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Fiat
Many UK cars begin their lives on rental fleets. First thing that breaks is the cassette lid. Bravos (three-door) were about £1,000 dearer than more practical (five-door) Bravas in 1999, but difference fell to much less by 2002. Bravas can be affected by side winds. Two-Star below-average performance in NCAP crash tests. Small number of cars have suffered from faulty engine speed sensor leading to erratic running and cut-outs. Timing belt changes on 5-cylinder HGTs are a very expensive, engine-out job and all Bravos/Bravas MUST have a timing belt and tensioner change every 3 years or 36,000 miles whichever comes first. Need frequent oil changes to avoid carbon build up in oil feed pipe to camshaft. Came joint bottom with Marea in 2001 ADAC list 2001 of cars which break down most on German autobahns. Problems with plastic thermostat housing on earlier models which lead to localised overheating not picked up by temperature sensor and may result in head gasket failure. Reports of wrong size pistons having bewen fitted to 80bhp 1.2 engines. Also problems with throttle potentiometer, throttle body and airt pressure sensor of 1.2 16v. S and T plate Bravo 11th from bottom in 2001 Top Gear / J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Survey. See website: www.fiatbravo.org.uk FIAT/Alfa joint worst for breakdowns attended by German ADAC during 2001. Replaced by Stilo early 2002. 7th from Bottom of 100 models for reliability in Auto Express 2002 survey. Bravo 5th from Bottom, Brava 13th from Bottom in 144 car 2002 JD Power / What Car? Customer Satisfaction Survey of V and W reg cars. 95-97 poor for breakdowns and problems, average for faults; 98-2000 poor for breakdowns, average for problems and faults in 2003 Which survey. Bravo 13th from bottom, Brava 21st from bottom out of 137 models in 2003 Top Gear survey. Bravo bottom model in 2004 JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey. Brava 5th bottom model in 2004 JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey. 2004 Which? quote: "Almost comically unpopular with people who've bought one. Poor blighters."
Fiat Punto
Choppy ride quality. Handling and roadholding not as good as the latest Fiestas. 90 Sporting has mismatched engine. 'Space saver' emergency wheel not liked by Brits. Rear brake adjusters a bit gimpy, as with Uno. Selecta CVT auto is excellent in both theory and practice, but can become troublesome. Diesels not brilliant. Bonnet releases break (see Uno). Hydraulic clutch slave cylinder may develop a leak. Clutch and transmission problems common. High number of cylinder head gasket failures being registered. Franchised dealers thin on the ground and not always helpful. Isolated report of front suspension wishbone collapse. If heater matrix fails it may leak onto the ECU immobilising the car. Electric sunroofs prone to failure. Possibility of brake master cylinder seal reversing itself leading to momentary but total loss of braking. Seal then flips back and braking is normal. FIAT dealers have renewed master cylinders when the problem was reported by owners. Seems to have been a spate of sumps rusting through on four year old Puntos. Spate of ECU. lambda sensor, injection potentiometer, temperature sender and throttle body problems. Rear suspension arm bushes wear and are expensive to replace. rear subfrfame mounting bushes also wear, but FIAT does an additional "helper" bush, which fits round the original (Part 46476755 £13.59 plus VAT a side). Looks like short section of 2½ inch hose on a plate. Easy DIY job. Pattern part also available from motor factors. FIAT/Alfa joint worst for breakdowns attended by German ADAC during 2001. 12th from Bottom of 100 models for reliability in Auto Express 2002 survey. Rated average for breakdowns and problems, poor for faults in 2003 Which survey. FIAT Punto 1994-1999 10th least reliable car in 2005 Warranty Direct Reliability Survey with 48 repair claims per 100 cars
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