Rusting problem in Fiat Linea

coolboy007 · 16th August 2009, 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sushubh

I doubt you can discover these problems by just visiting the service station. I think I had done my research well before I got the car. I read through Fiat Linea reviews on this forum (tons of them!). read about ABS on this forum. and switch my choice from ANHC to Fiat Linea Emotion package.

argh painful times.

Why you havent started a ownership thread yet? Pissed off with Linea

See the basic and first thing you could have done was to have visited RAMA motors, Okhla the moment you felt ABS is not good. Whats the use going and trying your luck with your new car at the same service centre again and again.

Bubby went there with his palio and had a good experience, i visited there and all 3 of my problems including troubling fuel lid, broken ac vent were fixed within a short time and to my satisfaction.

Regarding expertise of tata mechanics for fiat cars, the less said the better and we all know about it. Go to RAMA and i think a mechanic Rakesh there is a specialist of fiat cars, go and get your issues solved there.
Still spare parts and diagnosis issue is not solved by fiat india which is a truth.

vigsom · 16th August 2009, 14:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parm

i visited only once to see the TASS/FASS and it was a MESS

What does MESS expand into?

Options
Most Endangered Service Station
Most E(I)ncorrigible Service Station

Rusting in a Fiat is just not on.I haven't seen a Fiat Siena or Palio require a rust repair job in seven years.What I have heard is that Maruti,Honda,Toyota and Fiat do sheet metal treatment to preserve the metal before the paint job is done.

lohithrao · 16th August 2009, 14:33

Sush looks like its a problem in making...i would suggest you to give a close check on all the doors, under the hood etc... just to be in a safer side!

coolboy007 · 16th August 2009, 14:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by vigsom

Rusting in a Fiat is just not on.I haven't seen a Fiat Siena or Palio require a rust repair job in seven years.What I have heard is that Maruti,Honda,Toyota and Fiat do sheet metal treatment to preserve the metal before the paint job is done.

Well i thought only Fiat had indulged in such cost cutting so that the underbody got rusted within days, now i see a Ford Fiesta 1.6S full of rust in frankmehta's thread. More and more manufacturers doing this, why?

vigsom · 16th August 2009, 14:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolboy007

Well i thought only Fiat had indulged in such cost cutting so that the underbody got rusted within days, now i see a Ford Fiesta 1.6S full of rust in frankmehta's thread. More and more manufacturers doing this, why?

Only the Premier Padminis and early NEs were corrosion kings.Even post1996 NEs and their last edition Viceroys had sheet metal treatment.New gen Fiats have never seen this problem.In fact Fiats of today are much more corrosion resistant than Accents,Santros,Indicas which tend to show corrosion after about 5-6 years.Can't say about Ford.

The Linea case and the 1.6S case only go to show that quality is taking a dip again.

SS-Traveller · 16th August 2009, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by vigsom

Rusting in a Fiat is just not on.

Fiat as a company has been (in)famous worldwide for producing cars which rust the quickest. Seems they are trying to keep up that image again.

Please read the fine print on your warranty document to see if it includes warranty for any period of time against corrosion. If yes, then take Fiat on about it, over breach of warranty terms. If not, there is not much you can do. Just clean and touch up the rusted area before it spreads.

Sushubh · 16th August 2009, 18:16

thanks for the suggestions. i would consider going to rama motors for services and other problems. just need to get this rusty thing resolved first.

okhla is pretty far away from gurgaon :P

i am also waiting for a possible reply from Fiat India. today was a sunday so i guess i would wait for tomorrow.

i have also mailed the ABS Motors owner (His name is Anshul. His email id was mentioned on the ABS Motors site). Let's hope he is more considerate and I can get my problems fixed without 'fighting' for it.

Sushubh · 17th August 2009, 12:59

just got a call from abs motors. they want me to bring to car to the service station for another look. i have to contact a person named ajit bhradwaj rather than the regular service guys.

i also sent the photos to the dealer from where i purchased the car. he is also going to check the damage before suggesting anything. he is in sonepat so going there would require me to take out a complete day from my schedule.

i would visit abs today and see what they have to say this time around.

joy_swift · 17th August 2009, 14:09

Susubh,

I can really feel for you since I have gone through the same problems.

