Technical RECALL: Service Solution for Suspension Springs

[PNL]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

The recall states that when carrying out the recall and you find a broken spring you should replace both springs, All this will be at no cost to the customer, if you have already paid to have springs replaced (even if non Fiat dealer/parts), take your invoice to the dealer, they will add this to the claim after gaining authorisation from there zone manager(you may not get a full refund,depends on what you had done and what you paid). Have you tried Stoneacre Liverpool 0151 7032888, they will do this for you. Any problems please respond to me..

When one of mine broke I couldn't even move the car and bought springs to replace the one and then logged a complaint with fiat uk and was given a case number ..was told to go to my dealer and get the car inspected which I did and they changed the other one that day {my parts bought through them ] they said that they will sort it with fiat and there was no charge for the spring change and they would pursue a refund for the parts I bought .. one month later I enquired at the dealers and was told that fiat refused to refund me and didn't pay them either for the work carried out on my car ..now explain that one because I cant to this day :bang:
Maybe they are being antisemitic because we are welsh ..

 

[STONEACRELAD]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

Thats down to your dealer i'm affaid, try going back to customer services or ask them to contact there zone manager..

 

[pieandapint]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

stoneacre was the first place i called, said they have never had anybody claim repair from fiat uk and that i would have to pay for the repairs myself. Anybody know what this is going to cost to get sorted?

Just phoned them again and are saying i have to bring the car in so they know what springs to order, then drive back, wait for the parts and drive to them again. Do these places not stock parts or is it jsut a crap garage?

 

[garsenior]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

No they had to order mine too, but they got all details over the phone, why cant they do that with yours.

They told me not to drive it as if another bit snaps off then you run the risk of it going throught the tyre and if you loose control might wright the whole car off plus yourself.

 

[T14086]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

Do these places not stock parts or is it jsut a crap garage?

Financially impossible to carry even the majority of parts,businesses are not run this way.

 

[PNL]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

I ordered mine over the phone as well ..you will need your chassis number so make sure you have that ready and if you have aircon then tell them that as well ..what car is it by the way ?

 

[STONEACRELAD]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

If you mail me directly I will ensure we order parts prior to coming in and get Fiat to pay for repair..
There a few different springs avalible for the Stilo, not many dealers keep all the different types in. Most dealers will not pre order parts at your request, they need to inspect for themselves and then order. Bit of messing around, this is because we are unable to send back to Fiat.

 

[Bombay]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

stoneacre was the first place i called, said they have never had anybody claim repair from fiat uk and that i would have to pay for the repairs myself. Anybody know what this is going to cost to get sorted?

Just phoned them again and are saying i have to bring the car in so they know what springs to order, then drive back, wait for the parts and drive to them again. Do these places not stock parts or is it jsut a crap garage?

I would say it’s a crap garage, as any good Fiat dealer knowing there is a recall on Stilos for broken springs, should be carrying at least two springs in stock.

As for getting replacement springs FOC, it’s a lottery, because Fiat UK do not have a consistent policy for dealing with this problem, :bang: some people are getting replacement springs FOC, others are having to pay themselves and cannot get a refund from Fiat UK. The whole thing sucks.

I myself have given up with idiots at Fiat UK:yuck: and I am taking my Fiat Main Dealer to court for compensation under The Sale of Goods Act, which states that the seller is responsible, not the manufacturer.

Good luck in your pursuit for justice and don’t give up trying.

 

[Stilo_ste]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

Finally got my recall notice yesterday to fit the catcher contraption.

I have logged a complaint with Fiat, basically on the grounds of the technical solution not actually resolving the original problem, rather it may reduce the risk of a particular potential consequential damage mode.
This catcher device looks to have been designed by a child, and built very much on the cheap.
Clearly there is a problem with the springs, be that of design, specification, manufacture, materials, application, etc etc else there would not be a recall of them. However, to simply fit a catcher that will HOPEFULLY prevent any spring breakage from puncturing the tyre is somewhat missing the root cause of the problem and the point. BTW I do NOT accept that the excessive salting causing corrosion BS that they have spouted.

I am also concerned that the suspension will be upset by adding more mass to the unspung parts of the setup. My local dealership said this would not be a problem, but I don't think that he is an expert in NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harmonics) or in suspension design - so I didn't believe him. Clearly it WILL have an effect, even if it is small.

I have asked Fiat for FMEAs, risk assesments, the full 7 Step (also called 8D) problem resolution documentation, including all the different options that were considered.

My main issue is that the catcher contraption doesn't cure the root cause of the problem.

I will await their reply, but will not hold my breath for it may take some considerable time. Car is booked in on 9 June, so lets see if Fiat have responded by then. Some how I doubt it.

 

[PNL]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

Financially impossible to carry even the majority of parts,businesses are not run this way.

Most where back in my day and Sunday morning was hectic at the dealers where Joe public were there getting parts for their cars ..not many left with out them either

 

[PNL]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

Finally got my recall notice yesterday to fit the catcher contraption.

I have logged a complaint with Fiat, basically on the grounds of the technical solution not actually resolving the original problem, rather it may reduce the risk of a particular potential consequential damage mode.
This catcher device looks to have been designed by a child, and built very much on the cheap.
Clearly there is a problem with the springs, be that of design, specification, manufacture, materials, application, etc etc else there would not be a recall of them. However, to simply fit a catcher that will HOPEFULLY prevent any spring breakage from puncturing the tyre is somewhat missing the root cause of the problem and the point. BTW I do NOT accept that the excessive salting causing corrosion BS that they have spouted.

