Help Problem With new car on Finance

phpwebdev

Hi,

I'm new here so please forgive me if this is the wrong board to post in.

I bought a 08 Fiat Panda (nearly new) from a garage a few months ago. The car is not yet 2 years old until the 31/07/2010. The car comes with a three year warranty if you can call it that.

I noticed a problem over past few days since we have had allot of rain where i live. I noticed a yellow patch on the roof in the back of the car (Fiat Panda), it is somewhat large in size and has stained the inside roof fabric. I phoned up one of the garages near me that do Fiat cars and repair them under warranty, i made an appointment and my partner took our car up today to be looked out. The person who was checking and fixing the car came back and said the leak is not covered under the warranty as if a leak appears after 12 months then it is not covered by Fiat as they beleive a leak would happen within the first 12 months only, which i find hard to understand how they could say that.

We have had to pay £30 in total for the leak to be repaired on the roof, he said the leak was coming in through the car aerial as it seems the aerial has came away somewhat from the roof surface hence why there is water getting into the car.

The whole purpose of me and my partner buying a newish car was to not have to worry about such problems as we are not car savvys and have also spent a fortune on second hand car repairs so buying a nearly new car on finance was the main purpose of the purchase.

I have my finance with Black Horse. I contacted Fiat and am getting a call back withing the next 48 hours as i made a complaint as i am disgusted as you can imagine that a car that is not two years old yet is not being covered under it's warranty and i am having to fork out of my own money when i have a warranty still on the car, specially when i am also paying on finance for the car which makes me even more angry.

I have been told i will have to wait until my call back to see whether Fiat will pay me back the costs. I am wanting advice in-case they say they won't pay the cost. I know it's only £30 but we cannot afford to be paying out on a car that is still under manufacturer warranty and on finance.

Can someone tell me what i could do if Fiat does not pay up?

I also learned that after the first two years any electrical components of the car is not covered in the third year warranty with Fiat.

I am not sure where i stand, the car has already gone in previously over a minor fault and was fixed under warranty and now this leak i am feeling somewhat unsure whether the car is going to last. I am thinking of taking the car back the garage i purchased it from which is not the same garage who is doing the repair because the garage i purchased the car from only sells cars, So do you know if i can legally do that is take the car back leave it on the forecourt and contact black horse explain the problem and tell them i will no longer be making payments on the car as i no longer in possesion of the vehicle as i took it back to the place where i purchased it from due to this being a second problem i have had with the car and nothing ever seeming to be covered under the warranty.

Thanks for any advice/help you can give. I basically do not want the car anymore if Fiat does not pay up as i feel i am just going to get more problems with the car and the warranty seems to not be worth the paper it is written on, hence why i bought a newish car was to have a warranty to avoid such bills and for me and partner to stop forking out on car repairs on second hand cars.

Thanks

Hintza

phpwebdev wrote: »

I basically do not want the car anymore if Fiat does not pay up as i feel i am just going to get more problems with the car and the warranty seems to not be worth the paper it is written on, hence why i bought a newish car was to have a warranty to avoid such bills and for me and partner to stop forking out on car repairs on second hand cars.

Thanks

Don't start getting melodramatic because of a small problem. Tell the dealer you fully expect this to be repaired under warranty and if not can you have the contact details for Fiat Customer Services and then take it from there.

In the meantime read exactly what is covered under warranty.

The other thing is to be sure no one has been fitting an alternative ariel, if that is the case then you will not have a leg to stand on.

If you decide to resell it contact me and I will make you an offer...;)

phpwebdev

Hi,

The aerial is the original, i will read through the warranty booklet and wait to here what Fiat has to say.

I had to pay up else i could not have my car keys and car back so fingers crossed Fiat will refund the cost. I know it's only £30 but it's a matter or principal and with it being under warranty i expect much better from Fiat.

Thanks

bezzza

As a previous owner of a Punto I would be grateful that this repair has only cost you £30 (warranty not worth the paper it's printed on IMO) because if it's anything like the Punto I bought 8 years ago (less than 4 months old) then expect your costs to spiral over next couple of years - problems with the wiper motor yet, or what about the exhaust clips, water/rain getting to the lights, engine management light come on yet, immobiliser problems, the list goes on - hopefully you will never get to experience any of these faults with your newer model but be prepared as there's a very good reason people say FIAT stands for Fix It Again Tomorrow. Good luck!

phpwebdev

bezzza wrote: »

As a previous owner of a Punto I would be grateful that this repair has only cost you £30 (warranty not worth the paper it's printed on IMO) because if it's anything like the Punto I bought 8 years ago (less than 4 months old) then expect your costs to spiral over next couple of years - problems with the wiper motor yet, or what about the exhaust clips, water/rain getting to the lights, engine management light come on yet, immobiliser problems, the list goes on - hopefully you will never get to experience any of these faults with your newer model but be prepared as there's a very good reason people say FIAT stands for Fix It Again Tomorrow. Good luck!

ROFL. I had to laugh when you said people say Fiat stands for Fix It Again Tomorrow. But on a serious note it's not very good, hence why the warranties are probably so bad because Fiat themselves don't have the confidence in there own cars, like reliability etc.

Thanks.

bezzza

It's a shame really as it is a cool little car (apart from the rubbish turning circle but you just adjust your driving style and only turn in roads the width of a runway LOL) - loved the city button (parking was a doddle) and the size of the boot and all the storage pockets - but have to say it was the worst car I ever owned repair wise - FIAT wouldn't do any of the work under warranty even though car was less than a year old especially the windscreen wiper motor - cost me over £200 to get it replaced as they put it down to wear and tear - I'd had the car less than a month! And then there was the thrill of seeing "fireworks" in the rear view mirror when the exhaust was dragging behind as clips had disintegrated (a very common fault) another month later. ECU went middle of second year - again warranty not covered at a cost of £500 and that was getting it done cheaply. Repair costs for 30 months I owned car £1825 - also put car in for its regular service a few months prior to needing its first MOT where the mechanic said it wouldn't pass without another £1000 of work including another ECU!

I don't want to put you off as hopefully your car will continue to run and run for years - there has to be an exception to every rule, doesn't there? LOL

phpwebdev

Hi Bezzza,

Very sorry to here the problems you had with your car. That is awful, infact the worst i have ever heard. You should have gone to small claims court, due to the age of the car i bet you could have made Fiat pay.

Hopefully i won't get the problems you have had but i know one thing for sure i will never buy a Fiat again based on just the warranty alone, specially when you got Kia offering 7 year warranty and Hyundai a 5 year warranty.

My grandparents always have had Hyundai cars and never have had problems. My grandparents Hyundai Coope is 10 years old and never ever has it rusted, failed on an MOT or had any problems that required it to be taken back to Hyundai garage etc.

I suppose we all must learn one way or another and i guess for some of us specially us ones who is clueless about cars we learn the hard way, althou it is not acceptable for such a new car with what the call a warranty, Fiats warranty are non existent.

I will post back when Fiat has phoned me to let me know wheter they are paying or not.

Thanks

bezzza

It was a costly lesson I learnt on my first car (both repair and finance wise - I was still paying for punto for another year) - I just fell in love with it but I wish I knew then what I know now - they fought the warranty left, right and centre so I just gave up in the end - I prefer to buy little old bangers now (although my last 2 metros seem to attract bad drivers to write them off - one written off by an HGV on roundabout and one written off whilst parked outside house!) for under £500 - cheap to insure and surprisingly cheap to maintain. I do hope you get FIAT to pay up - fingers crossed!