Qubo £12,000 nightmare.....

[Dippydawe]

I'm a newbie here, just to try an prevent anyone else having such an aweful experience as I have had. It has made me and my family ill. All because I have was stupid enough to believe that Fiat were as good an reliable as they used to be. Here is my story...It is true.


I have a Fiat Qubo. When it had only 5000 miles on the clock it filled the driving cab with fumes. I returned it to a FIAT APPROVED DEALER in Plymouth. They "repaired the fault". I then drove to Stoke on Trent. When I got there there was smoke pouring out from under the bonnet. FIAT APPROVED DEALER had forgotten to put the diesel return hose clips on. The RAC filed a report which I took to the FIAT APPROVED DEALER(and now my solicitor). NO APOLOGY. Car had to go in to the FIAT APPROVED DEALER for a steam clean and for all the diesel filled foam to be replaced. When I picked it up and drove away there was a rattling noise. I lifted the bonnet only to discover they had left a pipe disconnected! I took it back. NO APOLOGY!

The Fiat has been plagued with "Limp MODE" faults (on average 2 a week ever since it first went to the FIAT APPROVED DEALER. I had never had limp mode faults before). Often stopping in the middle of a busy road for no reason. It would then sometimes drive ok for weeks then fail again. It has made 14 visits to the garage each time they wanted to charge £120 to tell me there was nothing wrong with the car (diagnostics were never conclusive). So the Car is now only 4 years old. Done only 50000 miles. It broke down in August and has been in the FIAT APPROVED DEALER Garage since the 24th August. Fiat Technical have been involved since 6th October. Fiat technical kept telling the FIAT APPROVED DEALER what to change. ALL OF WHICH DID NOT RESOLVE THE FAULT.

Finally, last week, they traced the fault to the fuel pump. The new pump was ordered by the FIAT APPROVED DEALER and it arrived this week and IT WAS THE WRONG PUMP FOR THE CAR. I am expected to pay for all the time for swapping things that were not faulty. The total bill? £2200. I have complained to Fiat, who don't care. I have been a Fiat owner for 20 years. The newer models and in particular the Multijet engines, are not reliable. Google "1.3 multijet engine" for engine management problems. I am not alone. There are thousands of people with issues.

I WILL NEVER EVER BUY ANOTHER FIAT.

I pick up the car Tomorrow 11 weeks after it went into the Garage!!!

Anyone want to buy a heap of scrap metal?

 

[Zeewulf]

No Offence but there are also many thousands of people who don't have issues with the 1.3 multijet. As with ALL car makes you get the rogue ones in every model line up. You also state you had a Fiat for 20 years and are allowing ONE car to tarnish those 20 years of ownership ?

I feel for you that it sounds like you've got a dud and that the dealership don't sound to good. But I know a few round by me I wouldn't touch with a barge pole and others that i wouldn't hesitate to take my car too.

 

[g8rpi]

It's easy to be wise with hindsight, but you should have rejected the car when they left the fuel return line off. As a minimum all the rubber parts including belts should have been replaced. I can't quite see how you let this go on for 4 years and 50,000 miles if it's that bad.
and while you are welcome to the forum, posting the same rant to 5 other threads were it adds nothing is not very helpful. You have not even told us the name of the garage.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[Dippydawe]

If fiat had handled my complaint more reasonably, then perhaps I would not have posted, however ALL THE FIAT APPROVED DEALERS IN THE SOUTHWEST ARE THE SAME COMPANY.

It may well be just a "rogue car to you" but it has cost me the best part of £15,000 to buy , repair and hire a replacement.

You are welcome to take the risk, but please don't expect me to hide the truth of my experience.

The Multijet engine is fraught with problems. Fiat knows this.

I'm exceedingly sad as I dont know what else to buy. I have had a fiat 600d, a Fiat ulysesse, a fiat Doblo, and now this heap of rubbish. A friend of mine recently bought the Doblo 1.3 Multijet who had to return it at 600miles for engine management and limp mode faults.... The number of complaints on relatively new fiats supports my view.

