Technical Multipla Recall Front Springs Breaking

[taxiadam]

http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/searches/search.asp
I found this on the VOSA website which is a government website. Maybe you could point the dealer in this direction or print it out and show them?
All you need to do is select the correct boxes with the make and model (don't need other stuff) and it will show you all recalls for that vehicle.

 

[uglybug]

Cheers Taxiadam, I have had a look at the VOSA site and although the last 8 digits of my VIN number fall within the band the first 3 letter are slightly different, Mine is SFA on the VOSA site it is ZFA... I assume this means mine would not be covered.

Fiat UK have told me that the vehicle is too old to be covered, although I think this is just an excuse personally, my car is 8 years old and the recall was issued at frist for vehicles that were already 7 years old.

 

[T14086]

SFA is yours a import?

I could well be wrong but I think this recall (4995) might be closed/finished?

 

[kick ass]

does it matter if your not the orignal owner of the multipla has not had it done ???? and if the new owner found the falut out but the prevouse owner did nothing about it could fiat do something ?????

 

[taxiadam]

I don't think it matters if your not the original owner and I don't know when a recall is closed or finished. From the vosa site it says in one bit-"Suppliers will notify VOSA of the response rate at three monthly intervals, until the recall action is complete or it is mutually agreed that the campaign be closed for reporting purposes."

The vosa webiste does contain a phone number -
If you believe you have experienced a safety defect due to a deficiency in the design or construction of your automotive product, please contact VOSA on 0117 9543300 or complete a report form (a link to which is on the website) or email vsb@vosa.gov.uk so that we may assess whether or not we can take the matter forward.

Hope this helps

 

[taxiadam]

On a side note when using http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/default.asp?tx=
Take a look at Bentley, Ferrari or Porsche. They all have recalls too, no that must be expensive!

 

[Shepherd]

I still think the breaking springs on the Multipla which many of us have experienced including myself is due to the sheer strain they are under. When my mechanic (with approx 30 years experience) fitted my new springs he said he has never had to compress springs so much as he had to on the Multipla. When you think of it, it makes sense - how many cars have three seats in the front that can hold 3 adults? Lets say for example that three adults each weighing 25 stone were seated in the front seats of the Multipla, don't you think the designers took that into account when designing the suspension? If the springs were normal tension the car could easily roll going around a bend at speed with such weight in the front. Food for thought.

 

[Peat]

Lets say for example that three adults each weighing 25 stone were seated in the front seats of the Multipla. . . .
Food for thought.

It most certainly is

 

[Zundapp]

It's nothing much to do with any strains that Multipla springs in particular are under.

These springs break because of cheap manufacturing, the springs simply have the ends cropped and left unfinished, not tapered and flattened as used to be the case. The tapering and flattening allowed stresses in use to disperse, giving the spring a much greater life span. But cost more.

Note that these springs do not break due to road salt - they haven't rusted away, they snap! Nor is it due to speed humps, springs break on vehicles that have never seen a speed hump...

Many vehicles fitted with European made springs suffer from premature spring breakage and many vehicle manufacturers have safety recalls to replace these defective items. Sadly, the broken springs are simply replaced with a similar item, which will often break again further on in the life of the vehicle. Some maufacturers (Citroen comes to mind) at the recall also fit a cup to contain the spring and prevent it moving and puncturing a front tyre when it subsequently breaks. So the expectation is that it may well break again!

Fortunately, most springs break when the vehicle is stationary or just moving off. But not always!

 

[shedtastic]

Glad I read this thread, I looked up the recalls on the VOSA saite as instructed

http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/re...&cboAscDesc=ASC&PageSize=10&tx=&Search=Search

identified the two that applied to my chassis number and phoned Fiat on 00800 3428 0000 and got through to a nice lady who confirmed that the recalls had been carried out and gave me the dates. Also managed to list all the repair work that had been carried out on my car in the Fiat network (repairs, not servicing) which only spanned 3 years (I guess it then dropped out of the main dealer network) but comprised of 9 visits (including the two recalls..) mostly for Air Conditioning issues, front anti roll bar issues, a new ignition key barrel and a replacement handbrake cable assembly.. Not an impressively short list!

