Hi all
I bought a new Fiat 500 on 24/09/13 using Fiats own PCP contract plan, using my car as deposit (£1000)
Within the first week I had to call out Fiat Assistance for a buzzing noise coming from the dashboard together with the dashboard lights going on and off. They towed the car away saying it was a potential fire hazard/electrical fault.
I got it back 2 days later with a complete new instrument cluster fitted and all is fine.
Then, around 6 weeks later, the suspension started knocking from the front left wheel when going over normal bumps, grates in the road. The car feels very unstable, jumping from left to right when hitting bumps in the road and when I had to brake quite sharply the car veered from left to right quite violently.
I booked it into the dealership on 27/12/13 to be given it back 2 hours later stating that the suspension top strut mount had failed and I would have to wait until after 06/01/14 for the part to come in. I was not offered a courtesy car to use and told carry on using my car with faulty suspension. The person on the service desk said he was surprised the part wasn't available as it was a common failing part on the Fiat 500. I asked if they were going to replace both sides, as I believe that is best practice when replacing suspension/steering parts, to be told no.
I drove the car home and immediately informed FGA Capital of what had happened and that I wanted to reject the car under SOG act as it wasn't of satisfactory quality and fit for the purpose. I have no faith in the car, brand or dealer.
This has all now been done in writing to the finance company, the dealer and Fiat UK.
I've heard back from the dealership since saying that a new modified suspension mount has now arrived and is waiting to be fitted to my car. I can't help thinking that by modifying the suspension part Fiat are accepting that there are manufacturing/quality problems with the original part on these cars and how can it be best practice, let alone safe, to fit a modified suspension part to one side of the car only....
Again I've let them now that the car is rejected and I haven't used it since 27/12/13 in line with my rejection.
The manager of the dealership emailed me yesterday to say that he's looking into it and will formalize a response to my rejection asap.
Anybody any advice whether I've done the right thing and how you think I stand with getting my money back, or at least the remaining finance cleared and my deposit back?
Thanks in advance
Jason
I bought a new Fiat 500 on 24/09/13 using Fiats own PCP contract plan, using my car as deposit (£1000)
Within the first week I had to call out Fiat Assistance for a buzzing noise coming from the dashboard together with the dashboard lights going on and off. They towed the car away saying it was a potential fire hazard/electrical fault.
I got it back 2 days later with a complete new instrument cluster fitted and all is fine.
Then, around 6 weeks later, the suspension started knocking from the front left wheel when going over normal bumps, grates in the road. The car feels very unstable, jumping from left to right when hitting bumps in the road and when I had to brake quite sharply the car veered from left to right quite violently.
I booked it into the dealership on 27/12/13 to be given it back 2 hours later stating that the suspension top strut mount had failed and I would have to wait until after 06/01/14 for the part to come in. I was not offered a courtesy car to use and told carry on using my car with faulty suspension. The person on the service desk said he was surprised the part wasn't available as it was a common failing part on the Fiat 500. I asked if they were going to replace both sides, as I believe that is best practice when replacing suspension/steering parts, to be told no.
I drove the car home and immediately informed FGA Capital of what had happened and that I wanted to reject the car under SOG act as it wasn't of satisfactory quality and fit for the purpose. I have no faith in the car, brand or dealer.
This has all now been done in writing to the finance company, the dealer and Fiat UK.
I've heard back from the dealership since saying that a new modified suspension mount has now arrived and is waiting to be fitted to my car. I can't help thinking that by modifying the suspension part Fiat are accepting that there are manufacturing/quality problems with the original part on these cars and how can it be best practice, let alone safe, to fit a modified suspension part to one side of the car only....
Again I've let them now that the car is rejected and I haven't used it since 27/12/13 in line with my rejection.
The manager of the dealership emailed me yesterday to say that he's looking into it and will formalize a response to my rejection asap.
Anybody any advice whether I've done the right thing and how you think I stand with getting my money back, or at least the remaining finance cleared and my deposit back?
Thanks in advance
Jason
