hi all

just running this by anyone.  

interested in similar problems and outcomes for serious issues! 

i bought my lovely byDiesel in October and have had problem after problem with it.

firstly the brakes were sticking - some days you could smell the burning when you opened the doors/boot.  the real sign was i would go from 55+ miles to the gallon down to 20s even lower and no matter if you took your foot off the pedal, resulting usually in a 99 mpg, it would stay in the 20s mpg.  took it back 3 times, they could find nothing wrong, and eventually one lovely man just loosened the hand-brake and it seemed to be fixed.

then the cold weather came and the heater inside the car was appalling.  it failed to warm the car up on my short journey to school and then onto work.  i would have to stop several times to get out of the car and re-shift the ice off the front window, which would just keep re-appearing (nightmare).  plus the inside of the car just didn't get warm.

then the power steering went on two occasions it just stopped dead - now its heavy and as if there isn't power steering on the car at all - city has no effect whatsoever any more!  followed by my back window washer deciding to pack in!

the dealer where i bought the car have been as helpful as they could be but couldn't find anything really wrong.

while waiting for a pump for the back window washer - my husband noticed water just oozing out of my beauty.  back to dealer.

they found a pipe with a hole in that had leaked into the car - told me is was sopping wet and needed drying out and new felt fitting - the man who i spoke to gave it all away in his voice - he was simply gutted and couldn't express enough how bad it was.  i decided then and there i might just sell the car - i wanted to cry - in fact i did.  

they have had the car now 8 days and it has still not dried out.  really worried now that all my other problems are related to water.

have rang fiat today to 'refuse' the car and asked for a refund.  so so sad because i loved my beauty.  and i really don't know what to do.  i expect that a car should be 'fit for purpose' and that i have a real point regarding issued somewhere down the line in relation to water damage and water eroding my electrics etc.  i am really really 'sad' and just needed to share my story and see if anyone else has had any similar problems and what their outcomes where.  

i traded in a lovely kia sportage and paid the rest cash (from our savings) - i feel i have spent a lot of money for nothing but a lot of trouble.

really sad 'beauty'

x 

Hi Beauty Loves Beasty,

I'm very sorry to hear you have been having these problems with your 500byDIESEL. Are you satisfied with how your dealer is dealing with the issues? I see you have already called Fiat regarding this, which will be useful as you have logged the issue directly with us.

Kind regards
Fiat Marketing

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Trading standards took on my case with my little fiat, as the dealer and FGA Capital have been less than satisfactory with dealing with the problems with my car, looks like we may end up in county court, to sort things out! i hope things work out for you :}

hello

my dealer is addressing each issue as it arrives and i have already put in writing how unhappy i am regarding the car.  personally i don't think it is their problem - they did not manufacture the car and if the car had come off the assembly line in perfect condition then none of my problems would ever have occurred, therefore it is a manufacturing problem not a dealership problem.  i did ring head office and said i would like to reject the car and the snotty lady i spoke to was really awful - not helpful in anyway - i found her very condescending and rude to me.  instead of advising me i found her talking down to me.

i did firstly ask for a replacement but i am now that concerned about the treatment from head office that i have asked for a refund.

i have been refused a refund and i feel my only option is to trade the car in.  i am not sure what i am doing at the moment but i do want rid of the car.  The car is up for sale in several places and if i can sell it privately then i will - i stand to loose less money that way.  if not i may be forced to trade a 3 month old car in - because i have found the car to be 'not fit for purpose' - yet head office are offering me no other options. i have been told that the DPF is functioning properly and that its because i am only doing city driving that it keeps activating.  They can find no cause for the awful rubber burning smell and can only put it down to heat!  They can find nothing wrong with my power steering that has failed on two occasions.  i have had a new heater thermostat, my car dried out and the felt replaced.  This is a new car, for goodness sake - nothing should be wrong with it!

I am really not happy with the car.  I have had puntos, a bravo and a cinquicento before and have always always been happy with my cars but this one is the biggest mistake ever and for what it is worth its the dearest and the poorest car i've had too.  i am thinking it is because its a diesel but i am still unsure.  what i do know is that if i do not get customer satisfaction from fiat then i will never buy another fiat in my life again.

Thanks for your email.

Denise x

who is so sad about her fiat 500 as she absolutely loved it and now is scared of what might happen next! 

hi

too be honest ,why should you have to sell the car ,when after all ,from what you have said it's not fit for purpose,(by the way i'm not taking sides )  just replying to what youhave said......

people wouldn't accept a tv that's faulty ,or sell it on ...you would give it back ...why accept a expensive item  as a  car ,when it is faulty ...????as long as you have given them adequate attempts at repairing the faults .....

selling the diesel in a ciy car ,i think was a bad decision on fiats behalf ,or at least  the dealers should have explained  about the DPF  and how the car needs a blast on the motorway ....but then why tell a customer that and risk loosing a sale??? i will add FIAT  are not alone with the DPF  and other manufacturers suffer the same issues ..european law dictates exhaust emissions ,and  the DPF , was the system that meet the criteria ...

the steering fault will have logged faults in it's memory ,so why the dealer  says they can't find nothing wrong is baffling ....

yes rubber need heat to burn ,so another baffling comment from the dealer ..surely if they take it for a run till the smell starts ...they can then find the source ...there  will be giveaways like smoke ,a part being hotter than it should ..nowdays we use a laser thermostate ..you point it at an item press a button and get a temp reading on a screen

i can fully understand how you feel .as you have lost total confidence inthe car ,and never know if it'll ever get you from A to B

luckily my grande has been ok ...will be 4 in july ....but do i want to risk  trading in a reliable car ,and risk a bag of worms ?? luckily i am a truck mechanic so i can do anything required

good luck

phil

 

thanks for your reply - the dealer has even smelled the smell now but they cannot find a reason for it and all they can say is - its not usual - but until we know what it is there is nothing we can do and if you have any further problems bring it back.  what a load of rubbish and the biggest cop-out ever.

well disappointed with fiat.

 

im really thinking ..Hey you are exagirating here ..making a mountain out of a mole hill ..troll even..? if the garage can not find any issues ..then why you find so many..!!..? im just not beliving everything you say.