Delivery Issues

[SeaDawg]

Don't know why this didn't catch my attention when I picked the car up as it is on the driver side, but took notice within 48 hours and sent photo to sales manager last Friday.  Awaiting word back from dealer.  Plastic cladding that runs below door is actually deformed at rear of driver side door and if you look closely you can see a 1-2" line of damaged paint on the outer door sill where the cladding would normally come in contact with the body.  It's tight against the body for the entire length of the cladding on the passenger side, as it should be.

[SeaDawg]

Called the Sales Manager Tim R. for a status update this afternoon.  He is still waiting for a resolution from Chrysler.  He sent them the photo and then after my reporting the problem last week he says they received one off the truck with the same problem.  They expedited that report to Chrysler, which produced serious concern with regard to quality control, etc..  Which does two things: 1. It validates I didn't do it in the day and a half after delivery before I sent him the picture. and 2.  It apparently wasn't a one time occurrence.

As someone else stated 'the ball is rolling'.

[RacerRon]

An interesting problem SeaDawg. I don't know why Fiat didn't catch that problem in production. I have been monitoring the European Fiat 500 forums, and I haven't seen any mention of this type of problem, so it could just just a problem for the NA version. Keep us posted on Fiat's response.

[cogtooth]

As for quality control, I haven't had any problems.  Did others get the sticker that i got that states:

This vehicle has been subjected to a Quality Assurance Test.  An important part of our Quality Improvement Process is a daily review of vehicles as they roll off our assembly lines.  Vehicles are selected at random and tested to verify that the quality of each vehicle meets the high standards that you expect.  Each vehicle is driven not more than 65 miles/100 kilometers for evaluation under actual driving conditions.

Mine was a custom ordered 500, and it came with 44 miles and pretty low mpg on the computer, so they were not as gentle as my break-in gas mileage.

[SeaDawg]

RacerRon wrote

An interesting problem SeaDawg. I don't know why Fiat didn't catch that problem in production. I have been monitoring the European Fiat 500 forums, and I haven't seen any mention of this type of problem, so it could just just a problem for the NA version. Keep us posted on Fiat's response.

Different build plant so it could very well be the cause.  Since the dealership got another car damaged in the same way I think Chrysler/Fiat QC will be ON IT.

In transit damage could also be the culprit, however, if it is then it is probably an improper procedure being used.

[SeaDawg]

Got a call this morning from Tim R. Sales Manager for Sunset Fiat over in Sarasota.  He is going to have their body shop take the cladding strip from another new 500 to replace the damaged one on mine instead of waiting for Chrysler to get back with their solution.  I'll be motoring over early next Wednesday morning and they should have it done the same day.  I'll post AFTER photos once the repair is complete.

[RacerRon]

Reminds me of a wheel bearing problem the early X1/9s had in the 70s. Some of the cars had high failure rates after only a few thousand miles. This was only a problem with the U.S. versions of the X1/9. All the cars were made at the Bertone factory in Italy, but Fiat Spa didn't even know that there was a problem with the U.S.-bound cars until years later. Hopefully, there will be better communication with the Fiat higher-ups and the Mexico plant.

[SeaDawg]

RacerRon wrote

 Hopefully, there will be better communication with the Fiat higher-ups and the Mexico plant.

Oh, I think there will be.  The dealer forwarded my photos and even received another vehicle off the transporter with the same problem.  Also I gave Chris (Fiat500) my VIN to forward to Chrysler.

[SeaDawg]

I suggest STRONGLY carrying a tire pressure gage you trust with you to delivery.  I didn't as my digital gages battery had gone dead and the GM car displayed actual tire pressures from the TPMS so I didn't really need one.  Also I tend to distrust the pencil stick gages.

Yesterday I bought a new digital tire gage as the 500 doesn't give you a tire pressure readout.  Tonight I backed out of the garage and proceeded to check the tires for the 1st time since picking up the car in Sarasota over 200 miles ago.  I was SHOCKED to find out that all 4 tires basically read 40 psi per tire.  No wonder it seemed a little 'jittery' on the super slab.  Adjusted to 35 Front and 32 Rear (tire placard 30).  Ride is much more comfortable, even on well paved city streets.

