Steering on Fiat Ducato

[kingmid]

Last week the power steering failed on our Vantage Neo, based on a September 2022 Fiat Ducato auto. Fortunately for us we were in a car park on the north Antrim coast and there was no accident or injury.

The vehicle was recovered to Fiat Professional garage Donnelly of Mallusk in Belfast. They diagnosed failure of the electronic steering due to corrosion. They have been unable to source the main steering part required and it’s at back order with Fiat. We have a Fiat Customer Service reference and they’ve been pretty good at updating us, but still no part.

Anyway, we hired a car and booked a week’s accommodation. In the absence of the part we’ve come home to the north west using a one way car hire and will return to Belfast to collect the van when repaired.

Has anyone had Fiat parts on back order and if so approximately how long have they taken? Anyone else lost their steering?

 

[Gellyneck]

Guess the back order timeframe would be part specific. FIAT Pro garage should be able to get the info from FIAT.

 

[Korova]

Last year we had a two week back order on an o-ring, and a four week wait on a bearing from Fiat in Italy. They were for a 2002 ducato so hopefully your wait will be less as there should be more up to date parts available.

 

[kingmid]

Hope so. The garage have been really helpful so far, but can’t say how long the back order might take. As you say, it’s relatively new and I’d have thought these parts would be readily available.

 

[Bramidan]

Corrosion on a 2022 vehicle?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jez1966]

Last year we had a two week back order on an o-ring, and a four week wait on a bearing from Fiat in Italy. They were for a 2002 ducato so hopefully your wait will be less as there should be more up to date parts available.

No doubt blamed on the micro processor shortage after COVID.

 

[SpeedyDux]

"Corrosion" sounds like an excuse to make this a non-Warranty repair.

 

[TheBig1]

It will depend if it's the electric pump or the control board. If the latter it could be quite a wait and may be quicker to get the board repaired

 

[Jez1966]

They diagnosed failure of the electronic steering due to corrosion.

Given the 000's of Ducato based motorhomes could you get more specific detail of the failure please.
The steering is mechanical but power assisted, there will be some electronic controls involved but not "fly by wire electronic".
Part description / Part # they're trying to source?

 

[jockaneezer]

Son's Ford Ranger had electric power steering, the motor was hung low off the steering rack and he clobbered it on something which let water in and corroded the circuit board within the motor. We managed to get a second hand unit and luckily it didn't need recoding to the vehicle.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[kingmid]

Seven weeks after our breakdown our van remains at the garage in Belfast where it was taken. Despite being in almost daily contact with Fiat Customer Services they have not supplied the parts needed. We have been told the parts are available but the eta given was not met and we can’t get any update or any information. They don’t return calls or reply to emails.

I was wondering if anyone has made an official complaint to Fiat and if so who did they address this to? Am I wasting my time doing this? The whole experience has been disheartening.

 

[gn24]

Sorry to learn of your steering problem kingmid. This just shouldn't happen on such a new vehicle! We had exactly the same happen to us about three weeks ago on a Ducato about the same age, and guess what, we're awaiting parts on back-order! Has your problem been sorted now or are the parts still on back-order?

 

[kingmid]

Sorry too to hear of your steering trouble. We finally collected our van on Monday, 9th Sept . The parts were received about 2 weeks ago after putting a lot of pressure on Stellantis up to director level. The garage was good in finding us a slot in the workshop and the repair was completed last week, 90 days after breaking down. I agree that it shouldn’t happen to such a new vehicle, but things go wrong and it is how they are handled that distinguishes a company. Fiat do not come out of this with any credit.
Having spoken to several Fiat Professional dealers none were surprised about the delay. As summer is now gone hopefully yours won’t be as long. Did your breakdown occur in UK and is it currently at a garage? Good luck with it.

 

[gn24]

Glad you're back on the road now kingmid and thanks for your good wishes. Wow, three months! What exactly was the problem and which parts were replaced?

Our van is now with an approved Fiat Professional workshop - and has been for the past three weeks. We have been told that the wiring loom connection to the power steering motor is corroded and needs to be replaced. Not sure how many parts are involved.

Similar to yourself, we broke down in a safe place (on a UK campsite), so we were extremely lucky! The Fiat Roadside Assistance technician didn't actually get to see our van, but over the phone knew straight away what the problem was, as he'd seen it before.

