DecreeThey've always been a pretty popular brand, but when they launched the Fiat 500, Fiat entered the mainstream with a bang. The Fiat 500 is hitting the market fastThe ten most popular cars in the UK,Its quirky shape and funky colors make it a welcome addition to British roads.
However, one thing has stuck with Fiat for years. This is credibility. In fact, Fiat was so unreliable at one point that people started joking about "Fix it again, Tony".
But has the situation changed? How reliable is Fiat?
In this article, we look at whether Fiat can shake off its unreliability and how its reliability compares to its competitors.
How reliable is Fiat?
The results for Fiat reliability are, to say the least, mixed.
In a recent Telegraph survey of the best reliability brands, Fiat was ranked 12th, with 112 problems per 100 vehicles. This is 18th place last year.
The reliability index also ranked Fiat 15th, with a reliability index of 99. This is better than the industry average.
How reliable is the Fiat 500L?
year 2014,Fiat 500LIt was named one of the most unreliable cars of the year by Consumer Reports. The main reason for this is a huge bug in the infotainment system. Complaints about unreliable models include malfunctioning multipurpose controllers, unresponsive touchscreens and phone pairing issues.
Is the Fiat 500 reliable?
ownerFiat 500There are different accounts of its lifespan. On AutoExpress, some say their cars are very reliable and give them a 5/5 rating, while others say the reliability is not great. Although someone pointed out a "minor problem", he said the service was worse. Others have reported a few minor issues, but overall feedback has been pretty positive.
The reliability index rates the Fiat 500 as quite reliable, with a reliability index of just 78 (the lower the score, the better). However, the average repair costs £305.24, which is pretty impressive. It seems that axle and suspension problems make up the majority, at 32.93%.
Fiat Panda reliability
Thisfiat pandaThe reliability index was higher at 58. They cost about the same to repair at £308.52. Again, axle and suspension problems accounted for the majority, but electrical issues were a close second with 20.59 percent of problems.
Is the Fiat Pento reliable?
Thisfiat pointIt has low performance, but is still more reliable than many others. It has a reliability index of 86 and an average repair cost much lower than other Fiat models. The average repair cost was £224.51. Electrical problems caused the most problems in the Punto, accounting for 39.13% of problems.
So, even though the Fiat 500L was rated as one of the least reliable cars by Consumer Reports, the Fiat is quite reliable. This is according to WarrantyDirect and ReliabilityIndex, as well as the same reports from some Fiat 500 owners.
Why is Fiat reliable?
So why should we trust Fiat? Or, why were they once called unreliable?
One of the major problems facing automakers today is the failure of in-vehicle technology. This modern technology is modern. That means it goes wrong often, and when it does, it's expensive and time-consuming to repair or replace. This can significantly reduce reliability. And, Consumer Reports notes, in-vehicle technology has let them down.Perhaps, when the new model was released, there were some technical glitches. Also, now that the technology is a bit older and has been updated, the problem has been fixed.
Or if we look at the other end of the spectrum from the Fiat Punto and the Panda, these models don't have as much technology. This means less chance of error and therefore more reliability.That said, Fiat vehicles can be quite expensive to repair, especially compared to some of its competitors. Therefore, this reduces the overall reliability.
The reason why Fiat was considered so unreliable in the past seems to be due to some glitches with the technology. However, these issues may be addressed in future models, so their reliability has been improved. Plus, older and more affordable models that don't have new technology can't go wrong with this technology, so they're more reliable anyway.
How reliable are consumer surveys?
Overall, consumer surveys are an accurate way to judge a car's reliability. The survey asked owners to rate the reliability of their cars and report any breakdowns or malfunctions. This is a great way to find out how the owner uses the car and if they are satisfied with the reliability of the car. It also gives us a good idea of the cost of repairs and how well the service was when the car was serviced.
Companies like WarranyDirect are also reliable because they sell extended warranties on tens of thousands of makes and models and know when a make or model should file a claim. They use this information to determine which cars are the most reliable and which are the least reliable.
One of the problems with these consumer surveys is that we can't be sure of the long-term reliability of a brand new car. However, you can look at older models and determine how reliable that model is.
Consumer surveys and companies like WarrantyDirect are accurate ways to determine the lifespan of your vehicle.
Fiat, Hyundai, Toyota
How does Fiat compare to some of its competitors in terms of reliability?modernKnown for their longevity, they were named one of the 10 most reliable car brands by Consumer Reports and ranked 18th in a recent Telegraph survey with 130 problems per 100 vehicles. If we look at their city cars,i10, we can see that it was awarded one of the lowest (or highest) reliability scores we've ever seen, with just a 10. 10! The average repair cost is also very reasonable at £234.84. The i10's off-road time was also short, averaging just 1 hour 30 minutes. their family car,i30, is also very reliable, with a reliability index of 27. However, it costs more to repair, at an average of £323.05. Although the car itself is more expensive, this is to be expected.ToyotaAlso another brand known for its longevity. They came ninth with 96 questions per 100 vehicles in the Daily Telegraph survey.express trainput them tooToyota RAV4Voted the most reliable car in the recent Driver Power Survey. The Toyota iQ is also the most reliable car in the ReliabilityIndex with a reliability score of just 3.
their city cars,Toyota Egoit has a reliability index of just 30 and an average repair cost of £211.23. ThisYarisAnother subcompact has a reliability index of 32. The average repair cost isn't too bad either, at £247.73.If we look at their compact SUV, which is comparable to the 500L, the reliability is not as good, but still above the industry average. It has a reliability rating of 99. Repairs are more expensive on average at £448.98, but the cars themselves are more expensive, so that's understandable.
