Fiat car warranty, clutch

pickananame

Fiat 500
I bought a Fiat 500 6 months ago, and the clutch is away already! Got picked up from just off the motorway after I suddenly couldn't get it into gear. Thought it was very strange as no pre warning. Thought it would be fixed under warranty without question. Fiat came back and said it was the way its been driven!!! This car has done under 2000 miles and was bought brand new. I have been driving for years with no such problem, and many of the cars I've had have been second and third hand. So thought I would treat myself to a new shiny red fiat 500 to be told I have to pay 533 pounds for something I know wasn't my fault. I'm also quite wary that even if the car is to be fixed, that the problem would re occur. I have lost faith in there reliability, safety, and quality of their cars, and quite frankly don't want to put my 7 year old son in one!
Has anyone else experienced anything similar, and does anyone have any suggestions?

4743hudsonj

Right, the first and most important question, EXACTLY how long has it been, specifically, did you make them aware of the fault before 6 months from purchase or after? your next moves will depend on the exact time frame.

Zandoni

I had a similar problem a few years ago with a 1600 Renault Clio. Bought it new and after10k the clutch started to slip. Like you I have been driving for many years, I am also very knowledgeable about all thing mechanical.

In case my driving was blamed I ensured that I explained to the workshop forum that I knew what I was talking about and asked for a full report of the problem.

It turned out that the pressure plate had a weak spring so the whole clutch was replaced under warranty.

Annoyingly this happened again after another 10k, the work was again done under warranty.

I lost faith in the car then so I traded it in.

pickananame

Was bought on 22/11/2009 and got picked up last weekend on 29/5/2010. So its a few days over 6 months. I know it makes a difference whether its over or under 6 months, but I don't know what kind of difference it makes. You'd think they'd fix it through good will being that its only a few days over, but that would be asking too much of course!!
So we've been a week without a car, back and forth with calls. been told by Trading Standards to send a letter to the garages head office, saying that I want it fixed with no cost to myself. Should reply within 14 days, so that could be 3 weeks without a car. Thing is, they said I've not had it long enough to trade in, hmmm, does that not tell you something!!

Weirdlittleman

Im sure every crap driver who knackers a clutch denies it.

4743hudsonj

pickananame wrote: »

Was bought on 22/11/2009 and got picked up last weekend on 29/5/2010. So its a few days over 6 months. I know it makes a difference whether its over or under 6 months, but I don't know what kind of difference it makes. You'd think they'd fix it through good will being that its only a few days over, but that would be asking too much of course!!
So we've been a week without a car, back and forth with calls. been told by Trading Standards to send a letter to the garages head office, saying that I want it fixed with no cost to myself. Should reply within 14 days, so that could be 3 weeks without a car. Thing is, they said I've not had it long enough to trade in, hmmm, does that not tell you something!!

The difference is that before 6 months, any fault is assumed to have been there from sale, so in order to refuse a remedy under the sale of goods act, the retailer would have to prove otherwise which is hard to do so good for you. After 6 months, and the onus is now on you to prove the fault was there from manufacturer.

If they still refuse to play ball, go to consumer direct and dig up on the sale of goods act and write them a letter using CD's templates stating the act and your expectations of a remedy. They will probably refuse meaning to take this further you will have to go to another garage and pay for them to carry out an inspection on the fault ad put in writing whether the deem it to be manufacturing defect, misuse or wear and tear.

If this is in your favour, write again re0iterating the act and your expectations with a copy of the report and then state that is not resolved in 21 day (inc fitting part etc) you will take them to small claims for the cost of a repair, the cost of the report and court and other costs. They may well then give in and should refund the cost of the report as well as their remedy but if not follow through with court.

pickananame

Weirdlittleman wrote: »

Im sure every crap driver who knackers a clutch denies it.

Get a life, you really are a weird little man!!!!
If you've nothing constructive to say, then don't bother!

Sandoval

Is your username supposed to be PICKANYNAME and you spelled it wrong?

What does PICKANANAME mean?

withabix

Look up EU Directive 1999/44/EC - that's the one you need. Write to Fiat asking them to satisfy your rights and comply with their obligations under this Directive.

It is currently in the process of gettng me a new £6500 engine for my out-of-warranty 3 year old Nissan and approx £2000 of car hire from the day my car broke down to the day when I get it back.

I wrote to Nissan giving them 14 days Notice of (Small Claims Court) Action and they keeled over immediately.

Equaliser123

withabix wrote: »

Look up EU Directive 1999/44/EC - that's the one you need. Write to Fiat asking them to satisfy your rights and comply with their obligations under this Directive.

It is currently in the process of gettng me a new £6500 engine for my out-of-warranty 3 year old Nissan and approx £2000 of car hire from the day my car broke down to the day when I get it back.

I wrote to Nissan giving them 14 days Notice of (Small Claims Court) Action and they keeled over immediately.

Oh, the 'secret law'.

pickananame

Sandoval wrote: »

Is your username supposed to be PICKANYNAME and you spelled it wrong?

What does PICKANANAME mean?

I'm not on here to discuss my user name. Or to read sarky comments from people that have nothing better to do on a Saturday night, other than trawl through forums picking on people.