Tires - repeated problems with damage to tire walls - AA roadside assistance commented that this was common with Multipla's.
Accelerator sticking - an electrical fault which causes the engine to rev out of control - only remedy is to turn off ignition - very scary when it happens. Fixed by garage at third attempt.
Loud wind noise from sun roof - after roof bars had been fitted by garage.
Repeated warnings from instruments of water in diesel filter and low oil - garage told us to ignore these.
Engine replaced at 17,000 miles!!!
Apparently the fan belt had become frayed, and some of this got caught up in the timing belt - both failed and the camshaft shattered, resulting in the entire engine being beyond repair. Despite this being a warrantly replacement and despite the fact that I have four young children NO COURTESY CAR WAS OFFERED. and as we were kept under the impression that the car would be returned to us "within days" we kept the hire car we had taken instead. One month later we got our car back - and no one has offered to pick up the £1000 car hire bill.
Within two weeks I took a look under the bonnet to see that the fan belt was again falling apart - I took the car back to the garage and they replaced more parts (over a week) this time with a courtesy car (two door cars are not much use as a replacement for a people carrier).
Last week, on Thursday, the gearbox failed in the middle of a busy traffic junction. It is now Tuesday, I have no transport, no courtesy car, and I have no idea when I'm going to get the car back. (or if I really want it)
If I could get a better dealer service and if I could believe that the engine problems were a one off, I would keep the car.
When it works it works well - it handles well, is easy to park, and is the only car we've found to accommodate all of our children easily.
All in all a good car horribly let down by a couldn't give a **** attitude at the dealership.
Fiat, Peugeot, Renault, Citroen Rover/Land Rover and these days even VW - These manufacturers need to get their act together as far as quality and reliability go. They are always at the tail end of reliability and customer satisfaction surveys. People say that Japanese cars are bland with "no soul", but at least they are well built and reliable. I know which I'd rather (I'm a Toyota Celica owner), reliability any day over being broke down in a busy road in a "car with soul"!!
I think more Fiat, Peugot, Citroen. VW and Land Rover are still good cars. But how could Fiat still sell cars when an engine is destroyed at 17,000 miles! Plus the transmission?! Come on, my old car (1982 Citation) had only 25,000 miles on it (it was grandma's car) and it still ran well. I bet if I kept the car, the engine/trans would have gone 200,000 miles.
Buy a Seat Alhambra. I bought one from new 5 years and 90,000 miles ago and it has been terrific. In this time only 2 electric sensors went wrong. Almost total reliability.
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