Nice to look at, nightmare to own
Faulty door hinge.
Timing belt snapped @ 30,000 miles causing major engine damage in excess of £1000. Check your car, Fiat recommend changing the belt @ 60,000 miles.
Fiat are not interested in the customer or backup for buyers.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 9th September, 2000
Don't waste good money on a Fiat!!!!
The door hinge was broken and all that was really required was a hinge pin but Fiat said that I needed a whole new door hinge. That meant that spray painting and welding was now involved. Expensive little game since the parts only cost £10.
Major oil leak. I was told it was only a crankshaft oil seal, rocker cover gasket but turned out it needed a camshaft oil seal now. £273.00 later the car ran for 4 days and now I'm told it needs a brand new engine after 32,000 miles! I don't think so!
Fiat don't seem to be interested and passed us on to local dealers who seem to be equally disinterested!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 29th July, 2000
How long have you got?
Passenger window switch would not work on delivery. Fuel gauge packed up at 1 year old (needing a complete new instrument panel). Trim falling off, window seals don't stay in place. Car pulls to the right on acceleration and to the left on braking (even after wheel alignment & tracking checked).
Most serious problem is an intermittent cutting out. Neither the dealer nor FIAT can explain what causes it - nothing comes up on the engine analyser because a cutting engine is not considered to be a fault!!
Build quality is appalling.
When I bought it I thought it was great. That lasted all of a month, that's when all the problems started.
I'm buying something reliable next time.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 18th January, 2000
Nothing.
The dealer sales team were very helpful, sadly they were let down by a pathetic service department. My annual service, I was assured would take about two hours, I was kept waiting around for five and a half hours. I am disabled with various medical problems, and I had no medication with me and ended up being very ill because of the delay. They also did a complete valet for me, there were water marks on the body which was obviously not polished, the hand brake lever, door handles, steering wheel had not even been wiped, the upholstery was untouched, etc etc. If I do have another Fiat it certainly will not be from Marshall of Peterborough.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 12th July, 1999
Trim came off within 3 days of delivery, loud noise from engine, lots and lots of squeaks & rattles, indicators made a funny 'pinging' noise, still not sorted, bulbs gone, rubbish quality build.
I have never before owned a Fiat, and believe me, I won't again either!!!
The quality of the car is poor, the economy is rubbish, the trim level is poor, the only saving grace is that the stereo is okay, but that is all.
Not very impressed!!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 19th October, 1997
Why on earth do 1.4 Brava owners complain about the weedy little engine and poor economy? The 1.6 16v struggles to produce the goods without "red -lining" the engine at each gear change so what chance has the smaller engine got?. My 1996 1.6SX has covered 86,000 miles and has had its share of faults - leaking steering rack, leaking shocks, a tendency to flood on cold start days, the usual rattles and minor electrical niggles. Fiat dealers are thin on the ground too. The car is cheap to buy however and I dispute that the build quality of a 306 Peugeot is better- my sister in law has a 18 month old example and its rough engine, tinny body work and uninspiring interior leave me cold.
Just traded my old car (Ford) in as it was starting to show signs of wear, only done 154,000 miles and still going strong! Now have a 1.6/16v SX. Not too happy at seeing all the gripes others have had, but so far I am well pleased with my Fiat, everything works as it should and it ain't no snail.
With winter coming on, cold mornings and all, we will see how it copes.
24th Jun 2003, 06:20
Very true. My own Brava has just snapped its Cambelt, probably £1000 worth of damage and of course Fiat don't want to know (but will screw me blind for the repair, whereupon I will trade in the vehicle for something decent from a company which cares about the customer.
Terrible customer service, no support, no backup. Clutch cylinder, sunroof, brakes, shocks, all tyres (twice) and exhaust - and now the cambelt - in 2 years' ownership.
"NEVER buy a Fiat"