[George #409]

Hi SeaDawg.  I just wanted to let both you and Chris know that I have the same issue on my car too.  On the driver's side in the same location as your photo the bottom cladding is loose and is not fitting snug up against the body of the car properly.  There is probably about a good 1/8" to 3/16" of a gap.  The passenger sides is OK.  Chris, the VIN # of my car is 3C3CFFBR4CT500409.

So far with regards to quality control I have several items that should not be present in this car and I hope that Fiat has already fixed these problems in the cars that they are making now and I also hope that they will fix them retroactive for the cars that already have the problems.  My hood is making contact with the fender and headlights in six areas.  The drivers side body cladding is not fitting propely to the car.  There is a vibration noise from the center area of the dash.  The bumpers don't align properly with the fenders both front and back.  The chrome tip on the exhaust isn't aligned properly.  All of these things need to be attended to by Fiat if quality is to be regarded as job number one, which it has to be or success will not be attained in the long run.

Chris, I did complete the online survey and Fiat said they would call me regarding the feedback that I made in the survey but I haven't received a call from Fiat yet.  I know of someone else who received a call last week and he also has a Prima Edizione car.  I hope that Fiat is still planning to give me a call because I would like to discuss these issues with them.  My car also has a dent on the body panel behind the drivers door that was there when I picked up the car but I didn't notice it until I had the car at home in my garage the next day.  

Just to make it clear to anyone who reads this post, I am a very strong Fiat supporter and I have been looking forward to Fiat returning to the USA and Canada for 27 years.  I really enjoy driving the new Fiat 500 and I really like the car.  I strongly disagree with too many of the negative comments and negative suggestions comming from too many of the automotive journalists out there.  There have been several intelligent and sensible reviews on the new Fiat 500 but there has also been too many negative ones.  I believe that people should be fair and honest and that is what I am trying to be.  While I am a Fiat enthusiast, I still can recognize a problem if I see one and I feel that Fiat has to stand behind their product if they want to keep the Fiat enthusiasts that currently exist and win over many new Fiat enthusiasts.

[SeaDawg]

George #409 wrote

Hi SeaDawg.  I just wanted to let both you and Chris know that I have the same issue on my car too.  On the driver's side in the same location as your photo the bottom cladding is loose and is not fitting snug up against the body of the car properly.  There is probably about a good 1/8" to 3/16" of a gap.  The passenger sides is OK.  

Yes, there's a problem somewhere.  My delivering dealer received one off the truck the same as ours after I notified them of the problem with mine.

Speaking of which, the saga continues.  I drove over to Sarasota this morning, early, so they could fix the cladding, side skirt problem.  After 3 hours they filled it up with gas (which I wasn't expecting) and said it was ready, which it certainly looked like it was...BUT, after the trip back to Orlando I got out and the new piece they took off another car and which had been snug had pulled away from the body.  I assume from a combination of the heat it was over 90 degrees on the road and the air rushing along the bottom of the door at 65-75 MPH for 2 1/2 hours.  I immediately emailed the Sales Manager and apprised him of the situation.  Tim Reeher is a young man and a VERY customer oriented individual.  He is going to send an employee in a loaner over to Orlando from Sarasota to pickup the car and leave the loaner for me to use and take mine back to the shop and make sure the fix is FIXED this time.  I wish they weren't 2 hours away...I'd take my car to them for service in a heartbeat!

That's Sunset Fiat of Sarasota FL!

[jamesday24]

My Prima is like this as well, but not too severe.  I did point it out to Fields FIAT.  I don't really want the piece replaced, just taped/glued better.

[SeaDawg]

jamesday24 wrote

My Prima is like this as well, but not too severe.  I did point it out to Fields FIAT.  I don't really want the piece replaced, just taped/glued better.

My original piece was actually deformed away from the body where you see it in the photo and they wouldn't have been able to just glue it back in place.  The new piece just let go due to heat and wind turbulence because the glue either wasn't strong enough and/or it didn't have time to 'set' before I got back on the Super Slab to come home.  They'll be picking up the car this Friday and hopefully by early next week, after Memorial Day, the final fix will be done.

Considering some of the 'issues' you guys/gals with the PE's are experiencing I am feeling NO pain.