2004 Fiat Punto Active from UK and Ireland - Comments

I bought the car in April 2005, so the weather wasn't too bad. It came to September, and I had quite a big pool of water in the back passenger foot well. This is a continuous problem, and Fiat cannot fix it.

It's been 7 months now. Rain enters on the left side, and I suggested replacing both seals, and if it still continues, both doors. I was told that it is not cost effective to replace parts if they cannot prove that they are faulty, but it seems like a huge waste of money to pay men to hold a hose over my car for hours at a time, on more than one occasion, trying to find a leak. The money spent could have paid for a door and a new seal.

Constant rattling of the radio unit.

Rattling of the left hand side passenger door.

Screeching noise began a few weeks ago every time I turn left.

Nothing mechanical has gone wrong with the car (with the exception of the new wheel noise when I turn left, which is my only complaint).

Great fun to drive, although seats are a bit uncomfortable.

I have had enough of the leak, and although my service manager has agreed to keep repairing it even though it is out of the two year warranty, there seems to be no end in sight, and I do have to travel quite a distance to get to my Fiat garage.

I emailed Fiat UK to complain and wanted to know their policy on unrepairable manufacturing problems, but they don't care and sent me back to my service manager.

I asked if they wanted to send the car away and I would pay the difference for a new car, but they don't care and can't help, even though Renault do that for ongoing manufacturer faults in their cars.

I am hoping to trade it in tomorrow, because although I love the car, I can't go on like this any more. They are wasting my time and theirs by pretending they can fix it.

They did replace a door seal eventually, but I don't think it's the one they should have replaced, and it didn't help anyway.

After years of loyal Fiat ownership including three new Puntos, we despaired of Fiat problems, and the horrendous service and defected to Suzuki.

What a difference! Fiat make you feel that you are the problem, Suzuki cannot be more helpful.

Our family now has had four new Suzukis in two years, so Fiat have lost out due to their appalling service.

The brand has been reliable too, but when we have any problem, it is sorted quickly, efficiently and politely. Your car is returned washed too.

FIAT acronym= Fix It Again Today, Fix It Again Tomorrow!!

Or in the case of Fiat Service, don't fix it at all and go round in circles until the customer trades it in elsewhere!

Try a new Swift 1.5GLX as it compares very well against the Punto, with better build quality and equipment, as well as much better aftercare.

Our friends own them and swear by them, rather than at them!

I cannot believe all cars in the UK still do not have decent warranties (in America it's 3 years/36K miles minimum regardless of brand) and that things like the leak aren't covered by some sort of lemon law.

There is so much garbage for sale in America (mainly American cars) that if the cars didn't have somewhat decent warranties no one would buy them at all.

We have no lemon law as such, only the opportunity to reject a car that the manufacturer has had chance to fix several times and failed.

We do get 3 year warranties on most brands in the UK, it is just the fact that the dealers range from helpful and organised, to obstructive, clueless and useless.

If you read the JD Power satisfaction surveys, Fiat always fares badly, but Skoda is always top 5. You can generalise as to which brand is better for service all day long, but it is the individual garage that is important. Unfortunately, Fiat has issues, and has a history of removing franchises from basic old fashioned, experienced dealers, and giving them to new flashy dealers, who know nothing about the cars. These premises then get a bad reputation, close down, and the old dealers who have taken other franchises won't have Fiat back again.

It pains me that Fiat dealers are so bad, because I do like the cars, and can't wait to see the new 500, due 2007.

I don't think I could bring myself to trust Fiat again though, after bad experiences with them and good experiences elsewhere.

I agee with the back up & service if fiat can fix that they will become a brand winner again.

I agee with the back up & service. If Fiat can fix that, they will become a brand winner again. Their vehicles are far superior to most other brands, it's just their back up. Unfortunately you can't blame Fiat for other people's mistakes.

I think the problem is typical of most dealerships in that they are quick to sell you the car, but when you take the car back to get the problems sorted they lose interest because they are of course losing money.

I love my punto, but I hate having to get the little things sorted, but then my attitude is I paid for a functional car and won't stop hastling the dealership til I am happy with the car no matter how rude they may be!!!

I bought a new metallic blue Fiat Panda 1000S in the summer of 1991 from a large North London dealership. $6,700 (approx). I had it for two and a half years, based mainly in London and it never missed a beat. The cloth interior held up suprisingly well considering the wear and tear it got. It had a FIRE engine which loved being revved. Great little car. Cheap, economical, easy to maintain and they go forever! But yes, it did rattle! A lot! I wish they had them here in Australia. I would buy one again, but perhaps the 4X4.

The new ones don't look nearly as good!

It is not only the dealers of Fiat (who are all a complete incompetence) but also Fiat head office staff in UK. They were completely dis-interested in helping me with my recurring problems when I owned a Punto Active. And extremely rude to say the least - I was left with a car that basically had no electrical systems (exterior lights, dash lights, horn, number plate lights, etc etc) working and they couldnt care less! Needless to say I will NEVER recommend Fiat or buy another Fiat for as long as I live.