This appeared last week, drivers seat back.
Popped into my local Fiat Dealer, there is a metal bar that runs across the base of the back rest, lack of padding or padding has moved !
Submitted a claim on third year warranty, new seat cover for the back rest.
Might be an idea if you check your drivers seat and see if any thing is rubbing or you can feel the metal bar that runs across.
Will post back if claim is successful...

Just out of interest what mileage have you done, and you do shortish journeys or long ones?

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Just out of interest what mileage have you done, and you do shortish journeys or long ones?

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Car is an 07 plate, 5 short of 20000 miles.
Mostly used for a daily commute to work, about 20 minutes each way, couple of runs down to London in the last year.
Surely a seat cover should last longer ?

puffed out daddy said:

Surely a seat cover should last longer ?

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Oh indeed. TBH thats shocking!

My brother's 57 plate 100HP was in for its second service last week. He has noticed the stitching on the front passenger seat has come undone, the dealer told him it wasn't covered under the third year warranty.

I forget how much they quoted him to fix it, it was over £200

It's hardly down to wear and tear as he rarely takes passengers.

So now he's going to complain to Fiat direct to see if he gets anywhere:bang:

This happened to mine the 2nd day I got it. Just went to Halfords and bought a fabric tear fixing kit. Doesn't look great but then I am sitting on it so who' gonna see it.

Does the failure described in the OP relate to my question from some months back?
https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/214470-has-my-seat-gone-soft.html?p=2287542

Suggests that yes, indeed, something may have slipped in my 4x4's seat too (well out of warranty now of course)... I never did explore, but its still uncomfortable with a pronounced metal bar in the lower back...

Do yourself a favour and fit some decent Recaros, seats that actually hold you in place on the twisties, proper lateral and lumbar support, oh, and lovely and comfortable. Have a butchers on ebay, there's normally loads listed, i myself bagged a pair of mint sapphire cosworth recaros from a show car for the princely sum of £155.
Just an idea :idea:

Herts Hillhopper said:

Does the failure described in the OP relate to my question from some months back?
https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/214470-has-my-seat-gone-soft.html?p=2287542

Suggests that yes, indeed, something may have slipped in my 4x4's seat too (well out of warranty now of course)... I never did explore, but its still uncomfortable with a pronounced metal bar in the lower back...

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I thought someone had mentioned similar before.

Herts Hillhopper said:

Does the failure described in the OP relate to my question from some months back?
https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/214470-has-my-seat-gone-soft.html?p=2287542

Suggests that yes, indeed, something may have slipped in my 4x4's seat too (well out of warranty now of course)... I never did explore, but its still uncomfortable with a pronounced metal bar in the lower back...

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If you poke your finger in the hole (ooh missis) you can feel the bar that runs across the base of the seat back, in fact the hole is getting bigger and you can now see the bar clearly.
When i went into the local Fiat dealer the service guy was not surprised and i think had seen this before. So it,s not just the 100 hp thats affected.
If Fiat reject the warranty claim it,s over £200 for a new seat cover, the seat has to come out. Still waiting.

randysbits said:

Do yourself a favour and fit some decent Recaros, seats that actually hold you in place on the twisties, proper lateral and lumbar support, oh, and lovely and comfortable. Have a butchers on ebay, there's normally loads listed, i myself bagged a pair of mint sapphire cosworth recaros from a show car for the princely sum of £155.
Just an idea :idea:

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Are subframes available? - the Recaro seats were one of the best features of my Ritmo Abarth 130TC, to the extent that I had one fitted to my Uno turbo ie, and the fabric matched. If Recaros are obtainable for a decent price I wouldn't bother mending the original seat.

On quick inspection, the panda has flat runners (parallel same height) allowing you to fit recaros straightforwardly, the hardest bit is to line bolt holes up / fabricate flat plate cross bars, bit of thought, accurate measurements, hey presto !

You'd be surprised at how many cars you can do this in, sad i know but, if i think i'm likey to purchase a particular car, that's the first point i investigate...

can i, can't i ???

Herts Hillhopper said:

I never did explore, but its still uncomfortable with a pronounced metal bar in the lower back...

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I can feel this metal bar on the seat in my car too. It hasn't ripped through the cloth yet but it is sometimes uncomfortable!

Don't want to keep banging on about Recaros but, the beauty of them is the ability to "pack out" the lower lumbar region, with just about any type of foam etc, depends on the individual, just tuck behind back rest cushion with whatever suitable density pad that will help/ease/ make a comfortable driving position.
Sod having a metal bar digging into your discs, been all through that with our old 4x4 classic panda, what are Fiat doing ? using the old frames ? Don't learn sometimes, do they?? :bang:

UPDATE...Claim rejected under 3 third year warranty. Spoken to Fiat Customer Service and lodged an appeal.
A good will gesture would be nice...........

Shocking that it has been rejected!

Hopefully Fiat get it sorted for you.

J Birch said:

I can feel this metal bar on the seat in my car too. It hasn't ripped through the cloth yet but it is sometimes uncomfortable!

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I am sometimes aware of this 'bar' but only when my additional lumbar roll is not fitted. 60k miles and the seats still look very good [fingers crossed!].

sometimes you have to wonder why they even bother offering warranty on cars when they try and get out of everything and anything...

UPDATE..Fiat have agreed to replace seat cover, parts and labour covered........

puffed out daddy said:

UPDATE..Fiat have agreed to replace seat cover, parts and labour covered........

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Quite rightly so !! Surprised it did not happen to LeanMean considering all the variables.

Can understand wear and tear but, poor quality is another matter, material that lasts just outside of warranty perhaps ??