1998 Fiat Punto GT from UK and Ireland - Comments

The handbrake mechanism froze up in the cold weather, two days later the handbrake stopped working altogether.

Dealer staff are complete idiots, forgot to put the oil filler cap on after a service. Thankfully no damage done. Dealer wouldn't give any sort of refund on the service bill after the car had to go back to them to be cleaned and for a new oil filler cap.

I'd have to agree with you about Fiat dealers, they're totally incompetent. Took the car for a service, all OK, apparently, 1 week later strange noise from the wheels, brake pads are worn down to the metal, totally wrecked the discs.

Yeah, the same thing has happened to me!!

The handbrake mechanism froze up and the whole handbrake cable snapped. Fiat charged about £100 to fix it. I later found out that the cables only cost £20, so must of charged me £40 per hour!!

I agree that their customer service are crap. I am currently in the process of making a full complaint to Fiat's Headquarters!!!

This is a common fault with GT's. don't put the hand brake on in cold weather is the only way round it.

I too had the same frozen handbrake problem. I noticed that there was some damage to the cable outer (which is quite exposed hanging beneath everything else) and assumed that water had got inside and was freezing to the inner cable. The new cables at £13 each aren't too pricey and if you don't mind getting your hands dirty it's an easy job to replace them.

Punto Cabriolet 1600. At only 54000 miles the differential exploded wrecking the gearbox casing. £1000 to replace the gearbox.

The timing belt is changed at 64000!

Sent a letter to headquarters, but as usual they cannot reply. Regarded myself as a Fiat enthusiast. No longer unless they can look after their customers.

Sorry about telling you the truth, but using the handbrake

in freezing cold weather could easy end up in trouble in any kind of car, not only Fiats!I wish this would be your biggest problem folks!

I agree with everyone's comments about fiat customer service very very poor. I have a 2001 sporting and its almost at the end of its warranty, took it to 5 garages they all said I had a problem with the ABS pump. So took it to a dealer they did a diagnostic said nothing wrong with the cars ABS, even though car is not braking and is very dangerous as they drove it. Gave me a bill for £30 for the diagnostic and sent me on my way. When I argued there is something wrong their next excuse was "sorry we couldn't get the car up on our ramps to check it properly" I think they are telling me porkies and when my warranty runs out in a week and I take it back to the dealer I think they will suddenly see the fault tell me it will cost something like £800 for a new pump and charge me for it as it will be out of warranty. This is exactly what happened with another fiat I had. They would not admit there was a fault I threatened to take them court that time and then they decided to do something about it, once they sell a car customer service disappears.