I am also concerned that the suspension will be upset by adding more mass to the unspung parts of the setup. My local dealership said this would not be a problem, but I don't think that he is an expert in NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harmonics) or in suspension design - so I didn't believe him. Clearly it WILL have an effect, even if it is small.

I have asked Fiat for FMEAs, risk assesments, the full 7 Step (also called 8D) problem resolution documentation, including all the different options that were considered.

My main issue is that the catcher contraption doesn't cure the root cause of the problem.

I will await their reply, but will not hold my breath for it may take some considerable time. Car is booked in on 9 June, so lets see if Fiat have responded by then. Some how I doubt it.

:yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: and :yeahthat:

I agree with you steve the spring has got a defect both Bombay and I know it and has a written report stating the fact ..

 

[dave]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

Most where back in my day and Sunday morning was hectic at the dealers where Joe public were there getting parts for their cars ..not many left with out them either

back then cars all shared lots of parts, if you wanted a coil, a coil of any car would do for example

 

[PNL]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

back then cars all shared lots of parts, if you wanted a coil, a coil of any car would do for example

Lots of parts sharing with fiats ..and that includes alfa as well

 

[dave]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

not as much as in old days though

 

[pieandapint]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

Car is booked in for friday morning, got them to order the parts over the phone rather than driving there as it's not the best thing to do on a broken spring, just glad it didn't go through my new tyres!

STONEACRELAD, do you work at this garage? If you do is there any way of you arranging the refund for the work?

Cheers
Dave

 

[Bombay]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

Finally got my recall notice yesterday to fit the catcher contraption.

I have logged a complaint with Fiat, basically on the grounds of the technical solution not actually resolving the original problem, rather it may reduce the risk of a particular potential consequential damage mode.
This catcher device looks to have been designed by a child, and built very much on the cheap.
Clearly there is a problem with the springs, be that of design, specification, manufacture, materials, application, etc etc else there would not be a recall of them. However, to simply fit a catcher that will HOPEFULLY prevent any spring breakage from puncturing the tyre is somewhat missing the root cause of the problem and the point. BTW I do NOT accept that the excessive salting causing corrosion BS that they have spouted.

I am also concerned that the suspension will be upset by adding more mass to the unspung parts of the setup. My local dealership said this would not be a problem, but I don't think that he is an expert in NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harmonics) or in suspension design - so I didn't believe him. Clearly it WILL have an effect, even if it is small.

I have asked Fiat for FMEAs, risk assesments, the full 7 Step (also called 8D) problem resolution documentation, including all the different options that were considered.

My main issue is that the catcher contraption doesn't cure the root cause of the problem.

I will await their reply, but will not hold my breath for it may take some considerable time. Car is booked in on 9 June, so lets see if Fiat have responded by then. Some how I doubt it.

Yes the springs are the problem and as you say, fitting a catcher does not solve the problem; everyone seems to understand this, except Fiat.:bang:
I have asked Fiat UK for the spring specification, who manufactures them and if either of these has changed since the recall.
I was told Fiat UK don’t have this info? They will have to get it from Italy.
I think they sent a note by carrier pigeon and the bird must have got lost on its way back to the UK.
I agree with you relating to the extra mass being added to the front suspension, but what concerns me most, is that this bodge is dangerously close to the tyre its supposed to be protecting. My 15-year-old boy could design something better than this.
It will be very interesting to hear Fiats reply to the technical info you have requested.
I wouldn’t hold your breath to long you could become asphyxiated by the time Fiats pigeon gets back.
One other thing, which needs to be answered, is why did Fiat "change the springs for a new type spring" on the Multipla recall in March 2006, which was for an identical problem? Maybe someone else on this forum could log this request with Fiat UK.

 

[dave]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

dunno why you Stilo boys keep moaning, rest of us have to pay to lower our cars, yours do it automatically
:devil:

 

[Stilo_ste]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

Forgot to mention that if your spring fails, it would be against type approval, construction and use, and homologation certifications to use it on a public highway. It would fail an MOT, and therefore it is illegal to drive it (unless you are going to a place of repair, but I don't think that includes a place for diagnosis)

Hope my carrier pigeon has a sense of direction, I asked for the info by the end of the week.
I spoke to an Italian lady called Angela (well that's what she said her name was) and I ran off exactly what I expected and how disappointed I was.
When she asked me to repeat it for the documentation to send to 'head office' I told her to rewind the tape and dictate it word for word, and also to send me a copy of whatever she sent to 'head office' for my own record. She said she would do it. But I really can't see it happening to be honest.

If you are listening Fiat, admit there is a problem with the springs and change the goddamn things.

 

[Bombay]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

dunno why you Stilo boys keep moaning, rest of us have to pay to lower our cars, yours do it automatically
:devil:

Because we drive Stilos not Puntos:nerner:

 

[HungryHorace]

Re: How to get spring replace free of charge?

Heres My Question to FIAT concerning my Recall
It is based on my Engineering background .

Recently You recalled my Vehicle to regi Y?????? to have addtional supports fitted on the front suspension springs.
Why were they fitted ?
How did you Test the springs on the Car ?
Were they X-Rayed( to Highlight any metal Fatigue)

I will await the reply,then post here.