn't even turn over. The error messages flash at 1 second intervals on the display. Looks like I may have reached the point where something needs to be done!!
 
Could also be simply bad connections on the main ecu plugs. Take them off and try a small squirt of WD40.
 

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