General FIAT Ulysse Rejected

[Beren]

Hi folks,

I have reached the end of the line with FIAT. My car has been in & out of the dealer many times to fix 21 faults!!

Below is a list of the problems: -

1 Alarm too sensitive (going off at any time of night or day)
2 Folding door mirrors stopped folding automatically initially fixed but started to be a problem again
3 Dealer did not know how to set-up ‘Connect system’
4 Tweeting, noisy fan in air-conditioning system
5 CD player kept skipping
6 Sat-Nav system took ages to find location (probably related to skipping CD player)
7 Escape key on Sat-Nav control stuck in depressed position (so not usable) Very irritating as couldn't use equipment till fixed
8 Divert on integral car-phone only possible one way so could not re-divert calls back to car-phone
9 Spare tyre winch mechanism broke when spare tyre was being replaced (an independent engineer reported poor design within the winch itself allowing the winch cable to become snagged in winding mechanism resulting in the cable fraying and locking the winch)
10 Took six (6) months to obtain a new set of windscreen wipers!!
11 Dog-net clip covers keep folding down (will not stay clipped up) Dealer has had on back-order to Italy for 4 months
12 Headlights keep flickering dim whilst driving (very irritating and potentially dangerous as other drivers may mistakenly think I am signalling them at road juction).
13 Offside passenger door locks from outside (intermittently) so cannot let the children out. (This is when all the doors are supposed to be unlocked).(This is potentially the most dangerous problem as the event of an accident my children may not be able to escape or be rescued).
14 Just recently the near-side passenger door has also started to display the same problem.
15 This month I got a stone chip on the windscreen. It needs replacing, but the auto-glazing company cannot get a new front windscreen because there is not one in the country. It is now on backorder to Italy. No-one knows when it will arrive!! (Eventually after over one month it was repaired)
16 After the new Sat-Nav system was fitted over four months ago I now have an irritating vibrating noise under the dashboard every time I pull away from a standing start on an incline.
17 Straps between front seats broke within weeks
18 Drivers seat cushion foam given way replacment on back order 4 months still waiting!!
19 Excessive front tyre wear: new tyres in 18 months. (I've had a Seat Alhambra which only needed new tyres after 35 months doing similar mileage)
20 Very thirsty for oil. Needs topping up every 2 months. No leaks.
21 One dealer did not know how to fit new headlamp bulb. After incorrectly fitting it and charging me £18 for the priviledge I fitted it myself in ten minutes.
22 Also had a problem with the tyre pressure sensors. Beware, mine broke as the tyre fitter removed the tyre. Apparently the alloy cap corroded onto the valve stalk so on removal it shattered. (Cost me £69 for new sensor plus £10 to refit, plus the sensor had to be recalibrated, luckily my dealer took pity on me and reset it for free when I was in for another problem).

The car door is the most dangerous ongoing problem. The dealers have tried everything they can including replacing all the electrical and mechanical parts in the door without completely resolving the problem. The door cannot be opened without snathing the handle with force every time. Even then it's difficult to open. My kids haven't got a chance opening it.

In dealing with FIAT Auto (UK) I've had nothing but hollow promises and reasurances. My new local dealer G B Ongaro at Camborne in Cornwall are brilliant. But even they are now angry and impatient with FIAT (UK). FIAT are passing the buck back to the dealer but the dealer doesn't have a magic wand!!

In view of all the ongoing problems I have regretably involved my solicitors and Trading Standards. I am intending to get compensation.

I sincerely hope no one else goes through this hassle, I think my experience is not unique though.

Best wishes all

Beren (Previously Luthien)

 

[poggy]

Hi,

Sorry to hear you have had all those faults, you must be seriously frustrated now. For a £20K plus car you don't expect these faults. I can help you with a few things in case it is useful in your fight for compensation.


1 Alarm too sensitive (going off at any time of night or day)

This has happened to loads of owners and they have a fix by apparently covering the internal sensors with a thick cloth type material. Also I find if I leave the child viewing mirror down it sets the alarm off when a car passes and it vibrates.


2 Folding door mirrors stopped folding automatically initially fixed but started to be a problem again

This is a set up thing, mine had it a couple of times but you can reset it yourself. (see www.eurovan2.com under tips and tricks heading). Mine stopped after the dealer reset the computer after some warranty work.

3 Dealer did not know how to set-up ‘Connect system’

Nobody seems to know at the dealers. I got mine finally set up, but to be honest it isn't that good. It hasnow run out and I won't renew, mind you I wouldn't know how to as I have never received a renewal form. Not a good way to increase business if you don't offer a renewal.

4 Tweeting, noisy fan in air-conditioning system

Mine has this and so do loads of others. In my car it was the extra fan for the rear on the passenger side. It is located in the front passenger footwell on the left hand side behind the plastic trim at just on the floor. If pull the cover off and spray some silicone, it cures it for a while. Not something you should have to do yourself though on a new car.


