2000 Fiat Brava 80 SX 1.2
Summary:
Nice car, but trouble is never far away
Faults:
Radio faulty from day one of owning the vehicle.
Rubber on all outer door handles has perished badly.
Bonnet flew open at 70mph in the fast lane.
Starter motor failed, requiring replacement at 76k.
Terrible squeal every time engine starts up.
Exhaust developed a hole, thankfully patched up easily.
Goes through bulbs at a rapid rate.
Unknown problem has just developed in the engine - car judders when driving, 30mph and under mostly, and sounds a bit rough too.
Battery completely drained when the radio light decided to come on for no reason, despite me removing the fuse for it.
General Comments:
I have gone from really liking my Fiat Brava to absolutely detesting it, in 5 very short weeks.
When we first got it, the radio wouldn't turn off, then it decided to go to VOLUME 40 as it sat on the driveway and not switching off. My partner had to get a neighbour to disconnect the battery. Radio hasn't worked since, paranoid to turn it on.
The door handles are of poor quality, and are perished to bits. Similarly the cigarette lighter compartment is hanging open and will not shut.
The starter motor decided to die on the school run, resulting in a call-out for the AA and garage bill for replacement.
The bonnet flew up in high winds as we overtook a truck at 70mph in the A1 fast lane. A horrible experience with 3 kids in the car and no hard shoulder in sight.
Bonnet completely obliterated by above incident and replacement bought, in a totally different colour from scrapyard.
The car has now developed a judder when driving between 10-35mph, and sounds very tractor-like. Been told by Kwik Fit that this isn't the exhaust, and is in the engine.
The battery drained, when the radio light decided to come on randomly, despite me taking the fuse out so it wouldn't do this.
The car can be hard to maintain for a 'home-mechanic', with difficult access to the spark plugs (very deeply inset) and other components.
Sadly went from being a great, economical family car to a big, money-wasting heap of junk in a very short space of time.
Other than that, a nice looking car, smooth to drive, comfortable interior and very cheap to run - when everything is OK!
They say FIAT stands 'Fix It Again Tomorrow' - they'd be right!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 31st March, 2007
25th Apr 2008, 18:03
Sorry to hear about your woes, been there myself as have most of us unfortunately. But your review was very useful so thank you for writing it. Better luck with the next one!
1st Feb 2009, 10:24
I too have one of these. Was having a lot of misfiring and bad low speed running. Turned out to be a head gasket fault. If you still have this car, I would ask you to have a compression test done. It's usually between 2 and 3 cylinders where it goes. Common fault.
Can anyone help with a faulty aircon?
14th Jul 2010, 13:20
I feel so sorry for you people. I bought my W reg Brava from a good friend who is a car dealer. Mine has only been on the road a few days out of 8 weeks! The engine misfires and dies at low speed. There are other faults too, but none as bad as stalling repeatedly in rush hour! My friend is going to swap it! I got promoted and gave up my company car for a mental break down!
9th Apr 2007, 03:15
Further to the above problems, the car is now not starting again. All fluid levels etc are topped up etc, spark plugs and leads OK and everything. In short, we now want to get rid of the car after 7 months of ownership - we absolutely hate it.