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10 February 2012
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2008 Fiat Ducato reviews
Fiat Ducato reviews by year of make: 1985 1993 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Read all reviews
Hugh Seery, Ireland
Fiat Ducato 120 Multijet Maxi LWB 2008
I bought the van new and have had no problems apart from a leak in an aircon hose, which Lee Garage, Cork fixed immediately without any quibble. 120,000 km done and it feels well capable of doubling that without any trouble. Fuel consumption varies from 39.7 mpg on an intentional 600 km economy trip down to 26 mpg on multi-drop work in the city. Its my second Ducato and I see no reason why there won’t be a third.
Submitted: 11/09/2011 09:04:58
Fiat Ducato, Lanarkshire
Fiat Ducato 2008
I am a delivery driver and cover up to 100 to 150 miles per day, and I have to say the Fiat Ducato I drive is amazing. It’s good on fuel and speed and don’t have much bother with it at all - apart from the shuddering in reverse, which is not good! All in all great handling, great seating positions and great for deliveries.
Submitted: 30/08/2011 12:03:56
Tex Gowing, France
Fiat Ducato 130 multijet 2008
Hi to all. My wife and I purchased our Mc Louis Motor home 9 months ago and had a similar problem to some of the writers of these reviews in that the starter battery drained without cause. Being an old diesel fitter, I took both the battery assemblies apart cleaned them replaced the fuse in the battery then put everything back together. I trickle charged the starter battery over night, cleaned the solar pannel and have not had to touch it again since. That was January. As for the loose fitting negative junction on the starter battery, a simple way to improve it is to put one or two bits of soldering wire down the length of the terminal or even one piece that folds over the top, then put the assembly over the whole thing. When you tighten it up it makes a firm fit as soldering wire will flatten out under pressure, you can even tap it with a small hammer before introducing it to the terminal. That was a cracking tip about the radio by the way to change over the wires. There is no doubt if left in, even though turned off, the radio will drain the battery, we have also experienced that situation. Apart from the things I have mentioned there has been no problems, (touch wood) with our Fiat engine or gear box, just lucky I guess judging by the reviews.
Submitted: 28/06/2010 09:59:25
Ash Pocock, Hampshire
Fiat Ducato Maxi 3.0 Auto - Burstner Argos 2008
Bought the Motohome from Southdowns in October 2008. Prior to delivery test drove a manual variant and experienced the reverse juddering and clutch problem, but was assured that this problem did manifest itself on the ’auto’. Not the case, judders just as badly on the auto! Registered a case number with Fiat and dealer, but have never been offered any corrective work. Having read about the problems with Fiat dealerships and warranty and reluctant to have the vehicle ’messed about with’, have been gingerly driving around UK and Europe, avoiding reversing. So far no other problems have materialised, so keeping fingers crossed that I don’t have a ’friday’ vehicle. Concerned that Fiat have really not fixed this problem, but am running out of warranty, so may have to bite the bullet and face the aggro with Fiat.
Submitted: 24/04/2010 22:40:59
Chris Lewis, Cornwall
Fiat Ducato 2.3 multijet engine 2008
Purchased our Fiat Ducato 2.3 multijet engine new in Nov. 2008, with a Swift Lifestyle body layout. While trying to contend with the multi defects contributed by Swift, we then turned our attentions towards the reverse gear vibration. Fiat have tried for months to bury their heads in the sand, just hoping that we would all go away. They have stayed in denial for quite some time, hoping that our collective van problems would dissapear. Well they have not. I have had their Phase:1 stronger more robust engine/gearbox mountings fitted. Also Phase:2 a replacement (slightly ) lower reverse gear fitted. All to no avail as the vehicle responds just the same. The Fiat Dealership and their mechanics are in full agreement with me, that the fault remains, and they consider Fiat’s mechanical interventions to be worthless. Fiat as a company are treating us all as irrelevant, now that we have purchased their unroadworthy expensive vehicles. I have spent a life time on the spanners having been a garage proprietor, class 1 driver and an advanced driver, so I believe that I have enough experience to know a dodgy vehicle once driven. Fiat when asked, will not extend the warranty on our vehicle for another 3 years, about the time we would be changing it. If they are not willing to do this, then that says a lot about their faith in their so called remedy work. We should all get together and fight them en masse, then and then only may they eventually listen to their so called ’valued customers’ instead of trying to pick us off, one at a time until we give up. The press need such a story badly, any takers? Regards and Good Luck! chrislewis5626@googlemail.com
Submitted: 15/04/2010 20:03:49
Mary Morton, Yorkshire
Fiat Ducato Ci Carioca 705 motorhome 2008
13 months ago we bought a Ci Carioca 705 motorhome with a 2.3 multijet diesel 6 speed mounted garbox. We have 2,000 miles on the clock and a serious reverse gear judder problem - daren’t even reverse onto the levelling blocks! Fiat have done 2 modifications. Sent up their technical man to test drive it. Judder is just as bad, but they say they have done everything they intend to do and that it is within normal limits. Our life savings and retirement dreams stand abandoned in the drive - we just cannot risk the expense of having to replace a burnt out clutch not covered under warranty. Our advice - DON’T TOUCH A FIAT WITH A BARGEPOLE. THEY DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE LITTLE MAN.