I had first seen rusting in my Swift after around 18 months,service engineer did a minor repaint then.Last Sep(around 30 months),saw major rusting in my car and then had to haggle with dealer/Maruti as to who would pay for the repair.Dealer categorically said that rusting isnt covered under warranty and only if Maruti agrees would they repair it.Contacted the Maruti engineer and he also said the same that rusting isnt covered under warranty.Had to escalate to the higher authorities but Maruti at last decided to repair it and fortunately decided to bear the entire cost.

However,rusting is such a thing that it will always re-occur,so now can again see rusting in my Swift.Now I have decided enough is enough and have decided to sell it.The car never gave me a trouble except this thing but I couldnt handle it anymore.

Hope you dont have to go through the same trauma

Sushubh · 17th August 2009, 14:13

i can only hope that the rusting does not spread or occur at other parts of the car. the area which is rusting at the moment is replaceable but if it occurs on the main body, it's going to become a major hassle.

knowing the resale value of fiat cars in india, i am in a much bigger pile of crap at the moment.

i have owned two swifts. i did not face any problems with rusting. but i did face issues related to paint disappearing from some parts after 3 years of usage. i sold both the swifts to buy the linea and it's turning out to be a very bad decision on my part.

jinu_joseph · 17th August 2009, 14:13

Sushubh also check as to how old the car actually is. Check the VIN/chasis number.

amit · 18th August 2009, 11:21

I think Fiat gives warranty against rusting on all it's cars. There is no reason why they should not honour it. Of course, the fine print is what should be noted. If rusting is from inside out, it's a manufacturing defect and if manufacturer is offering warranty then they will honour it.

Rest assured, rusting is not normal - not even on Fiats. I had a Palio for almost 6 years and there was no rusting anywhere. This is a problem and needs to be sorted out. If dealers are clueless, apporach Fiat directly.

AbhiJ · 18th August 2009, 11:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by amit

If dealers are clueless, apporach Fiat directly.

I agree. Contact Fiat. If you emails are not bearing fruit, call. Note down names and designations of all people you talk to, and send them pictures + a link to this thread.

Sushubh · 18th August 2009, 13:38

i have discussed with both my original dealer and abs motors in gurgaon.

abs guy inspected the spot. took photos told me to come in 2 days time.

the photos are to be sent to fiat company.

he said that he would get the car thoroughly cleaned up to see if the problem exists at any other location as well.

about the boot, the area where lid shuts down... there is some unpolished area. he said that the paint was damaged because of that unpolished area.

he plans to get that area smoothened up and as for the rusted area... he is going to get some anti-rust treatment with a touchup.

i am just not sure about the replacement option. the paint mismatch between the car and the replaced boot is going to be very much visible. and if they manage to fix the problem at this spot on the boot... that should make it ok for me?

i just cannot make up my mind. my dad is in favor of the patchup because he knows any mess up with the paint job of the replaced boot would drive me nuts in the future.

amit · 18th August 2009, 17:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sushubh

i am just not sure about the replacement option. the paint mismatch between the car and the replaced boot is going to be very much visible.

Why are you assuming that there will be a paint mismatch? ASC's are the best place for painting work, their results will be closest to manufacturer's. If you are so uncomfortable then talk to Fiat about it. Right now they are bending over backwards to keep their customer's happy and I am sure they will give you a patient ear. You could check out different dealers paint facilities if that will help you gain faith in the dealer's paint quality.