Overall, Fiat seems to do a good job when it comes to reliability. As a brand they give Hyundai good competition for the money and beat Hyundai in the latest Telegraph poll. When it comes to individual cars, however, Fiat doesn't score well. Hyundai and Toyota make some of the most reliable cars on the ReliabiltyIndex, including city cars that rival the Fiat 500. If you're looking for a reliable city car, then we recommend Hyundai or Toyota. However, if you're looking for something a little bigger, we recommend either brand as they're just as reliable as each other.
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What are the most reliable Fiat cars?
Here are the most reliable Fiat models.
- fiat point
- Fiat 500
These rate quite high on the reliability index.
What are the least reliable Fiat cars?
The least reliable are;
- Fiat 500L
- fiat panda
Overall, Fiat is not an unreliable brand. However, they are not the most reliable brands. Their smaller cars fared better, with slightly above-average reliability scores. However, that wasn't enough to beat some rivals, including the much higher rated Hyundai i10 and Toyota Aygo. The Fiat 500L was voted the most unreliable car of the year, so if you're looking for a compact SUV, you might as well look elsewhere. That said, if you're looking for an exotic car that looks good, is stylish and doesn't cost a fortune to fix, there's no reason not to consider the Fiat 500.
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Check out the Fiat 500L
Check out the Fiat Tipo
FAQs
Is Fiat a reliable brand? ›
Fiat Reliability Rating Breakdown. The Fiat Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 18th out of 32 for all car brands. This rating is based on an average across 345 unique models. The average annual repair cost for a Fiat is $538, which means it has above average ownership costs.
How reliable is Fiat 500 review? ›According to repairpal.com, the car receives a 3. ⁄5 for reliability, placing it 18th out of 21 when examining subcompact cars. Most owners bring their Fiat 500 models in for repairs fewer times than other subcompact cars.
How reliable are Fiat Motors? ›In terms of reliability, Fiat has a rating of 3.5 out of 5.0 as per RepairPal. It's not bottom of the barrel reliability score, but it's still below average, and we wished it could be better. The Italian carmaker ranked 18th out of 32 car brands across 345 models.
Are Fiat 500X reliable? ›“The 500X is generally very reliable with few issues reported. Safety is also good.” Fiat has recently finished about average among 30 or so manufacturers in independent reliability surveys and there are no major issues reported about the 500X.
Do Fiats last long? ›Fiat isn't the most reliable brand, but the vehicles they produce are durable and made to last. They're designed in a way that allows them to do the most for drivers. According to enginepatrol.com, the best Fiat models will last 200,000 - 250,000 miles if cared for properly.
Are Fiats high maintenance? ›You can expect your Fiat to require slightly more maintenance than most other cars. On average, Fiats visit the repair shop only 0.2 times per year for unscheduled maintenance, according to RepairPal. Of these repairs, 17% are considered severe.
What is the least reliable Fiat? ›Consumer Reports has named the Fiat 500 L the least reliable car on sale today. The compact crossover received the lowest score in the organization's annual owner survey, while Fiat came in last overall among brands.
What is the most reliable Fiat? ›The FIAT model that is the most reliable and ranks the highest in its vehicle category is the FIAT 500X, which ranks 5 out of 20 Most Reliable Subcompact SUVs. Following the 500X is the FIAT 500L. You can see the rest of the FIAT vehicles and their rankings below.
What year Fiat is most reliable? ›If you're looking to buy a newer Fiat 500, we highly recommend the 2018 version. At this point, Fiat has ironed out many reliability woes and quality issues with earlier models.
How does Fiat rank? ›The Fiat brand wasn't doing well despite its size, and it received poor consumer reviews. (CR) ranked the automaker last in their list of car brands that make the best vehicles in 2021.
How many years do Fiats last? ›
can last anywhere from 200,000 to 250,000 miles, or roughly 13 to 17 years of trouble-free driving. (with turbocharged engines) have proven to be very durable over their lifespans. In fact, the most common problems with the Fiat 500 involve minor annoyances, such as door handles or armrests breaking.
How safe are Fiats? ›2019 FIAT 500L Safety Rating:
IIHS Moderate Overlap Front Test: Good. IIHS Side Impact Test: Good. IIHS Roof Strength Test: Good. IIHS Head Restraints & Seats Test: Good.
- Engine cooling – The cooling fan on certain model years was reported to be faulty, resulting in the engine overheating with the warning lights flashing. ...
- Battery – It is often found in the 500X that the radio and other equipment shut off, hindering the driver to have a hassle-free driving experience.
What's the best Fiat 500X model/engine to choose? We'd recommend one the latest (2018-) models if budget allows. These feature plusher interiors and the excellent 1.0-litre 'Firefly' petrol engine. If you're after a diesel or four-wheel-drive, you'll need a pre-2018 model.
Are Fiat 500X expensive to repair? ›The estimated cost to maintain and repair a Fiat 500X ranges from $95 to $1784, with an average of $247.
Which Fiat is most reliable? ›The FIAT model that is the most reliable and ranks the highest in its vehicle category is the FIAT 500X, which ranks 5 out of 20 Most Reliable Subcompact SUVs. Following the 500X is the FIAT 500L. You can see the rest of the FIAT vehicles and their rankings below.
Are Fiat expensive to repair? ›FIAT Maintenance Costs
FIAT models average around $9,100 for maintenance and repair costs during their first 10 years of service. This is more than the industry average for popular brands by $2,286. There is also a 21.16% chance that a FIAT will require a major repair during that time.