Fiat 500 Used Car Help
Discussion
Hello!
8 weeks ago I bought a 2012 Fiat 500 from a nationwide dealership. It only had 22000 miles and generally looked in good condition. Test drives were not permitted at the time. On the way back from purchasing the car, a ‘check engine’ light came on briefly on the motorway, but went off again. A few days later, I was on the motorway again, and when I reached 70-75mph, the check engine light flashed and beeped and then stayed on.
I rung the dealer who took it the next day and checked it, only to say it was an old fault that just needed to be cleared. Okay.
Gradually over the next few weeks I felt little niggles, but put that to it being 9 years old and me having not driven for 2 years due to epilepsy, such as the odd scuff not spotted originally or the car being a bit wobbly on high speed roads. But then one day I started the car and a plume of blue smoke came out of the back - it came right past my window. This happened the day after upon starting it on the driveway - I got my husband to check this time. And then it happened a few days later. So we booked it in to the same company but a more local franchaise (5 miles rather than the 30 miles where we bought it) and, on the way, went a way which involved navigating residential speed bumps (the gentle up-across-down ones). The noise that the car made really shocked me. Something sounded broken underneath and the squeaking alongside the bouncing suspension. So we turned up explaining that there was another problem.
Anyway, after 8 hours with the car, I phoned for an update. They said that no problem was detected from the smoke (it didn’t do it there) but there was a suspension problem at the front and they would be replacing some parts.
I really have lost all confidence in this car and have a horrible feeling that they tried to wipe a problem when the original ‘check engine’ light came on. The original dealership are saying that service check was not a “fix” and this is the first proper fix of the car, so with that, and it being more than 30 days since purchase, I have to let them try to fix it. I can’t return it.
Any advice would be appreciated.
8 weeks ago I bought a 2012 Fiat 500 from a nationwide dealership. It only had 22000 miles and generally looked in good condition. Test drives were not permitted at the time. On the way back from purchasing the car, a ‘check engine’ light came on briefly on the motorway, but went off again. A few days later, I was on the motorway again, and when I reached 70-75mph, the check engine light flashed and beeped and then stayed on.
I rung the dealer who took it the next day and checked it, only to say it was an old fault that just needed to be cleared. Okay.
Gradually over the next few weeks I felt little niggles, but put that to it being 9 years old and me having not driven for 2 years due to epilepsy, such as the odd scuff not spotted originally or the car being a bit wobbly on high speed roads. But then one day I started the car and a plume of blue smoke came out of the back - it came right past my window. This happened the day after upon starting it on the driveway - I got my husband to check this time. And then it happened a few days later. So we booked it in to the same company but a more local franchaise (5 miles rather than the 30 miles where we bought it) and, on the way, went a way which involved navigating residential speed bumps (the gentle up-across-down ones). The noise that the car made really shocked me. Something sounded broken underneath and the squeaking alongside the bouncing suspension. So we turned up explaining that there was another problem.
Anyway, after 8 hours with the car, I phoned for an update. They said that no problem was detected from the smoke (it didn’t do it there) but there was a suspension problem at the front and they would be replacing some parts.
I really have lost all confidence in this car and have a horrible feeling that they tried to wipe a problem when the original ‘check engine’ light came on. The original dealership are saying that service check was not a “fix” and this is the first proper fix of the car, so with that, and it being more than 30 days since purchase, I have to let them try to fix it. I can’t return it.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Sorry, but it sounds like you just regret buying the car. A nationwide dealership will offer a one year warranty on a used car. They're fixing the problem with the suspension, and the "bouncing suspension" as you called it is a characteristic of the Fiat 500 - they're known for having an extremely jiggly ride.
If the engine light doesn't show a fault code then there's nothing the garage can do unless it appears when they've got the car. I know that's annoying, but it's the way it works.
If the engine light doesn't show a fault code then there's nothing the garage can do unless it appears when they've got the car. I know that's annoying, but it's the way it works.
On the contrary, I love the car. I don’t regret buying it. I’m just worried that the dealership have been covering up problems which existed before I bought it. We’ve been in touch with them today to ask for the exact fault code that was detected when the engine warning light came on, after which they cleared it because it was “an old fault”. Now they’re scampering through paperwork to find it. A local garage are giving me advice over the phone.
Sreed86 said:
Chris32345 said:
What engine is in the car as that will massively affect what the possible issues Could be
1.2 petrolAs far as the creaky suspension goes, mine does that. I find it vaguely irritating but it doesn't worry me much as it'll be fairly easy to replace the ball joints or whatever.
At speed, mine feels very planted. I drove it 200 miles home down the M1 and it was surprisingly stable. For yours, it could be one of a number of things. Worn ball joints, bad steering alignment, cheapo tyres being the most likely.
Good luck!
AC43 said:
I bought a 2015 500 last September with the 1.2 as it's reputed to be the most reliable engine. Mine's on 16.5k. I've never had a warning light and neither has it smoked.
As far as the creaky suspension goes, mine does that. I find it vaguely irritating but it doesn't worry me much as it'll be fairly easy to replace the ball joints or whatever.
At speed, mine feels very planted. I drove it 200 miles home down the M1 and it was surprisingly stable. For yours, it could be one of a number of things. Worn ball joints, bad steering alignment, cheapo tyres being the most likely.
Good luck!
Thank you!As far as the creaky suspension goes, mine does that. I find it vaguely irritating but it doesn't worry me much as it'll be fairly easy to replace the ball joints or whatever.
At speed, mine feels very planted. I drove it 200 miles home down the M1 and it was surprisingly stable. For yours, it could be one of a number of things. Worn ball joints, bad steering alignment, cheapo tyres being the most likely.
Good luck!
We just traded in our fiat 500 having had it from new. The build quality was shocking and the car had numerous little niggles. The sump had corroded and was starting to leak oil (car only 3 years old). This is a known fault on them and fiat wanted £485 to fix. I asked for some goodwill as we had the car serviced at fiat however it was rejected.
Would never buy fiat again.
Would never buy fiat again.
Give them time to fix it. you have a years warranty so work through the issues so that you have it in tip top shape before the warranty expires.
City cars wear through their suspension at an alarming rate (Pot holes speed humps kerbs etc) also get them to check the engine/top mounts too.
City cars wear through their suspension at an alarming rate (Pot holes speed humps kerbs etc) also get them to check the engine/top mounts too.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff