General Warranty about to run out and things failing

[DickBarton]

Right, my Bravo T-Jet Sport is needing another set of gear selection cables as the replacements that were done under warranty in March are now gone and are being replaced again (although no idea when as the garage can't find where they are coming from!). My question is - as my warranty runs out in April, what will happen when this part fails again? I'm assuming it will fail again as the last replacement failed.


I think the result of the problem is the gear selector cables corrode but they can't seem to find the fault - I'd rather the fault was fixed to prevent the corrosion, but apparently Fiat's are well known for this and Punto's are terrible for it - a trait of the Fiat I guess - although not one I can find much info about (but I've not search that hard!).


However, as the last replacement is less than 12 months old, should it be replaced anyway? Or is it being replaced as my car is still under warranty? When out of warranty and the part is less than 12 months old will it still be replaced FOC or am I going to be stung with a bill for something that is a known issue?


According to the garage I'd be expected to pay for it...so I'm looking to trade the car in in March as I'm really not wanting to be handed a bill for a few hundred quid every 9 months!


Has anyone else had this problem? If so, is your car out of warranty when it happened and did you have to pay?


Cheers.

 

[flyingscot]

If a part failed so soon after a garage had replaced it I would want it replaced FOC as it wasn't suitable.

 

[BravoRuss]

I thought Bravo's had a 5 year warranty.

 

[STILO NEWBIE]

I thought Bravo's had a 5 year warranty.

Not all Bravos come with 5 years warranty, some of the early one only comes with 3 years or 60k miles, so as the latest one, I think only car sold between early 2008 to mid 2009 comes with 5 years warranty.

 

[dickdick]

Guys here in Greece every work that has been done by the garage has its own warranty because it has been done by the garage which is authorised by FIAT.

And something else here all Bravos have 2 years warranty and if the customer wants can buy 3 more whith about 500 euros.

Check if all these can be done in your country too.

 

[SpencerUk]

Not all Bravos come with 5 years warranty, some of the early one only comes with 3 years or 60k miles, so as the latest one, I think only car sold between early 2008 to mid 2009 comes with 5 years warranty.

Do you mean registered cars between early 08 and mid july?

Any clarification on this anyone?

 

[Juliet Bravo]

Ours had the 5 yr warranty but only after we applied for it, car is reg in may 2008 but we bought it second hand in sept 2008 - check the back of the manual there is a change of owner card that you need to send off to transfer the warranty but I think you have to send it off within a time period and its about £30

Dick, I would say that the repaired part should have a 1 year g/tee from fitting even if its repaired on the last day of warranty if it failed before then, it wasnt fit for purpose - if they try it on talk about visiting trading standards and ask them for the Fiat UK's Managing directors address

 

[Papa P]

Dick, I would say that the repaired part should have a 1 year g/tee from fitting even if its repaired on the last day of warranty if it failed before then, it wasnt fit for purpose - if they try it on talk about visiting trading standards and ask them for the Fiat UK's Managing directors address

Yup, thats what I'd reckon as well. The part should be covered by a guarantee so should be replaced if it fails again within the first year of its fitting. Its then arguable as to wether Fiat should pay the labour...

 

[DickBarton]

That is what I thought but I called FIAT and they gave me a number to call when your FIAT is in it's last year of warranty - I explained the issue and then asked if the part failed after the warranty on the car expired but within 12 months of it being fitted - would it be warranted? 'No sir, when the warranty ends in April nothing will be covered so you will be charged for any other repairs', I asked if there was anything else they could do and he said no, so I said I'd be trading it in in March...he hung up.

The garage don't think anything else is causing this and they reckon it's just the cables failing 'Getting salt in and moisture due to road conditions' - I said, 'I thought it was all sealed?', reply - 'I think so, but don't know, I don't work on the cars...' - if it is sealed then moisture can't get in so there is a bigger issue...

I'm not pleased about it (and I'm also now worried about it - my religion is worry and I'm very good at it!) so will see what a trade-in will cost and also see about selling it privately...

 

[JTD_Liam]

That is what I thought but I called FIAT and they gave me a number to call when your FIAT is in it's last year of warranty - I explained the issue and then asked if the part failed after the warranty on the car expired but within 12 months of it being fitted - would it be warranted? 'No sir, when the warranty ends in April nothing will be covered so you will be charged for any other repairs', I asked if there was anything else they could do and he said no, so I said I'd be trading it in in March...he hung up.

The garage don't think anything else is causing this and they reckon it's just the cables failing 'Getting salt in and moisture due to road conditions' - I said, 'I thought it was all sealed?', reply - 'I think so, but don't know, I don't work on the cars...' - if it is sealed then moisture can't get in so there is a bigger issue...

I'm not pleased about it (and I'm also now worried about it - my religion is worry and I'm very good at it!) so will see what a trade-in will cost and also see about selling it privately...

I thought the Bravo was launched in the UK around June 2007? So how come the warranty expires in April?

I wouldn't go to the expense of changing it in March just because of this fault. I was always under the impression that any repair work carried out by Fiat carried its own 1 year guarantee. So, regardless of whether your warranty was out of date or not, the repair should still be covered for 12 months from when it was done.

If the cables go again in a few months, id go down the route of saying it's been repaired less than a year ago & as it has happened several times, you expect it to be fixed free of charge. Stay polite with them at this point, but if they refuse, then id phone Fiat UK and get abit heavy handed.

 

[upnorthal]

You still have SOG protection despite what the garage tells you about a warranty.

In law, you are protected for six years (what the dealers don't want you to know).

I'd go down the warranty route first, if this fails then maybe consider instructing a solicitor.

It is not reasonable for a car costing several thousand pounds and only a couple of years old to have such an issue. This of course is dependant on the amount of milage you have driven.

 

[DickBarton]

Sorry, warranty runs out in June...I thought it was April as that was when it was registered apparently (or something...not actually sure where the April came from now!).