Submitted: 13/10/2009 09:16:12
Mervyn Hardingham, Norfolk
Fiat Ducato swb 2008
The van had to have a new starter motor with less than 10 miles on clock. It has been back twice for gearbox judder and vibration, the dealer confirms there is a problem. A Fiat technician road tested the vehicle and does not agree. Fiat will not give me the technician’s report. I just hate reversing uphill and I will never buy another Fiat comercial vehicle.
Submitted: 09/10/2009 11:57:02
Colin Floyd, England
Fiat Ducato motorhome 2008
Rubbish. Bought new from dealer 6 weeks ago. Broke down twice as we attempted to go on summer holiday. Has been in a FIAT garage in Redon, Brittany for 8 days now waiting a replacement part. Fiat Assistance are useless and there is no customer service. DO NOT BUY ONE!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted: 13/08/2009 10:47:33
William Harrison, England
Fiat Ducato Moncayo Mediteranneo 2008
We purchased a brand new Fiat Ducato Motorhome and broke down on our first outing with the loss of most of the engine coolant due to a faulty inboard heating unit. On the second outing we had to terminate our holiday early as the inboard battery became flat due to a faulty charger and an audio signal loudly emitted a bleeping signal which we thought would be audible outside the van as it was late at night. We have also experienced judder in reverse which we are about to register with Fiat. We are losing faith in this vehicle as we have experienced many teething problems.
Submitted: 19/06/2009 09:07:43
Rich Davenport, Gloucestershire
Fiat Ducato 2008
Does anyone on here have battery problems? I bought my new CI Mizar Elite motor home on a Ducato base last October and within a couple of days the battery needed a jump start. We took it beck to the dealer who in fairness fitted a new battery without any quibble but since then, I’ve started the Ducato no less than 5 times since using jump leads because there was insufficient power in the battery to even turn the engine over. Of course, when you talk to Fiat they just shrug their shoulders and tell you that it must be driven regularly in order to maintain the battery. But for anyone else with the same problem, I suggest (and it probably won’t make a lot of difference anyway) that you have a look at the ’arrangement’ Fiat use on the negative side of the underfloor battery. I think I’m right in assuming that battery terminals should be "Tight" but the connection that Fiat use on their latest Ducato does seem to leave a lot to be desired as there is no way that it can be tightened sufficiently unless like me you release the connection and try to get it farther down the negative pillar, thus making a tighter connection. Although the connection on my battery is a ’tad’ tighter than before, the battery still loses all its power over the course of a week or so, and then I have to resort to jump leads again.
Submitted: 29/05/2009 10:17:17
Callum Macleod, Nottinghamshire
Fiat Ducato 20jtd 2008
Had my van for 1 year - no problems, starts first time. There was a problem with the fan switch and found a brake pad stuck on so mpg not so good until that was fixed. Other than that no complaints, a good cheap van.
Submitted: 14/04/2009 10:53:23
Leslie Thorley, Isle of Anglesey
Fiat Ducato Motorhome 2008
Hi everyone! Everything you read on the Fiat 2.3 multi jet is absolutely TRUE. I have owned every model of the Fiat since its first early model. Their latest model has not been tested fully. Otherwise why would these very basic problems exist. For example - water ingress and, very important, reverse vibration shaking the gearbox to pieces. If anyone says this vibration does not exist they are either doing what an ostrich does or they are a Motorhome salesman. If this vibration happened on one of their Ferrari’s then the problem would be cured in the pits, not in 2years. They know what this problem is but they are playing the numbers game. When they say their technical team are working on this problem, this is an insult to those very clever guys who built this otherwise good machine. I ask just how long have they been building commercials. Finally, if you have this van then you must get a case number for future reference.