Having lost our summer holiday and another trip now, I'm concerned that this will prove to be a long process.

 

[kingmid]

Sounds like your steering problem is identical to ours and very interesting that the Fiat Roadside Assistant had seen this before. I wonder is this something Fiat are aware of?

Among a long list of parts was a new steering rack and 3 wire looms. Some of the delay was caused by summer factory closures as the parts came from various places, so you may avoid this with luck. Once the parts were received the work didn’t take long.

We too have missed several planned trips, but count ourselves lucky that it happened in a small car park.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[NF camper]

Hi All, we picked up our new Fiat Ducato Camper Van (x290 model) in April this year(24).

We returned from an extended European trip a couple of weeks ago with 3k miles on the clock. Came to move the vehicle the following day after return and the Power Steering had failed. Lucky we were back home!

Fiat assistance recovered the vehicle to a local Fiat Professional garage under warranty. I have been informed that the Power Steering Rack has completly failed together with a 3 wiring looms. Failure is down to water ingress into the rack and causing corrosion in the wiring connectors. Although we have driven the vehicle during occasional rain periods, we have not been through any flooding.

All the parts are now on back order from Fiat. Could take 5/6 weeks to get back on the road.

Speaking with various sources, it appears there may be a problem with this type of steering failing due to water ingress with the new Fiat Ducato's. I am also led to believe that Fiat's technical team are aware of these faults. I pressed their Customer Services about this but they would not admit anything! It's beginning to look like a common problem with the Fiat Ducato's given all the past comments. The whole experience has been extremely frustrating and very disheartening.

 

[TinaLes]

I feel sorry for any 2022 onwards Fiat Van owners as it sounds like a known problem that could happen at any time, just like the Passenger Seatbelt ECU's Fiat will never own up to a known problem.
I hope you all had the remedial work carried out FOC especially on such new vans and having to wait so long for parts.
Has anyone given you any reassurance that the new parts will not fail again in such a short timeframe, have any mods been done to stop water ingress to the replacement wiring looms?
I hope you have all been reassured, if not I would contemplate selling the van, as it sounds like an expensive fix that we should not incur now or in the future. I wonder if its mentioned on The Ducato Forums?
LES

 

[Guigsy]

Engineering changes happen all the time. They may have made a change to reduce faults in one area, to make assembly more reliable, or to change supplier because they weren't getting enough deliveries. Or sometimes the change is from a supplied part and Fiat won't know anything about it. And obviously, occasionally these changes don't work, or they create a different problem.

 

[NF camper]

I feel sorry for any 2022 onwards Fiat Van owners as it sounds like a known problem that could happen at any time, just like the Passenger Seatbelt ECU's Fiat will never own up to a known problem.
I hope you all had the remedial work carried out FOC especially on such new vans and having to wait so long for parts.
Has anyone given you any reassurance that the new parts will not fail again in such a short timeframe, have any mods been done to stop water ingress to the replacement wiring looms?
I hope you have all been reassured, if not I would contemplate selling the van, as it sounds like an expensive fix that we should not incur now or in the future. I wonder if its mentioned on The Ducato Forums?
LES

The answer to your question on reassurance is no. The warranty garage are only going to replace the defective parts that caused the failure the get the vehicle back on the road, not the source of the problem until/unless Fiat advise otherwise. Not sure if the problem has been reported else where.

 

[Landy Andy]

The idea of something so critical as steering being fully electric is nuts. It’s just not reliable enough.

I went to help a broken down vehicle the other day. EV. Shut down. No power=no steering. Will have to be lifted. Madness.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Guigsy]

The idea of something so critical as steering being fully electric is nuts. It’s just not reliable enough.

I disagree. The majority of vehicles on the road have been electric power assist for about 15 years.

 

[Landy Andy]

I disagree. The majority of vehicles on the road have been electric power assist for about 15 years.

There is a big difference between electric, or any hydraulic, assisted. And fully electric.

When assisted you will, or a recovery will always have some control. The system on the EV was FULL electric. No power = no steering. It either needs to be lifted, or just physically dragged, which the plastic owners don’t like.

Assisted steering is far far safer.

 

[gus-lopez]

The idea of something so critical as steering being fully electric is nuts.