16th August 2009, 14:33	#33
lohithrao Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kudla/Mangaluru Posts: 3,204 Thanked: 225 Times View My Garage	Sush looks like its a problem in making...i would suggest you to give a close check on all the doors, under the hood etc... just to be in a safer side!
	() Thanks

16th August 2009, 18:16	#37
Sushubh BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 138 Thanked: 6 Times	thanks for the suggestions. i would consider going to rama motors for services and other problems. just need to get this rusty thing resolved first. okhla is pretty far away from gurgaon :P i am also waiting for a possible reply from Fiat India. today was a sunday so i guess i would wait for tomorrow. i have also mailed the ABS Motors owner (His name is Anshul. His email id was mentioned on the ABS Motors site). Let's hope he is more considerate and I can get my problems fixed without 'fighting' for it. Last edited by Sushubh : 16th August 2009 at 18:25.
	() Thanks

17th August 2009, 12:59	#38
Sushubh BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 138 Thanked: 6 Times	just got a call from abs motors. they want me to bring to car to the service station for another look. i have to contact a person named ajit bhradwaj rather than the regular service guys. i also sent the photos to the dealer from where i purchased the car. he is also going to check the damage before suggesting anything. he is in sonepat so going there would require me to take out a complete day from my schedule. i would visit abs today and see what they have to say this time around.
	() Thanks

17th August 2009, 14:09	#39
joy_swift BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 342 Thanked: 95 Times	Susubh, I can really feel for you since I have gone through the same problems. I had first seen rusting in my Swift after around 18 months,service engineer did a minor repaint then.Last Sep(around 30 months),saw major rusting in my car and then had to haggle with dealer/Maruti as to who would pay for the repair.Dealer categorically said that rusting isnt covered under warranty and only if Maruti agrees would they repair it.Contacted the Maruti engineer and he also said the same that rusting isnt covered under warranty.Had to escalate to the higher authorities but Maruti at last decided to repair it and fortunately decided to bear the entire cost. However,rusting is such a thing that it will always re-occur,so now can again see rusting in my Swift.Now I have decided enough is enough and have decided to sell it.The car never gave me a trouble except this thing but I couldnt handle it anymore. Hope you dont have to go through the same trauma
	() Thanks

17th August 2009, 14:13	#40
Sushubh BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 138 Thanked: 6 Times	i can only hope that the rusting does not spread or occur at other parts of the car. the area which is rusting at the moment is replaceable but if it occurs on the main body, it's going to become a major hassle. knowing the resale value of fiat cars in india, i am in a much bigger pile of crap at the moment. i have owned two swifts. i did not face any problems with rusting. but i did face issues related to paint disappearing from some parts after 3 years of usage. i sold both the swifts to buy the linea and it's turning out to be a very bad decision on my part.
	() Thanks

17th August 2009, 14:13	#41
jinu_joseph BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 421 Thanked: 188 Times	Sushubh also check as to how old the car actually is. Check the VIN/chasis number.
	() Thanks

18th August 2009, 11:21	#42
amit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 3,717 Thanked: 449 Times	I think Fiat gives warranty against rusting on all it's cars. There is no reason why they should not honour it. Of course, the fine print is what should be noted. If rusting is from inside out, it's a manufacturing defect and if manufacturer is offering warranty then they will honour it. Rest assured, rusting is not normal - not even on Fiats. I had a Palio for almost 6 years and there was no rusting anywhere. This is a problem and needs to be sorted out. If dealers are clueless, apporach Fiat directly.
	() Thanks

18th August 2009, 13:38	#44
Sushubh BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 138 Thanked: 6 Times	i have discussed with both my original dealer and abs motors in gurgaon. abs guy inspected the spot. took photos told me to come in 2 days time. the photos are to be sent to fiat company. he said that he would get the car thoroughly cleaned up to see if the problem exists at any other location as well. about the boot, the area where lid shuts down... there is some unpolished area. he said that the paint was damaged because of that unpolished area. he plans to get that area smoothened up and as for the rusted area... he is going to get some anti-rust treatment with a touchup. i am just not sure about the replacement option. the paint mismatch between the car and the replaced boot is going to be very much visible. and if they manage to fix the problem at this spot on the boot... that should make it ok for me? i just cannot make up my mind. my dad is in favor of the patchup because he knows any mess up with the paint job of the replaced boot would drive me nuts in the future.
	() Thanks