2000 Fiat Punto 8v from UK and Ireland - Comments

Accelerator cable severed after 6mths.

Wiper motor Broke.

Car is now on THIRD set of brakes. Informed that Fiat parts are crap.

Needed whole new exhaust system as it fell off whilst driving one day.

Pre-delivery check had not been done so well, bolts were missing from the engine!

Bonnet release is flimsy, not fitted securely and bonnet will not close onto catch unless slammed down very hard, apparently nothing is wrong with it!!!

Performance is pretty crap 0 - 60 in 13.5 seconds, not so bad in city, but on main roads and motorways you have little confidence in overtaking, especially when some wide boy starts to increase his/her speed.

Fiat have fitted the car with crap inferior parts, this is why they are so cheap to buy.

Handling is poor, front end seems to drift going round tight bends or roundabouts in the wet.

When filling up with petrol the pump at the station clicks off every few seconds due to the safety "thing" in the petrol cap which is really annoying.

Have heard nothing, but problems from other Punto owners, I've actually been quite fortunate!

On the plus side, the car is spacious and feels like a larger car to drive aside from the uncomfortable driving position.

Front of the car looks nice, but the back is quite ugly.

Hi it is unfortunate that you hate your Punto so much I have the 2001 8v model and I love it. I had a few minor faults with it, but the dealership has been great, have recently moved dealership as the original one changed names and they have been great at putting the minor faults right.

For someone who wants an economical car this is ideal.

I'm sorry you hate your punto so much I think you were a tad bit unlucky, or maybe I'm lucky, had my 1.2 8valve for just over a year and no problems whatsoever with anything apart from a numberplate light, no mean about the fuel cap thing being annoying though!! great potential to look great! Mine was lowered, 16ins alloys and abarth sise skirts, K&N air filter added a bit more beef, was sad to see her go (balliffs!! arggggggggggg)

If you use BP pumps you should be able to fill up without any problems, if I use shell etc I get the same pump cut off...

I had the same problems with my Punto. Problems included:-

Head Gasket went at 22,000 and again at 45,000 miles

Wiper linkage failed

Throttle stuck to the floor while driving (very scary!)

Car revved on it's own, without the gas pedal depressed

Oil sump corroded

Exhaust fell off (twice) resulting in getting jammed under the car

The car's central locking had a habit of unlocking the car itself

Electric windows and city power steering failed

Dashboard illumination went off when touching the brake pedal.

Fiat dealership was poor, as soon as they sold the car to me they weren't bothered. When I took it to the garage when it was overheating they said it just needed to "good service". Maybe I had a bad car, but I keep hearing too many horror stories! Now have a SEAT Ibiza, and its nice not having to go to the garage every month!!!

Girlfriends Punto has had exactly the same problems as the ones mentioned in this review. Literally ticked them off as we where reading. Her power steering motor has just failed as well, which is £500+ for the part ex VAT, its had more exhausts fall off of it then is believeable, but the worst thing is...

At 45k, it now requires a new G E A R B O X! Due to crappy Fiat build quality. I would never buy a Fiat.

I used to think cheap and fun car to drive, but Wife and I have both had enough problems to question the quality. Seems to be some common themes here.

In both our cars, early on the bonnet catch broke and our heat shield manifold bolts have come off, in mine resulting it falling off and me driving over it.

My wife has had her heater pack up and power steering completely locked up at one point in a car park and she was unable to steer.

I have had head Gasket go at 40000 mile and wiper linkage go both costing an arm and a leg. Now my gear box has got stiffer and stiffer, I'm too scared to find out about this and looking to get rid.

My Fiat Punto 1.2 R reg has developed a fault with the clutch.

When the engine becomes hot, I cannot select any gear at all. I have taken it to my local garage twice, but they say there is nothing wrong. Someone did however mention the hydraulics in the clutch system. I am at a loss at what to do next. I cannot drive the car expectinng the worse!

Hi, just wondering if anyone knew how to add gear oil to the gear box??? I have a 1.2 8 valve punto as i am clueless on cars.

Hope you can help.

Oh dear. How I wish I had read the reviews before buying my 1.2 16V Punto Sporting. Killer looks - but what an awful car. Bought a 2001 vehicle mid-2005. Had the usual small problems, bits falling off, trim unstuck, wiper linkage failure. Last week - noticed odd engine noise. Took it too a car clinic today - got the call, gearbox total failure - that will be $3,900 please for a new one. For a 2001 car! They have got to be kidding me. Do NOT buy one of these cars.

I'm on my second Punto (a 2000 1.2 8v) and it will definitely be my last. A catalogue of problems include head gasket blowing at 25,000 miles, mysterious squeaks and rattles from the rear, lambda oxygen sensor failing (not cheap), dashboard lights only working when they feel like it, headlamp condensation, clutch failure at 65,000 miles, and to top it off, the valves now need re-seating! An absolute disaster of a car, avoid at all costs!

I have a 2000 (W) Punto 1.2 ELX - I have had nothing, but problems from day one (just over 2 years now) Cylinder Head went at 20000, exhaust fell off, hole underneath letting water in, both headlamps have had to be replaced due to misting, windscreen wipers are really 'screechy'. It's done 39000 and I'm now waiting for the clutch to go!! All in all I have spent over £1k on repairs.

Found the comments quite interesting though didn't apply to me whatsoever! I've got a 1.2 8V and its hasn't even let me down slightly. However I've only owned it myself for 6 months, but its now third hand. Maybe I'm just better at looking after my Punto? Or lucky. who knows?

I have had two puntos and the second has been nothing, but trouble. I had a bump in car the steering was out of control, the car was repaired and within a couple of months the car steered of to the left on the motor way, was able to control and pull to a stop. The car was repaired again and I am now a year down the line and a week ago my car steered of to the left, rolled and crashed into trees. by luck we were all OK. will never buy another fiat punto. How do you prove that the car had a fault??? They will just say that you can't tell as the damaged might have happened after the crash.

I can echo these comments. I had an 'UNO' years ago it is was very good - kept it 8 years and no trouble. Got my daughter a 3 year old Punto (2001) 2 years ago (it had only done 23,000 miles) and the money I've spent on it! New brakes, obviously, new wiper motor. New exhaust, and then a new clutch!!! And the electrics failed too so it wouldn't start. I think the quality of the parts are just shocking. Now the wiper linkage arm has detached itself. Sob sob!!

I've got a fiat punto 2000 (W) 8 valve,, it has done 57000 miles in total,, and 6000 of it was by me. I recently had £800 of repairs done to it,, and guess where it is right now... sitting outside my house,, unfit for the road because it overheats due to a blown head gasket, haha. repairs includes,, new timing belt, new thermostat, new clutch,, new exhaust,, somesort of suspension spring and shock absorber work. I visit the garage more times than I visit the supermarket. The funny thing is it had no problems,, than they all appeared all at once.