Ironically, this Fiat forum is made up largely of people with problems.....

You are welcome to your opinion, but i'm sure you wouldn't buy my car from me!

 

[Dippydawe]

I did not believe I was allowed to name the garage on this site. Google fiat dealers Plymouth and you will have you answer....

Have you ever tried to return a car? Not as simple as you think.......

But I have learnt a very valuable lesson.

I am entitled to post this wherever I wish.

 

[Zeewulf]

If fiat had handled my complaint more reasonably, then perhaps I would not have posted, however ALL THE FIAT APPROVED DEALERS IN THE SOUTHWEST ARE THE SAME COMPANY.

It may well be just a "rogue car to you" but it has cost me the best part of £15,000 to buy , repair and hire a replacement.

You are welcome to take the risk, but please don't expect me to hide the truth of my experience.

The Multijet engine is fraught with problems. Fiat knows this.

I'm exceedingly sad as I dont know what else to buy. I have had a fiat 600d, a Fiat ulysesse, a fiat Doblo, and now this heap of rubbish. A friend of mine recently bought the Doblo 1.3 Multijet who had to return it at 600miles for engine management and limp mode faults.... The number of complaints on relatively new fiats supports my view.

Ironically, this Fiat forum is made up largely of people with problems.....

You are welcome to your opinion, but i'm sure you wouldn't buy my car from me!

You'd be hard pressed to find any car forum that doesn't have people posting about problems, that's why most of them are formed to help others sort them out without spending mega amounts of money.

And when i stated 'rogue car' I wasn't implying that it wasn't a problem for you, of course it is. But ALL car manufactures have them at some point even companies like Jaguar, Toyota etc. have customers who have cars that cause no-end of faults. Yes it's a MAJOR problem for the customer involved and I do feel for you on that front.

Just this year alone there are 3,429 multijet Qubo's still registered and driving around and that's just the Qubo version, not counting the Doble, Idea, Panda etc.

 

[T Bay]

I am entitled to post this wherever I wish.

Oh boy, I appreciate you are upset but your approach to forum life leaves a lot to be desired. Unless you personally own a forum then you are not entitled to post wherever you wish, it's at the discretion of the admin/ mods and owner. I would suggest a less aggressive approach may maintain those posting rights a bit longer than the present methods.

 

[Dippydawe]

I will make no further posts.

If I am not permitted to tell the truth of my experience, I concede that this forum must be run by people with a financial interest.

 

[burrowsdeano]

I think the most disappointing thing is you've been put off fiat by what sounds like poor dealer work on the car. Chances are if you had those problems looked at by more competent people I'm sure you would be in a different position now

 

[Zeewulf]

I will make no further posts.

If I am not permitted to tell the truth of my experience, I concede that this forum must be run by people with a financial interest.

You have been permitted to tell of your experience in this thread and saying that this forum is for financial interest doesn't help your case.

 

[g8rpi]

<SNIP>
Have you ever tried to return a car? Not as simple as you think.......

<SNIP>

Yes I have, Sucessfully. And no it was not easy.
See thread https://www.fiatforum.com/garages/4...canfield-garage-essex.html?highlight=canfield
B.T.W the Garages forum would have been a better place to post.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[varesecrazy]

View attachment 173309

I have a Fiat Qubo. When it had only 5000 miles on the clock it filled the driving cab with fumes. I returned it to a FIAT APPROVED DEALER in Plymouth. They "repaired the fault". I then drove to Stoke on Trent. When I got there there was smoke pouring out from under the bonnet. FIAT APPROVED DEALER had forgotten to put the diesel return hose clips on. The RAC filed a report which I took to the FIAT APPROVED DEALER(and now my solicitor). NO APOLOGY. Car had to go in to the FIAT APPROVED DEALER for a steam clean and for all the diesel filled foam to be replaced. When I picked it up and drove away there was a rattling noise. I lifted the bonnet only to discover they had left a pipe disconnected! I took it back. NO APOLOGY!


