| A Fiat
Ducato van was chosen in 2005 for our van conversion by IH Motor
Campers as FIAT had been making this model for a number of years and
we hoped for 10 years of trouble-free motorhoming. Our
Ducato van has been a pleasure to drive and Fiat claims 2 out of 3 European motorhomes travel on a Ducato vehicle base. |
  Therefore
it came as quite a surprise to discover after just 14 months large
strips of paint flaking off the roof area, cream undercoat showing
through the top coat and micro-blistering occuring in places.
Being more than 12 months old, IH
Motor Campers referred us to Fiat UK as the paint work was covered
under Fiat's 3 Year Paintwork Warranty. Legally,
we had to let Fiat UK repaint the van as it was within their 3 Year Paint
Warranty ... more
Thanks to the assistance of our
local FIAT
Motorhome Service Centre, who liaised with Fiat UK on our
behalf, 4 months later FIAT UK accepted responsibility for this
manufacturing defect and repainted the entire roof including
remedial work on the micro-blistering areas. Now 18 months old, our
motorhome was checked over by IH Motor Campers and Fiat
representatives as being up to Fiat's normal paint work standard. |
|
 Then,
less
than 24 months later, after Fiat's complete repainting of the Ducato's roof,
Fiat's repaint started
blistering across the entire roof area and with top coat metallic silver
paint starting to flake off AGAIN as shown
in these photographs!
  Fiat
UK were contacted again for them to visit and inspect the roof before
arranging another warranty repainting job.
Fiat
UK replied that as our Ducato van was now over three years old it was
outside their 3 Year Paint Warranty and Fiat UK would not assist in resolving
their original manufacturing paint and subsequent repaint failures.
|
| With
Fiat UK apparently saying that it is normal for Fiat Ducato vans'
paintwork to flake off every couple of years, we are investigating other Ducato owners
experiences and
what steps they have taken to resolve this paint problem. |
A
picture of why
Fiat's paintwork micro blisters and suddenly starts flaking
off in large strips is starting to emerge.
If you have experienced
Fiat manufacturing defective paint, please contact the webmasters
...
more
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