True. If fully electric it should still be inside the vehicle

I disagree. The majority of vehicles on the road have been electric power assist for about 15 years.

the critical word in your statement is "Assist"
Assist is usually in the vehicle on the column. Even with no assistance it works.albeit heavier.The rubbish being talked about here is the same as Power steering -No power = no steering.
Manufacturers went away from true "power steering " years ago just because of this problem. I had a rover P5's & when the belt went your finger got broken if turning at the time

 

[Guigsy]

There is a big difference between electric, or any hydraulic, assisted. And fully electric.

When assisted you will, or a recovery will always have some control. The system on the EV was FULL electric. No power = no steering. It either needs to be lifted, or just physically dragged, which the plastic owners don’t like.

Assisted steering is far far safer.

I'm only aware of two cars that have fully electric steering, a Lexus RZ and Cybertruck. All other cars still have a steering column going to a rack that will work even without power.

 

[SpeedyDux]

I disagree. The majority of vehicles on the road have been electric power assist for about 15 years.

Probably to reduce fuel consumption compared to a hydraulic steering pump that is engine driven. Old tech that is simpler and more reliable (unless the drive belt snaps but as I found out I could still drive my car safely a mile or so to get home). A cheap fix.

I think this electric steering failure on post 2022 Ducatos should be a full safety Recall by FIAT. (Check if there is a Recall in other countries?)

I urge Funsters who have had this steering failure problem to report it to the DVSA as soon as possible.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[daveclare]

Our first mini convertible in 2004 had electric steering which went after 3 months. It was nigh on impossible to turn the steering wheel when it failed. It worked fine for the next 16 years after replacement.

 

[kingmid]

Hi All, we picked up our new Fiat Ducato Camper Van (x290 model) in April this year(24).

We returned from an extended European trip a couple of weeks ago with 3k miles on the clock. Came to move the vehicle the following day after return and the Power Steering had failed. Lucky we were back home!

Fiat assistance recovered the vehicle to a local Fiat Professional garage under warranty. I have been informed that the Power Steering Rack has completly failed together with a 3 wiring looms. Failure is down to water ingress into the rack and causing corrosion in the wiring connectors. Although we have driven the vehicle during occasional rain periods, we have not been through any flooding.

All the parts are now on back order from Fiat. Could take 5/6 weeks to get back on the road.

Speaking with various sources, it appears there may be a problem with this type of steering failing due to water ingress with the new Fiat Ducato's. I am also led to believe that Fiat's technical team are aware of these faults. I pressed their Customer Services about this but they would not admit anything! It's beginning to look like a common problem with the Fiat Ducato's given all the past comments. The whole experience has been extremely frustrating and very disheartening.

Hi NF camper, sorry for the problems you’re experiencing, as the OP you have my sympathies. There seems to be a pattern as this is the third van with what appears to be an identical issue on MHF alone.

I did push the garage on any others they were aware of but their answer was vague. I hope it doesn’t take a serious accident for Fiat to take action.

Keep us posted on progress and I hope it is quicker than ours.

 

[NF camper]

Hi NF camper, sorry for the problems you’re experiencing, as the OP you have my sympathies. There seems to be a pattern as this is the third van with what appears to be an identical issue on MHF alone.

I did push the garage on any others they were aware of but their answer was vague. I hope it doesn’t take a serious accident for Fiat to take action.

Keep us posted on progress and I hope it is quicker than ours.

I am led to believe these steering failures are developing into a pattern. Our garage appears to have had a few through over the past 6 months. All have been reported back to Fiat. All with same problem.

 

[NF camper]

Probably to reduce fuel consumption compared to a hydraulic steering pump that is engine driven. Old tech that is simpler and more reliable (unless the drive belt snaps but as I found out I could still drive my car safely a mile or so to get home). A cheap fix.

I think this electric steering failure on post 2022 Ducatos should be a full safety Recall by FIAT. (Check if there is a Recall in other countries?)

I urge Funsters who have had this steering failure problem to report it to the DVSA as soon as possible.

Goods point, I will log the fault with DVSA as this failure falls into the reporting categories.

 

[yorkiebar]

Nervous about our 2023 Ducato now! We took out the 5 yr warranty, which gives some reassurance, but if the van is off the road for months on end then that doesn't really help !

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}