I pick up the car Tomorrow 11 weeks after it went into the Garage!!!

Anyone want to buy a heap of scrap metal?

reading this,
the car was OK on initial delivery, but has had several botched repairs,over an extended period.

Personally,
I would've put it into a FIAT dealer in Stoke - where it broke down,
then you would be away for "Vespa" / whoever.

I know somebody who had a £45K BMW that spent most of it's life on diagnostics - couldn't be fixed - so got a NEW REPLACEMENT CAR from BMW

You've been unfortunate - sure.
but consider that the 1.3 diesel is used in so many vehicles - there could be almost a million on the planet.

once it's back - trade it in..

EDIT - google search says the car was registered in Shrewsbury (Vickers..?)
did they work on the car in your ownership..??

Charlie

 

[varesecrazy]

I will make no further posts.

If I am not permitted to tell the truth of my experience, I concede that this forum must be run by people with a financial interest.

you've owned this vehicle for 5 years, other FIAT's for 20,

your 1st post is a list of issues..,

and then say this place is full of owners with problems...,:chin:

 

[varesecrazy]

You've been unfortunate - sure.
but consider that the 1.3 diesel is used in so many vehicles - there could be almost a million on the planet.?

Charlie

OK - I was mistaken ,

from Wiki;
1.3 Multijet[edit]
1.3 L
Overview
Manufacturer Fiat/General Motors
Also called
DDIS (Suzuki)
Duratorq TDCi (Ford)
Multijet (Fiat)
Multijet 2 (Fiat)
Quadrajet (Tata)
Smartech TCDI (GM)
Production 2003–present
Combustion chamber
Configuration I4
Displacement 1,248 cc (76.2 cu in)
Cylinder bore 69.6 mm (2.74 in)
Piston stroke 82.0 mm (3.23 in)
Valvetrain Dual overhead camshafts
Compression ratio 17.6:1
Dimensions
Dry weight 140 kg (310 lb)
A small 1.3 L (1,248 cc) version (called the SDE, Small Diesel Engine) introduced in February 2003[3] is produced in Bielsko-Biała, Poland,[4] and in Ranjangaon, Pune, India, by Fiat India Automobiles.[5] The Multijet 75 PS version was chosen in 2005 as the International Engine of the Year in the 1-litre to 1.4-litre category.

There are five versions of this engine: a 70 PS (51 kW; 69 hp), a 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) (used in the Fiat Punto, Panda, Palio, Albea, Idea; Opel Corsa, Combo, Meriva; Suzuki Ritz, Swift, SX4; and Tata Indica Vista), a variable inlet geometry 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) (used in the Fiat Grande Punto,[6] Linea; Opel Corsa, Astra; Suzuki Ertiga; Tata Indigo Manza and Alfa Romeo MiTo), a 95 PS (70 kW; 94 hp) from the Multijet II generation,[7] and a 105 PS (77 kW; 104 hp) available on the Lancia Ypsilon. At the time of the launch this was the smallest four-cylinder diesel engine available and had a fuel consumption of 3.3 L/100 km (86 mpg-imp; 71 mpg-US) in some applications. The engine is able to meet Euro IV pollution standards without the use of a diesel particulate filter.[7]

In January 2008, Tata Motors introduced the new Indica Vista model, which features new Quadrajet branded version of this engine.[8] The second generation Ford Ka uses 1.3 Multijet named as Duratorq TDCi. In GM nomenclature, it is called Small Diesel Engine (SDE).

