Frustrated Fiat Fool
New member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2008
- Messages
- 10
- Points
- 2
Dear All,
It took me hours to read through all of the Panda Posts and it would appear i am not alone with my issue. I will try to summarise briefly my scenario and pose some questions at the foot of this message. Honest answers greatly appreciated.
I purchased a Brand New Fiat Panda Eleganza on a "54" Plate in September 2004 for my wife. It currently has 41,000 miles on the clock with the majority of the mileage made up of stright line motorway driving. The car was serviced for the first 2 years by Fiat, thereafter the vehicle was serviced by myself as i don't mind getting my hands dirty.
In the last 3 weeks the car has developed an intermittent fault wherby you can drive the car for days at a time with no issues then suddenly, whether going left, right, in reverse or straight ahead a "ping" comes from the dashboard with a red triangle and a message indicating "Steering Fail".
Hoping it would go away, this morning whilst driving, the "ping" and message was followed by the steering becoming very heavy at low speeds. After switching the engine on-off it appears that the intermittent fault has now become permanent i.e. The power assisted steering is no longer power assisted. I drove the 4 miles or so to the dealership this morning and the only real issue was that the steering was very heavy (by modern standards) when turning corners.
Conclusion, the electronic steering unit/motor has failed (looks like the dashboard message was right after all!). Replacement cost £589.60.
Breakdown of costs:
£35.00 + VAT 6.13 = £41.13 for a Diagnostic Check - A Guy with a monster ipod connected his electronic cable to a socket next to the steering column for the two to "talk to each other". A message appeared on the ipod, took all of 2 minutes for the unit/motor fail message to appear on the ipod screen. Not exactly brain surgery for £41.13.
£396.78 + VAT 69.44 = £466.22 for the electronic steering unit/motor.
£70.00 + VAT 12.25 = £82.25 for 1 Hours Franchised Mechanics Labour
I am somewhat upset that a car that is not quite 4 years old with only 41,000 on the clock needs its steering unit replacing at a cost to me of £589.60.
My wife has just decided that she would like a Fiat 500. Having just discovered that the Fiat 500 is essentialy the same chassis and base mechanics (including the steering unit) of a Fiat Panda with the 500 shape "attached" to it you can imagine my concern.
Questions:
1) How common is this fault with Fiat's?
2) Is the electronic steering unit/motor product not fit for purpose? I would not expect to change this every 41,000 miles.
3) Is the manufacturer aware of this "common" issue?
4) Should there not be a Manufacturer Recall?
5) I have begrudgingly agreed for the work to commence (what else can i do?), would you contact Fiat directly and ask for a part/full assistance towards the costs?
On a side point, the four other faults/issues/irritations with this Panda since purchase:
1) The power steering progressively "wears" the inside shoulders of both front tyres over time. Balancing/Wheel Alignment checks have discounted any other possible reasons.
2) After 2 years and 1 month, 24,000 miles, the complete light stalk/arm needed replacing because the headlights would switch off for no reason whilst travelling. Especially exciting when coming down country lanes at midnight.... Not! After heated discussions with the Franchise a 2 year service was negotiated for £260.00 which meant the light stalk/arm would be replaced under warranty. Strange that the cost for part,vat and fitting pretty much came to the same figure.
3) After 2 years and 6 months, 30,000 miles, the boot handle is showing intermittent opening efficiency i.e. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I have worked out the by pushing the handle away from you before pulling it towards you, does the trick. However, after reading other posts this also looks like a potential future expensive replacement repair.
3) After 3 Years, 35,000 miles the exhaust started top communicate via the means of morse code against the underside of the car body. Exhaust clamp had "rusted away". I puchased a replacement clamp and fitted it myself for £1.02.
Anticipated Thanks.
Frustrated Fiat Fool
It took me hours to read through all of the Panda Posts and it would appear i am not alone with my issue. I will try to summarise briefly my scenario and pose some questions at the foot of this message. Honest answers greatly appreciated.
I purchased a Brand New Fiat Panda Eleganza on a "54" Plate in September 2004 for my wife. It currently has 41,000 miles on the clock with the majority of the mileage made up of stright line motorway driving. The car was serviced for the first 2 years by Fiat, thereafter the vehicle was serviced by myself as i don't mind getting my hands dirty.
In the last 3 weeks the car has developed an intermittent fault wherby you can drive the car for days at a time with no issues then suddenly, whether going left, right, in reverse or straight ahead a "ping" comes from the dashboard with a red triangle and a message indicating "Steering Fail".
Hoping it would go away, this morning whilst driving, the "ping" and message was followed by the steering becoming very heavy at low speeds. After switching the engine on-off it appears that the intermittent fault has now become permanent i.e. The power assisted steering is no longer power assisted. I drove the 4 miles or so to the dealership this morning and the only real issue was that the steering was very heavy (by modern standards) when turning corners.
Conclusion, the electronic steering unit/motor has failed (looks like the dashboard message was right after all!). Replacement cost £589.60.
Breakdown of costs:
£35.00 + VAT 6.13 = £41.13 for a Diagnostic Check - A Guy with a monster ipod connected his electronic cable to a socket next to the steering column for the two to "talk to each other". A message appeared on the ipod, took all of 2 minutes for the unit/motor fail message to appear on the ipod screen. Not exactly brain surgery for £41.13.
£396.78 + VAT 69.44 = £466.22 for the electronic steering unit/motor.
£70.00 + VAT 12.25 = £82.25 for 1 Hours Franchised Mechanics Labour
I am somewhat upset that a car that is not quite 4 years old with only 41,000 on the clock needs its steering unit replacing at a cost to me of £589.60.
My wife has just decided that she would like a Fiat 500. Having just discovered that the Fiat 500 is essentialy the same chassis and base mechanics (including the steering unit) of a Fiat Panda with the 500 shape "attached" to it you can imagine my concern.
Questions:
1) How common is this fault with Fiat's?
2) Is the electronic steering unit/motor product not fit for purpose? I would not expect to change this every 41,000 miles.
3) Is the manufacturer aware of this "common" issue?
4) Should there not be a Manufacturer Recall?
5) I have begrudgingly agreed for the work to commence (what else can i do?), would you contact Fiat directly and ask for a part/full assistance towards the costs?
On a side point, the four other faults/issues/irritations with this Panda since purchase:
1) The power steering progressively "wears" the inside shoulders of both front tyres over time. Balancing/Wheel Alignment checks have discounted any other possible reasons.
2) After 2 years and 1 month, 24,000 miles, the complete light stalk/arm needed replacing because the headlights would switch off for no reason whilst travelling. Especially exciting when coming down country lanes at midnight.... Not! After heated discussions with the Franchise a 2 year service was negotiated for £260.00 which meant the light stalk/arm would be replaced under warranty. Strange that the cost for part,vat and fitting pretty much came to the same figure.
3) After 2 years and 6 months, 30,000 miles, the boot handle is showing intermittent opening efficiency i.e. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I have worked out the by pushing the handle away from you before pulling it towards you, does the trick. However, after reading other posts this also looks like a potential future expensive replacement repair.
3) After 3 Years, 35,000 miles the exhaust started top communicate via the means of morse code against the underside of the car body. Exhaust clamp had "rusted away". I puchased a replacement clamp and fitted it myself for £1.02.
Anticipated Thanks.
Frustrated Fiat Fool