2002 Fiat Stilo Dynamic from UK and Ireland - Comments

1.8 Stylo airbag warning and power steering failure.

I have sorted the airbag failure warning by disconnecting the connectors under the front seats and spraying with wd40.

I am struggling with the power steering failure, I am informed that it is an electric pump/motor that may have dirty/wet connectors???

Greetings from Denmark.

We bought a Fiat Stilo Dynamic 1,6 V in May 2006 and is first registered in 2001. It had only run 36.000 km. It was great with a used car, that hadn't been on the road so much.

But I would say it's a CRAP CAR. In a year we had the car repaired 7 Times.

Down below is mentioned the worst problems we have had in a year.

After a month the display said, Sensor Fault, Engine Fault, ABS Failure and ASR Failure?? At Fiat they tested it and said nothing was wrong. Strange we thought.

After 2 months the right front tire exploded when driving on the highway with no warning. (110km/H) It was caused bye the shock absorber broked. Fixed woth the warranty.

We also mentioned that the car is leaking oil or a lot of fluid. We didn't now if it was water from the air-condition or what. They said it was nothing, but in April 2007 they told us it was an oil leak - Didn't we told them that last year!!

On Christmas day our eninge broke down cause of ASR Failure. Then it was a new Control box and something with the starter.

In April it was on 1 year service, and they told us that we needed to have the Arms that holds the front wheels replaced?? Only run 60.000 km.

In May the car broked down again, a new starter + a lambatube to the egnition, that we had to pay ourselves cause the warranty was expired in April (Crap).

We bought it for DKR 130.000 (USD 24.000) FIAT has spend in 1 year around DKR 20.000 (USD 3.700) and we have spend around DKR 11.000 (USD 2.000)

So to conclude this we Cannot RECOMMEND THAT CAR.

Michael.

Hi, Just about to buy a 2nd hand stilo, 1.6 16v dynamic. 52 plate with 28k on clock. originally I was looking to buy a 1.2 to save on fuel, but have now spotted the 1.6 at a dealership 2hrs away and am really impressed over condition etc... can anyone advise what the mpg is on a 1.6? many thanks, karen.

Hey, just bought a Fiat Stilo 1.2 2002 model. Nice car, but again some of the above problems started to occur.

1) Firstly it started to give many errors like Engine Failure, Airbag Failure and many more. Putting a new battery into the car fixed all the problems.

2) It tends to steer to the left when driving at about 50 km/h.

3) There seems to be a loss in power at times. It mostly happens in any gear at about 2000-3000 rpm.

4) Recently AIRBAG FAILURE message appeared again. Does anyone have pictures with wires that cause this to happen. Tried playing with wires under the front seats ==> NO LUCK! Any ideas?

Hi there, Son bought Fiat Stilo 1.6V Dynamic 02 plate and been having problems with sensors, engine failure, airbag failure. Replaced crankshaft sensor as recommended by AA man but still no joy.

Car cuts out and if key removed from ignition, doors locked - opened again and restarting sometimes clears the fault. Anyone think of anything else that can cause the problems, car has only done 24,000 miles.

Hi, I own a 2002 1.6 Stilo Dynamic (although has no CD player so not sure why this is as it is standard at this level!! only has factory fitted radio) Have owned since Nov 03.

I too have the air bag issue but no-one here seems to mention the Map Sensor issue. Unless you know exactly what it is you'll spend hundreds on trying to fix it. Initially you are made aware by the engine light coming on, and the car will stall esp when in traffic or parking. The revs will go all over the place and you'll probably be thrashing it in order to keep it going while you park or move off!!! When on diagnostics it shows as a map sensor fault. Replacing the map sensor (as usually advised) is expensive. What you ACTUALLY need is a software upload from Fiat, this costs around £60. There are about 6 codes that relate to the map sensor but the upload is only for 1 of the codes (unfortunately I'm not sure exacty which one). Fiat are obviously aware of this, else why would they create the software? However, much to my annoyance, no recall has been put in place.

Other issues I've had (apart from the above):

Both rear door locks needing fixing/replacing (one I couldn't open, the other I couldn't close!) £104 to fix one & replace the other.

Air con: Cracked pipe - quoted around £375 to fix (I'll open a window!) In addition to this, the "blowers" in dashboard are not as powerful - this I'm told is a separate issue to the air con.

Rear driver side window- regulator broken (will not use this window for above!)

With the airbag, another mechanic told me that in some models its the switch thingy that breaks as its only plastic. This is located on side of dashboard which is visable when you open the passenger door - its whats used to turn off the airbag if using a babyseat. My airbag issue is in the seat itself as mentioned by another reviewer.

I've had a little plastic bit replaced in the clutch pedal (ratchet thingy), this cost another £60 to fix and was a TINY piece of plastic!

Apart from all of that, it is actually an OK car. It was off the road for about 8 months when my partner died, and would have started straight off if it wasn't for the battery. Once battery was sorted, it passed its MOT with no problems. Its now on about 57k miles and doing OK (I just want my air con!

Hope this is helpful, Kind Regards RR.

Please someone help!!or advise?

Just bought fiat stilo 1.6 dyn 52 plate done 63000 had it 3 and half weeks problems so far:

1.was driving it for about 50mins was on uphill start at traffic lights car completely cut out!had to wait ten minutes before it would start again!

2.today car started jerking then signal coming up as engine failure and loose connection.

Can anyone please enlighten me as had in garage 3 times already and they said only thing wrong was air vent or something to do with that but they tidied it up best as they could!!had it in garage last wk for 3 days as car kept going onto checking mode and not letting me start it but ran fine in garage for three days!!is it just me can anyone shed me some advice!!

Bought a fiat stilo -it now does about 2 litres a month in oil -no-one can find the problem -that includes fiat dealers!!!

AND THE ENGINE FAULT AND THE AIRBAG PROBLEMS ARE JUST RUN OF THE MILL NOW -NOT TO SAY THAT THE COILS GO ONCE EVERY 18 MONTHS

Stilo LOOSE CONNECTION!!! If the engine cuts out while the car is running and won't start until it gets cold. I would suggest to change the Crank Sensor. It happens a few times before it gets worse.

Cost 28 pounds for the part plus labour.

Air mass meter would cause car to cut out or suddenly lose power. Went through all the same problems on a Vauxhall Corsa. Got Vauxhalls to diagnose the problem (£50) but they wanted £240 - yes £240 for an air mass meter. The exact same Bosch part cost £70 from autofactors and took 10 minutes to fit. Runs like a dream now.

I have Fiat Stilo Dynamic, can anyone tell me why I have to top up the water reservoir every week, had new gasket and catalytic converter installed recently, the garage cannot find a leak. Can anyone help?

Hi to all fellow Stilo sufferers... We have a 2003 1.6v. We too have the "Christmas Tree Lights" on the dashboard.. every time you turn the key it's a new surprise!!

We have also had Cracked Air-con pipe.. Coil packs "pack up" on a regular basis.. and the air bag failure light is on constantly now.. what makes it more irritating is that the volume of the warning beep (which we all hear far to often) cannot be turned off!! Min volume level = 1!!

I am an Italian car fan through and through.. but the Stilo is a real disappointment.. Great looking car with an ace interior.. Just too many "Self check" errors...