Re: Manufacturer's liability for defective car parts? PLEASE DON'T CROSSPOST

>> Greetings -
>>
>> I found a broken coil spring on my 2002 Stilo yesterday, luckily noticed
>> it whilst changing the brake pads. A quick skulk around the wonderful
>> Fiat Forum website reveals that they've been snapping left, right &
>> centre, and there's a recall out. See

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>>> Now the interesting bit - it appears that Fiat's solution is *not* to
>> change the springs from the defective batch, but instead to fit a
>> dodgy-looking retainer bracket to catch it when it breaks. See photo's >> at
>> url above, and spare a thought for the GCSE metalwork class who've been
>> contracted to produce these things. Apparently this retainer is aimed
>> at preventing the jagged spring-end from piercing the inner tyre wall >> upon
>> failure, which could be rather nasty at speed. Can't see why they've
>> left the front part open if that's the intention....
>>
>> Anyhow, I had initially assumed that I'd be able to get the spring
>> replaced under the recall, but some owners who've experienced breakages
>> are being told they still have to pay for the replacement work. It
>> seems utterly bizarre that an admitted and very serious fault should be
>> dealt with like that - we won't replace the weak part, we'll only adapt
>> your car so that it won't be quite as bad when it eventually fails on >> you.
>> So I might be looking at a £200-300 bill for repair and reassembly by
>> Fiat, or else buying a new set of aftermarket springs for £150 and >> fitting
>> them myself.
>>
>> I can't see how this position would be defensible, but I'm not sure what
>> recourse I have after 5yrs. Is there any specific protection for vehicle
>> recalls, or can manufacturers simply define for themselves what liability
>> they will accept?
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any ideas or ammo before I slap a buggered strut
>> onto the service desk tomorrow morning.... :o)
>>
> I think that you're expecting too much under your particular circumstances
> (5 years of use).
> What mileage has the car done?
> Are new springs modified ones? I've never heard of such springs breaking. > I
> wonder if it was a faulty batch. Are the shock absorbers working > correctly?
> Coil springs require _good_ shock absorbers (I appreciate that they're
> enclosed within the strut, in your case). Are you overloading your > vehicle?
> If I was in your place, I'd just fit some new "aftermarket" springs (from
> a reliable source, I hope), and just let the matter rest.
>
> Sylvain.
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