During 2009, Fiat launched a new generation badged Multijet II, with a new injection management system (up to 8 injections per cycle, instead of 5) and able to meet Euro V pollution standards.[9] It is available with several power outputs, from 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp), with fixed geometry turbocharger, to 95 PS (70 kW; 94 hp), with variable geometry turbocharger.[10]

As of 2013, more than 5 million 1.3 MultiJet engines were produced.[11]

Applications:

Alfa Romeo MiTo
Chevrolet Aveo (2012)
Chevrolet Sail (India)
Chevrolet Spin (Indonesia)
Citroen Nemo
Fiat 500L
Fiat Albea
Fiat Doblò
Fiat Fiorino
Fiat Grande Punto
Fiat Idea
Fiat Linea
Fiat 500
Fiat Palio
Fiat Panda
Fiat Punto
Fiat Qubo
Fiat Strada
Fiat Tipo (2015)
Ford Ka (2008)
Lancia Musa
Lancia Ypsilon
Opel Agila
Opel Astra
Opel Combo
Opel Corsa
Opel Meriva
Opel Tigra TwinTop
Premier Rio
Peugeot Bipper
Suzuki Ertiga
Suzuki Ignis
Suzuki Splash
Suzuki Swift
Suzuki SX4
Suzuki S Cross
Suzuki Vitara Brezza
Suzuki Wagon R+
Tata Bolt
Tata Indica Vista
Tata Indigo Manza
Tata Zest

 

[mario99uk]

Guess I must have 'the good one' 70,000 miles and nothing but a rusty fuel tank to complain about. You problems seem to have been exacerbated by people rather than technology.

 

[mario99uk]

Oh boy, I appreciate you are upset but your approach to forum life leaves a lot to be desired. Unless you personally own a forum then you are not entitled to post wherever you wish, it's at the discretion of the admin/ mods and owner. I would suggest a less aggressive approach may maintain those posting rights a bit longer than the present methods.

Interesting attitude.... Like walking into a bar full of happy drinkers to complain about the beer in the pub down the road. You don't have a 'right' to say what you like, you have the 'privilege' to discuss your views. Sound like you need to calm down and get someone to give you a hug. If you treated the garage staff the same way.... well I'd have left a hose off just to p**s you off!

 

[coupedummy]

To be fair i had 3x 1.3 vauxhall combo from work which have been plagued with various faults.
One predominantly was fumes coming through the vents into the cabin.
We had a fleet email sent out to advise of the issue where a driver had passed out, any signs that the vehicle must not be driven immediately.
Two that i had indeed have this issue and were various issues mainly to leaking injectors and pipework within the engine i believe.
The third van ended up with a new turbo and lots of other.
Not the most reliable to be fair, but unsure weather vauxhall may have tweaked the engines etc differently to suit the vehicle but it is identical to the doblo..
Vauxhall have dealt with these issues to be fair and van is quite powerful for its small capacity. Certainly not that fuel efficient or quiet tho.

Most of your experience tho seem to be bad dealers which will more of the problem. I believe they have tainted your experience more so than the vehicle

 

[varesecrazy]

To be fair i had 3x 1.3 vauxhall combo from work which have been plagued with various faults.
One predominantly was fumes coming through the vents into the cabin.
We had a fleet email sent out to advise of the issue where a driver had passed out, any signs that the vehicle must not be driven immediately.
Two that i had indeed have this issue and were various issues mainly to leaking injectors and pipework within the engine i believe.
The third van ended up with a new turbo and lots of other.
Not the most reliable to be fair, but unsure weather vauxhall may have tweaked the engines etc differently to suit the vehicle but it is identical to the doblo..
Vauxhall have dealt with these issues to be fair and van is quite powerful for its small capacity. Certainly not that fuel efficient or quiet tho.

I'm not a fan - just because of the complexity / awkward servicing..
completely offsets the fuel savings in my book..,:chin:

had a Zafira 1.3 around the alps and performed well for such a hard pushed engine.

are these hose issues down to poor routing / heat stress failures.. or just poor design..,
don't seem to hear of it in the Panda = mainly chain failures