Fiat Punto recalled for check-ups

Italian carmaker Fiat will recall some 70,000 Fiat Punto cars for check-ups, after possible drive problems have been detected. In Romania, 45 cars will be recalled, namely those sold later than February this year. The total Fiat sales in Romania in Q1 reach 276 cars, nearly one third of which are Fiat Punto.

The cars recalled for check-ups were made throughout February 13 – May 21 this year, that is a stock of 70,000 cars, which, according to Fiat’s release last week, “may have a malfunctioning drive.” This means the driver could have trouble steering the car.

Fiat release explains that not all the vehicles produced in the above-mentioned period have malfunctioning drives, but the company chose to recall all of them. According to Auto Italia, sole importer of Fiat in Romania, the number of Fiat Punto to be recalled for check-ups in Romania will stand at 45 cars, sold over the past few months.

Auto Italia officials say the owners of those cars have already been contacted and invited to come to the Fiat service centres. The costs of these operations will be fully supported by Auto Italia.

This is not the first time when cars happen to be recalled for check-ups on the Romanian market, let alone the world market.

At the end of last year, French carmaker Renault recalled the entire Kangoo utility vehicle stock made throughout December 23, 1998 – May 26, 2000 for check-ups, that is 264,000 Kangoo utility vehicles, after having found that the safety equipment (safety belts and airbags) might turn on unexpectedly.

The number of Kangoos sold in Romania amounted to 93 in 2000 and 125 in 1999, but the number of those actually malfunctioning reached only 15. Another famous scandal was the one about the Firestone tyres in the United States, which were directly connected to the death of 148 people.

This led to withdrawing and replacing some 6.5 million tyres. The scandal also reached Europe and even Romania, even though things were not as bad as in the US.

Auto Italia, sole importer of Fiat and Alfa Romeo in Romania, is planning to sell some 2,800 vehicles on the Romanian market this year, betting on the impact of the new Fiat Doblo model to be launched this month.