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Fiat 500 reliability and durability
I have a Fiat 500 Sport which was serviced just before its third birthday.
I had reported a grumbling noise from the back and an unreliable gauge for outside temperature.
The garage reported that a rear wheel bearing needed replacing and that there was too much play in the suspension balljoints. Also the temperature gauge sensor had failed.
Under warranty, they replaced the wheel bearing, both front suspension arms and the sensor. The car had done 34,000 miles. It is used to commute between York and Leeds every day but I know where the potholes are and usually avoid them.
Is this unusually high wear and tear? Should I now consider an extended warranty - something I have never done before on any of my cars?
I had reported a grumbling noise from the back and an unreliable gauge for outside temperature.
The garage reported that a rear wheel bearing needed replacing and that there was too much play in the suspension balljoints. Also the temperature gauge sensor had failed.
Under warranty, they replaced the wheel bearing, both front suspension arms and the sensor. The car had done 34,000 miles. It is used to commute between York and Leeds every day but I know where the potholes are and usually avoid them.
Is this unusually high wear and tear? Should I now consider an extended warranty - something I have never done before on any of my cars?
Asked on 4 May 2011 by MP
Answered by
Honest John
I've also got a 3 year old 500. But only 13,000 miles. Nothing whatsoever has gone wrong. Your faults are really minor. Unreliable outside temp guage? Come on? I agree that the original 500 suspension was very basic and too stiff. It's much better from year 2010 on and from mid 2009 for the 500C. Yes, lousy road surfaces would have given it a hard time.
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