AllyAC replied on 23/04/2021 15:01
Posted on 23/04/2021 15:01
Firstly...I would have to say that I have no issues with both Fiat Professional Service Centres ( they have both done what they can… )
I received the recall notice five weeks ago for our brand new Swift 486 Edge - Fiat Ducato which we bought with 1 mile on the clock 8 months ago.
Six weeks ago, we received a recall notice for ‘faulty steering components' and reacted immediately by booking the vehicle in to a local Fiat Professional Service Centre, in March.,
I drove the motorhome a 60 mile round trip for the 15 minute inspection , to which they inspected the vehicle and told me that the recall component had ‘failed’ - however they then informed me that they could not fit the vehicle into their work shop - and that I would have to take the vehicle to another Service Centre, a further 30 miles away - via another appointment.
I then contacted the second Service Centre and explained the problem and that the vehicle had failed the inspection, however they insisted that they had to inspect the vehicle themselves.
Unfortunately, the earliest they could inspect the vehicle was 18 days later, being the 12th April.
I again collected the vehicle and drove another 30 mile trip for the 15 minute inspection and was told that the vehicle had failed, which I already knew.
I was informed that the ‘proof’ would be sent to Fiat so the repair could be authorised, with the expectation that it could take a week.
After a week I telephoned the Service Centre on Monday 19th - as I had heard nothing, who informed me that they had not had an answer from Fiat - and that it could take a further 4 weeks - and that I must not drive the vehicle.
Having booked and paid in full, in advance for two holidays (…covid etc ) before the knowledge of the Safety Recall and with time running out, I was keen to get the job done asap.
Because of the compounded delays with the vehicle not being able to be repaired back in March due to the size of the first Service Centres workshop, then the delay in the time taken to book a second inspection - and now with a further expectation of between 4 - 6 week, I decided to escalate the case.
I then contacted Fiat Customer Care on Monday 19th April by a hefty explanatory email - and Tuesday received a telephone call from Lombardy Italy explaining that a ‘case’ had been opened and they would try to obtain the part and ‘bump me up the list’ and would call me back with a date.
Today I can un-cheerfully announce that Fiat Lombardy Italy have confirmed that the component has been on back order for months… with no foreseeable date of when they will take delivery ( in Italy) from the manufacturer, which could be months - let alone ship it to Britain, then onto the Fiat Professional Service Centres.
I fail to comprehend how a vehicle like a 2.3 Fiat Ducato, the base of most vans. flatbed lorries and motorhomes in the world, don’t have this part on the shelf, having since discovered that this recall has gone on since 2019.
Therefore we now are paying £504.00 a month, an additional £120.00 a quarter storage, £500 a year insurance for the privilege of owning a brand new Swift Motorhome with 1034 miles on the clock…which is unusable and depreciating by the minute.
Anyone else enjoying the same experience... ?
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AllyAC
Motorhomer