Fiat Panda 1.2 Lounge (Petrol) - Fiat Panda 2014 1.2 Petrol Throttle Response

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Mon 11 Aug 2014 16:00
Fiat Panda 1.2 Lounge (Petrol) - Fiat Panda 2014 1.2 Petrol Throttle Response - Captain Mike

In April of this year, my wife bought a new Fiat Panda 1.2 “Lounge” (petrol) having so much enjoyed driving her previous Panda. However, the new version has proved to be a great disappointment due to its performance, or rather the lack of it!! When pulling away in first gear, the car behaves as if there is a “flat spot’ and there is uncertainty as to whether the car will accelerate or not. Then, when changing up into second gear, the car is very reluctant to accelerate; on other occasions, the car accelerates of its own free will. I am aware of other owners who have the same complaints about this engine as fitted to the “Panda” and “500”, some of whose cars have had the ECU re-mapped by Fiat. Despite offering this service to some owners, Fiat Customer Services will not accept that there is a fault with this engine and simply say that it will be different to previous versions, due to the need to comply with EU Emissions Regulation 6. They then refer me to my main dealer for, “tuition in the use of the clutch and accelerator”. In turn, my main dealer has test driven the car on two occasions and tells me “it drives like all other Pandas.” I’m not sure whether that should give me comfort or even greater concern! Perhaps you can investigate why Fiat offer ECU remapping to some owners but not others, being tacit acceptance that there is a problem with some, if not all, of their latest 1.2 petrol engines.

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Mon 11 Aug 2014 16:08
Fiat Panda 1.2 Lounge (Petrol) - Fiat Panda 2014 1.2 Petrol Throttle Response - madf

Don't tell me you bought a new car without driving one first?

Please.

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Mon 11 Aug 2014 18:58
Fiat Panda 1.2 Lounge (Petrol) - Fiat Panda 2014 1.2 Petrol Throttle Response - Captain Mike

Not surprisingly, you're completely wrong!! I did drive one first and along with many other owners of this model we are now finding this same fault on some but not all production models. There are several threads on other websites where owners of this model and the Fiat 500 (same engine) are making the same complaint. Perhaps some of them did not test drive the model, but I'm sure that the majority did. Even Fiat have admitted to me that "perhaps you test drove a model with a different engine build".

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Mon 11 Aug 2014 19:19
Fiat Panda 1.2 Lounge (Petrol) - Fiat Panda 2014 1.2 Petrol Throttle Response - Wackyracer

Perhaps some of them did not test drive the model, but I'm sure that the majority did. Even Fiat have admitted to me that "perhaps you test drove a model with a different engine build".

This reminds me of something I saw on TV a while back, a woman test drove a Vauxhall corsa and then bought a 1.0L 3 cylinder car and hated it. It later turned out that the demontration car she was given to try was a 1.2L 4cylinder.

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Mon 11 Aug 2014 19:34
Fiat Panda 1.2 Lounge (Petrol) - Fiat Panda 2014 1.2 Petrol Throttle Response - Captain Mike

No. Not even that stupid either!! Test drove a 1.2, bought a 1.2 and disappointed like many others due to change in performance from test model to purchase model.. Suspect different ECU software which is why Fiat have remapped some complainants ECUs..

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Thu 4 Dec 2014 12:14
Fiat Panda 1.2 Lounge (Petrol) - Fiat Panda 2014 1.2 Petrol Throttle Response - HighC

Absolutely the same problem and experience here too!

Previous new Panda bought for eldest daughter is fantastic in all respects. We use it more than our own cars as it is such fun.

Love the new Panda EXCEPT it is ruined by the dangerous flat spot. Highly dangerous to pull out of junctions into or across traffic, hill starts need 3,000 rpm and slip clutch or it just dies on the spot risking rear end shunt, roll back or pedestrian impact.

3 months old, under 400 miles, dealer Pentagon refuse to investigate unless we pay for diagnostics (as they know what the issue is but deny it at the same time). Fiat refuse to do anything and claim there is not a problem - (but they will not investigate at their cost and honour the warranty because they know that the car has a problem).

Fiat do not formally log complaints and therefore claim there is no general problem, to which my answer is - then there is a specific problem with our car so fix it under warranty! - which they refuse to do.

They have admitted that the engine is the same 1.2 Euro 6 version as is in the Fiat 500 which is now gaining awareness eg Watchdog last week.

Currently looking at a Small Claims court action re supply of vehicle not fit for purpose and breach of warranty.

I am sure the technical solution is simple - the mixture is too weak once warmed up (it's fine under choke) and in the old days 1/4 turn on the carb would solve it - my guess is that Fiat's problem is that if they modify the mixture via ECU then the vehicle will not pass Euro 6 compliance and they are open to major international damages and recall therefore they blame the driver and continue to supply dangerous vehicles which are not fit for purpose.

Sadly and in the time honoured style of major motor manufacturers, it will take a number of serious accidents / fatalities before Fiat come clean.

In the meantime you, I and hundreds of thousand of others have to live with the danger.

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