5 CD player kept skipping

Never had this.

6 Sat-Nav system took ages to find location (probably related to skipping CD player)

Probably right.

7 Escape key on Sat-Nav control stuck in depressed position (so not usable) Very irritating as couldn't use equipment till fixed

They should be able to just replace surely.

8 Divert on integral car-phone only possible one way so could not re-divert calls back to car-phone

This is a pain in the backside. But I think you can use direct commands such as #21# etc. There is a new version of software v5.5 which will be released in a couple of months which is meant to solve the problem.

9 Spare tyre winch mechanism broke when spare tyre was being replaced (an independent engineer reported poor design within the winch itself allowing the winch cable to become snagged in winding mechanism resulting in the cable fraying and locking the winch)

Fortunately I have never used the spare.

10 Took six (6) months to obtain a new set of windscreen wipers!!

I ended up buying from a motor factor off the shelf, you would probably have got them from Citroen or Peugeot off the shelf. Fiat are useless with spares.

11 Dog-net clip covers keep folding down (will not stay clipped up) Dealer has had on back-order to Italy for 4 months

I use the dog gaurd, so mine are always down, but I know other people have the same problem.

12 Headlights keep flickering dim whilst driving (very irritating and potentially dangerous as other drivers may mistakenly think I am signalling them at road juction).

This has happened to several people and they can't seem to find the fault. Do a search on www.eurovan2.com. I think it only affects the diesels and is something to do with the engine management.

13 Offside passenger door locks from outside (intermittently) so cannot let the children out. (This is when all the doors are supposed to be unlocked).(This is potentially the most dangerous problem as the event of an accident my children may not be able to escape or be rescued).

Mine are electric so I don't know about this. I do know the electrical contacts on the door do play up and need cleaning/adjusting.

14 Just recently the near-side passenger door has also started to display the same problem.

Same as above

15 This month I got a stone chip on the windscreen. It needs replacing, but the auto-glazing company cannot get a new front windscreen because there is not one in the country. It is now on backorder to Italy. No-one knows when it will arrive!! (Eventually after over one month it was repaired)

I had the same thing, but Autoglass got me a screen in 2 days with the light/wiper sensors on it.

16 After the new Sat-Nav system was fitted over four months ago I now have an irritating vibrating noise under the dashboard every time I pull away from a standing start on an incline.

I also have a rattle and have spent hours trying to find it, as have the garage.

17 Straps between front seats broke within weeks

Never use them.

18 Drivers seat cushion foam given way replacment on back order 4 months still waiting!!

Again a known problem, mine took a few weeks to arrive. Doubt if it will last more than a year.

19 Excessive front tyre wear: new tyres in 18 months. (I've had a Seat Alhambra which only needed new tyres after 35 months doing similar mileage)

My tracking went out, but I got it fixed and expect my tyres to last 20-25K. If you have Pirellis they only last about 18K max. I have the Michelen Primacy Pilots.

20 Very thirsty for oil. Needs topping up every 2 months. No leaks.

Never topped up the oil

21 One dealer did not know how to fit new headlamp bulb. After incorrectly fitting it and charging me £18 for the priviledge I fitted it myself in ten minutes.

Must be a bit stupid, it is difficult on the passenger side but I did it.

22 Also had a problem with the tyre pressure sensors. Beware, mine broke as the tyre fitter removed the tyre. Apparently the alloy cap corroded onto the valve stalk so on removal it shattered. (Cost me £69 for new sensor plus £10 to refit, plus the sensor had to be recalibrated, luckily my dealer took pity on me and reset it for free when I was in for another problem).

This is very well known and they should have been changed to plastic ones by the dealer, you should get a refund as others have had them replaced for free.


In view of all the ongoing problems I have regretably involved my solicitors and Trading Standards. I am intending to get compensation.

Let us know what happens & good luck.

Andy

 

[Fiat-Tech]

Ref sliding door unable to open from outside.
Outer handle has a spring return on a rod connected to the inner lock mechanism. This can sieze up with dirt and the result is the rod does not return to its normal position after the outer handle is pulled. This is normaly apparent only if the outer handle has been pulled whilst the door was locked, and when unlocked the rod has not returned to its correct position and it seems as if the door is still locked or has locked itself. This sticking spring is worth looking into if nothing else your dealer has done has worked. If you open the door you will find a round rubber or plastic bung a few inches around from the outer handle, pop it out and with a torch and good eyes you can see the spring rerturn thrugh the hole, 50/50 chance a few blasts with wd-40 will free it off, if it doesnt a new outer handle assembly will be required.
I would be very shocked if your dealer does not know of this problem though.