Some quality niggles & Issues in Fiat Punto

sidindica · 14th July 2009, 13:04

rear parcel tray lock on the right side can break, its very fragile.Seen personally in 6 cars.
rubber beading on the rear door fell off in a brand new car in showroom.
front driver's seat lever cover (trim where the lever is attached) unscrewed in showroom car.
glovebox door loose in 3 cars unloaded from truck.

Fiat India, when will you learn to have decent quality control?

Ram_NP · 14th July 2009, 13:11

I think we need to wait for some more time, till good numbers of Punto's are in Road. So the real problems faced by owners can be judged after a month or two.

Hope the above problems will sorted out by Fiat,as they can not afford to mess up with quality issues with these two cars (GP and Linea).

But as pointed out Sidindica, these problems should not have been there in first place.

bblost · 14th July 2009, 13:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidindica

[list=1]

[*]rubber beading on the rear door fell off in a brand new car in showroom.

I have seen it in a Punto displayed at a Hyderabad showroom.

normally_crazy · 14th July 2009, 13:43

Sid,

You just signed your death warrant.

pb10gagan · 14th July 2009, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

Sid,

You just signed your death warrant.

ha ha..... thats true.
Sid, time for some "puntastic" bashing.

By the way, cost cutting has to show somewhere. i hope it does not show on really really important parts.

McLaren Rulez · 14th July 2009, 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

Sid,

You just signed your death warrant.

Was thinking the exact same thing

neotraveller · 14th July 2009, 13:57

Yet another thread discussing about bad plastics in the new Fiat cars.
Folks, We already know what to expect of the plastics in the Punto.
Part of the problem is the aggressive pricing and hence cost-cutting.
The plastics are all typical TATA quality. There won't be any change unless the prices of punto increase.

pb10gagan · 14th July 2009, 14:01

Thats true.
Just think about it, if they start giving decent quality plastics then it might just go to i20 crdi or jazz price levels.
who would buy it then?

McLaren Rulez · 14th July 2009, 14:06

Would it really cost that much to get some QC in place? I doubt it. Secondly, expensive feeling interiors and plastics are one thing, but robust parts can be cheap.

typeOnegative · 14th July 2009, 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by neotraveller

The plastics are all typical TATA quality.

Heard exactly the same thing from a FIAT service engineer I know.

I guess you have to pay for quality which is why I never grudged the Jazz its price.

And yeah ... Sid, you are finished now!

neotraveller · 14th July 2009, 14:10

I met with a person from Fiat Corporate quality when I complained about poor plastics in Linea.

Here's what he told me:
- All these plastics are controlled by TATA and their parts-dealers.
- They had to cut corners somewhere after giving so much for so less
- The plastics aren't as bad as they look. They did some stress-testing to qualify them.
- In any case if anything breaks, they'll replace it under warranty.

This seems to be the situation. So don't expect any improvements just as yet.

normally_crazy · 14th July 2009, 14:13

FIAT gets away scot free if Tata controls the interior plastics ? Nice.

How does it matter whether it's TATA or FIAT who is controlling the quality ? If the Punto is positioned a step above the Indica - there should be better parts inside , no ? Or is that expecting a lot ?

coolboy007 · 14th July 2009, 14:18

Ah one more Fiat thread

When the plastic quality is average in Linea their C segment model, i dont expect better plastics in Punto by any chance.

If they improve, they may improve Linea first and then Punto.
Cost cutting is evident with the problem in such parts.

We have so many Punto threads out here, lets see which owner breaks what if it happens. Even i was told that seat height adjuster of Linea can break easily but till now no owner has reported a broken seat height lever even more with the seat going down on its own

srishiva · 14th July 2009, 14:25

Is it the quality of the plastics or fit of these plastics. You can have less quality plastics which are bad to touch and see but could be fitted nice.
Did TATA force FIAT to use such items. How come nothing falls off on Vista?

typeOnegative · 14th July 2009, 14:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

FIAT gets away scot free if ... Or is that expecting a lot ?

Yes. Even you have signed the death warrant my friend.

On a serious note, I think that Tata does have a lot of say in what is used. 50% of the profits are theirs right?

14th July 2009, 13:04	#1
sidindica Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 4,902 Thanked: 8,348 Times	Some quality niggles & Issues in Fiat Punto rear parcel tray lock on the right side can break, its very fragile.Seen personally in 6 cars. rubber beading on the rear door fell off in a brand new car in showroom. front driver's seat lever cover (trim where the lever is attached) unscrewed in showroom car. glovebox door loose in 3 cars unloaded from truck. Fiat India, when will you learn to have decent quality control?
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 13:11	#2
Ram_NP BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kolkata Posts: 353 Thanked: 23 Times	I think we need to wait for some more time, till good numbers of Punto's are in Road. So the real problems faced by owners can be judged after a month or two. Hope the above problems will sorted out by Fiat,as they can not afford to mess up with quality issues with these two cars (GP and Linea). But as pointed out Sidindica, these problems should not have been there in first place.
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 13:43	#4
normally_crazy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,305 Thanked: 543 Times View My Garage	Sid, You just signed your death warrant.
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 13:57	#7
neotraveller BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 739 Thanked: 0 Times	Yet another thread discussing about bad plastics in the new Fiat cars. Folks, We already know what to expect of the plastics in the Punto. Part of the problem is the aggressive pricing and hence cost-cutting. The plastics are all typical TATA quality. There won't be any change unless the prices of punto increase.
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 14:01	#8
pb10gagan BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Construction Capital Posts: 370 Thanked: 13 Times	Thats true. Just think about it, if they start giving decent quality plastics then it might just go to i20 crdi or jazz price levels. who would buy it then?
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 14:06	#9
McLaren Rulez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mysore Posts: 3,465 Thanked: 5,535 Times	Would it really cost that much to get some QC in place? I doubt it. Secondly, expensive feeling interiors and plastics are one thing, but robust parts can be cheap.
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 14:10	#11
neotraveller BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 739 Thanked: 0 Times	From the Horse's mouth ... I met with a person from Fiat Corporate quality when I complained about poor plastics in Linea. Here's what he told me: - All these plastics are controlled by TATA and their parts-dealers. - They had to cut corners somewhere after giving so much for so less - The plastics aren't as bad as they look. They did some stress-testing to qualify them. - In any case if anything breaks, they'll replace it under warranty. This seems to be the situation. So don't expect any improvements just as yet.
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 14:13	#12
normally_crazy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,305 Thanked: 543 Times View My Garage	FIAT gets away scot free if Tata controls the interior plastics ? Nice. How does it matter whether it's TATA or FIAT who is controlling the quality ? If the Punto is positioned a step above the Indica - there should be better parts inside , no ? Or is that expecting a lot ?
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 14:18	#13
coolboy007 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,851 Thanked: 2,144 Times	Ah one more Fiat thread When the plastic quality is average in Linea their C segment model, i dont expect better plastics in Punto by any chance. If they improve, they may improve Linea first and then Punto. Cost cutting is evident with the problem in such parts. We have so many Punto threads out here, lets see which owner breaks what if it happens. Even i was told that seat height adjuster of Linea can break easily but till now no owner has reported a broken seat height lever even more with the seat going down on its own
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 14:25	#14
srishiva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 4,372 Thanked: 2,260 Times	Is it the quality of the plastics or fit of these plastics. You can have less quality plastics which are bad to touch and see but could be fitted nice. Did TATA force FIAT to use such items. How come nothing falls off on Vista?
	() Thanks