Hi has any one had a recall notice yet of fiat. I read in Auto Express 1-7 october that fiat citroen and peugeot where having to recall cars after three cars rear doors came open at 70 mph. It effects all cars but more the one's fitted with electric sliding doors. They say in the magazine that early vehicles suffer a software problem with there ECU and the result is that the door could come open. Makes you pretty scared for who is in the back.
james |)

Hi.

Just checked the Vehicle and Operators Service Agency on the net www.via.gov.uk/apps/recalls . 4 recalls so far on the new Ulysse - water into airbag ecu, possible chafing of offside front break pipe, electric sliding rear door and front hub security!

Check out the site for build dates/chassis numbers. I think mine may have missed the build dates, being ordered in May 2003 and built to spec after that date.

Stuart

Hi,

The electric doors seem to have a latch on them now which engages when the doors auto lock. In the manual it states that when you press the electric button, the latch will not be engaged until the doors lock. Maybe this is something they fixed.

Still being in the back at 70mph when the doors open, would not be a pleasant experience, especially if it was raining.

Poggy

Hi,

Mind you it could be fun if the mother in law was in the back !!!!.

Poggy

Oh yes - mother in law - 'Can you fly, Bobby?'

Stuart

Mine went in 2 weeks ago for a software upgrade that "needed to be done" following my control system repeatedly shutting down. I havent seen it since. Appently the whole control system crashed during the upgrade and then wouldn't play at all. A replacement finally arrived from fiat... but it was the wrong one. 2 Weeks and still without my car and I'm rapidly loosing Fiat-faith..

Froggy, 7 weeks in 7 months mine's been off the road (alarm, airbags, doors, sunblinds to name a few), chasing compensation now.

Keggers

Keggers, who are you chasing for compensation? I spoke to fiat customer relations who have logged it as a complaint, but may take 14 days to look into it. Its been with the dealer for nearly 3 weeks. and still no news about when I'll get it back.

Froggy

Froggy,
I too spoke with Fiat Service (and sent them a letter) and told them that I will be seeking compensation, their reply was that Fiat do not offer compensation per se by which he meant cash. Initially I was asking for free servicing and an extended warranty but this has dragged on so long now (it's back in for week 8!) that I'm thinking of getting a solicitor involved.

Keggers[!]

I like their comment 'do not offer compensation per se'! I think get a solicitor involved.
Not sure when you got your car, but I think you have every right to take the car to the dealer, drop the keys and everything else on their desk, and reject the car fully! They should not have a leg to stand on - unsatisfactory build, etc....

However, this may depend on current mileage, etc.

Stuart

Hi,

We ordered a Punto a couple of years ago and when it arrived it worked well for the first couple of weeks and then the electric power steering warning light came on. The unit was replaced and then a week or so later went wrong again. It was then replaced again and but when you put the radio on the handbrake light used to glow slightly. I took it back again and told them I didn't want it back until it was fixed. They didn't have a loan car so they rented me one while they looked at it. Eventually they decided it needed an entire wiring loom. This meant stripping out the seats, dashboard, carpets, roof lining etc etc. I said I wasn't happy with this as it would never go back together properly. Anyway I formerly rejected the car after about 2-3 months and Fiat agreed to compensate the dealer for the loss on the 1st car and supply a brand new one. As we had ordered a number of options, inc air con, multi airbags, remote locking etc it took 3 months to arrive. In the meantime the garage lent us a new Punto Sporting until the new one arrived.

The new car has been fine, but I saw the old Punto when I went to collect it and it was completely stripped down. I visited the garage again about 18 months later and it was finally back together and up for sale again. Just as well I didn't wait for them to fix it !!!!!!!.

Although it was a pain, I think the garage gave very good service by dealing with Fiat and lending me a replacement. The new car also ended up being registered in 2002 instead of 2001 so I did quite well.

Poggy

Well I have to admit that my experiences over the last 3 months of having the car, and the prior 6 months of waiting for it, have me of the opinion that Fiat 'could do better', and the dealers will for the most part do the best they can to compensate for Fiat's problems.

Get on the good side of your local dealer (even in the face of problems), and they will typically do what they can to help. Dealers like helping 'nice' customers (even if they are upset), and tend to play 'jobsworths' for nasty awkward ones!

Keggers,

Mines only been 3 weeks off the road, and I have to say the dealer appears to be trying to help. I have a courtesy car (multipla), but not the car I bought!
It's done 12K miles as I've had it since April, but I'm not sure where I stand legally. ("Fit for purpose" and all that). I spoke to Trading Standards who suggested that I should take it up with Fiat, which I've done. I agree with John_K, I dont want to upset the dealer, as they seem to be doing what they can to compensate for fiat's failings, but it's becoming a saga now, and quite embarassing "Still not got your car back?"

Froggy
..suffering for being an "early adopter"

'only been 3 weeks off the road' - that's not good. Mind you, if you had yours in April, you must have ordered pretty much as soon as they were able to take orders on these things, and I'm guessing you went for a standard build. You must have had one of the first Fiat UK production builds. If you've had this sort of trouble with yours, I'm now starting to feel glad that Fiat messed around with my order such that I didn't get my car till September, as it means I seem to have missed these early problems!

I got the demonstrator 2.2JTD which had 300 miles on it (I assume they had an incentive from fiat). So I just walked in, drove it bought it. In fact the dealer (Clevely in Cheltenham) let me borrow it for a few days before I paid for it which was pretty good of them. Its got some extras: electric doors, vis pack, tyre pressure sensors, Leather stearing wheel, sunblinds. I wish I'd got the nav+ with the colour screen and multiplay CD, otherwise it was not a bad deal (19K) - assuming I ever get it back!

Froggy