So thanks for this!

Neil

 

[myolddutch]

sorry just want to be clear on this, it's diesels only that are being recalled if your chassis number tallies, I have just bought a Y 01 plate 100elx, experiencing a knocking sound at low speeds from front, sure I read a thread saying this could be the rubber perishing or something to that end??

 

[Mad Hatter]

SFA is yours a import?

I could well be wrong but I think this recall (4995) might be closed/finished?

I had mine done on a 51 plate last month without any problem. Simonstone Bristol were very helpfull and even gave me a courtsey car for the day, a mini Multipla aka Panda

 

[ricky5000]

I had mine done on a 51 plate last month without any problem. Simonstone Bristol were very helpfull and even gave me a courtsey car for the day, a mini Multipla aka Panda

Did they do it free of charge after all this time? I only ask because one of my front springs seems to have gone and I was unaware of the recall until now. Simonstone will also be my port of call tomorrow.

 

[Peat]

Just a note to tell all and sundry that I had my front springs replaced just over three years ago.

As I pulled away from the house on Saturday evening doing about 15mph on smooth tarmac there was a bl**dy great crack as the off side front spring sheared in two.

The upper portion dropped below the spring pan but 'luckily' it was on the inside of the strut otherwise it would certainly have destroyed the tyre, it having a shape like a chisel and just as sharp!

Unfortunately there is nothing one can do to prevent this happening even with an inspection every day.

I shudder to think what may happen at 70 on a motorway if the spring snags the tyre and snatches the steering wheel out of your hand.

Perhaps it's time to consider changing to another vehicle.

I'll take a photo and display if anyone would like to see it.

Meanwhile, be careful out there!

Peat

 

[T14086]

i have only known springs to go at low speed/moving off..2 went on multipla i was moving off in

 

[Zundapp]

As I pulled away from the house on Saturday evening doing about 15mph on smooth tarmac there was a bl**dy great crack as the off side front spring sheared in two.

Snap! Quite literally. Like Peat, my springs were replaced just over three years ago. Today I removed the front wheels to do the brake pads and found the o/s front spring had snapped, though it was still holding in roughly it's position.

Proof positive that a 'safety recall' fails to require that vehicle manufacturers actually improve the defective/dangerous part. But we all knew that anyway, didn't we...

 

[Zundapp]

Just been on the phone to FIAT re my broken spring. I suggested it was unrealistic (and dangerous) that FIAT fitted replacement springs with a life-span of less than four years.

The very nice and helpful chap I spoke to suggested that I contact my local dealership, explain the situation, and FIAT UK may well offer to assist with some of the cost. How nice.

However, I can get a road spring supplied and fitted by my local garage for rather less than half the price the FIAT dealership are quoting. What would you do?

 

[ribbit]

I realise this thread has been dormant for a while, but I thought it worth mentioning that our Multipla had the springs replaced by a main dealer under the VOSA recall. We bought the vehicle just a few months later, early in 2007, and the car failed its MOT last November because one of the springs was fractured.

The replacement spring therefore had an even shorter life than the original one. It suggests the recall was superfluous and that three years is indeed how long you can expect these parts to last.

 

[umberto]

Make sure fiat pay for it.
We did.. And put everything in writing, it's definately worth the effort..

Just been on the phone to FIAT re my broken spring. I suggested it was unrealistic (and dangerous) that FIAT fitted replacement springs with a life-span of less than four years.

The very nice and helpful chap I spoke to suggested that I contact my local dealership, explain the situation, and FIAT UK may well offer to assist with some of the cost. How nice.

However, I can get a road spring supplied and fitted by my local garage for rather less than half the price the FIAT dealership are quoting. What would you do?

 

[Zundapp]

I wasn't prepared to have the job done by FIAT then have to argue in the hope that I'd maybe get a 50% reduction when I could get the job done for half FIAT's price anyway. Especially when I trust the local independent to do a good honest job on my car.

A lot comes down to whether you trust a garage or not. And as for trusting my nearest FIAT dealership - yeah right!:yuck: However I wouldn't tar every FIAT dealership with the same brush.