Submitted: 10/12/2008 11:28:53
Melvin Biggle, Staffordshire
Fiat Ducato Motorhome 2008
I brought this Fiat based motorhome in May 2008. From day one we have experienced a severe judder. It only been back to the dealers 10 times; I say only because we have now abandoned this heap of junk on the drive, we are totally sick of it. On every occasion we reverse we end up back at the dealers for several hours. To date we have only done 2100 miles, approximately 500 of these have been done by Fiat. The dealer is useless.
Submitted: 09/12/2008 10:15:51
Ivan McGuinnes, County Armagh
Fiat Ducato 2.3 130 hp Motorhome 2008
In April this year I bought a nice sunny new Fiat Ducato Base Motorhome; the 2.3 engine is very responsive and pulls well from low revs; the only problem I’ve had with the Fiat so far has been 2 duff batteries, 1 leisure and the engine battery. The dealer I bought it from replaced the leisure battery with no hesitation but it’s been a different story trying to get the engine battery replaced, the Fiat dealer has put up more fences than the grand national. I’ve contacted Fiat direct about it as I was worried about the service. It’s hard to get work done under warranty - what would the service be like to get an oil change? But I have to get it serviced by a Fiat dealer to keep the warranty active, they have informed me I can travel to Dublin to get this done! So, in conclusion, the main problem doesn’t lie with the Ducato but the dealers who service them. The first dealer I used even found a spare wheel on the van which was news to me as they don’t come with one! So that explains why I won’t be using them again. My Ducato has done over 5000 miles including a trip to Holland and many to the Republic of Ireland as well as England and I’ve had no problems with it so far (touch wood). One main note is to check the dealer service before you have any work done.
Submitted: 12/11/2008 09:38:16
Gerard Moyne, Northern Ireland
Fiat Ducato 2008
I need people to contact me re: the difficulty with Fiat Ducato Motorhomes Vans! My 2008 4.5 tonne motorhome is shuddering in reverse gear and the clutch is burning when tryng to reverse due to a problem known by Fiat to exist. I am looking at taking a class action re: this problem and need anyone who has a problem to contact me. moyne@gpsi.ie
Submitted: 10/11/2008 16:23:07
Jim Thompson, Berkshire
Fiat Ducato Adria Motorhome 2008
I have had 3 Ducato’s since 2004 in motorhome form - a 2004 2.3l, 2006 2.3l and my current Multijet 2.2 100 dci. I am surprised at the low level of satisfaction of other owners on this site. I have to say that I have not encountered any problems with the Ducato and in fact find the unit a pleasure to drive and own.
Submitted: 21/07/2008 08:58:56
Derek, Buckinghamshire
Fiat Ducato 160 Comformatic 2008
I took delivery of a new motorhome with the powerful 160 engine on 02/06/2008. We decided to pay the additional �1400 and go for the Comformatic auto gearbox. On delivery the speedo trip read 48 miles, and at 139 miles (3 days later) the auto box died and we coasted to a halt. Selecting manual control made no difference, we had no drive at all. The motorhome was taken on a low loader to my nearest Fiat comercial dealer where it has undergone one and a half days examination with the computer attached to no evail. The dealer has been liasing with Fiat to resolve the problem but so far no joy, Fiat have now told them to remove the gearbox so they can examine it further. Am I alone here or are there others of you out there that are or have experienced the same problem?. Just one final note the dealer(who shall remain nameless at the moment) refused to take the vehicle back and told us in no uncertain terms that he would not allow the breakdown truck to off load this new motorhome on their sales forecourt. How about that for customer service!
Submitted: 11/06/2008 13:37:34
John Scott, Shropshire
Fiat Ducato 130 MultiJet 2008
I purchased the new Fiat 130 MultiJet. It has done 1,100 miles and I have dicovered a vibration on 1st and reverse gears. I have spoken to a local dealer about this problem where I was told that Fiat do not recognise this fault. Has anybody else had this problem?
Submitted: 19/05/2008 09:35:10
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