2019 Fiat 124 Spider C RWD

AT 15,595 MILES I DISCOVERED MORE THAN AN OUNCE OF OIL IN THE INTAKE. I RECOGNIZE ON TURBO AND SUPERCHARGED CARS SOME BLOWBY IS TO BE EXPECTED. THIS IS TYPICALLY REMEDIED BY AN ENGINE OIL SEPARATOR (AKA A CATCH CAN). THE 2019 HAS A FACTORY INSTALLED CATCH CAN (MOPAR PART NUMBER 68320849AA) YET STILL SHOWS SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE BLOWBY AND OIL CONSUMPTION (GOOGLE THE COMPLAINTS). THE DEALER (DAYTON ANDREWS IN CLEARWATER FL) IS TELLING ME THIS IS NORMAL. YET THEY CAN PROVIDE NO SERVICE BULLETINS OR ANY DOCUMENTATION FROM MOPAR/FIAT STATING THIS IS ACCEPTABLE. THIS AMOUNT OF BLOW BY AND OIL CONSUMPTION CAN LEAD TO FOULED PLUGS, PCV SYSTEM AND SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING EMISSIONS AND OVERALL ENGINE RELIABILITY.

THE MATTE BLACK/HERITAGE STRIP IS ABSORBING WATER A D CAUSING DISCOLORATION. I TRIED WASHING IT OFF THINKING IT IS A WATER SPOT BUT HAVE BEEN INFORMED THE PROTECTIVE COATING OVER THE MATTE BLACK IS THE ISSUE AND IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN EUROPE.

THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ARE FAILING AT AN ALARMING RATE ACCORDING TO FIAT FORUMS (AND MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE). MINE FAILED 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON OCTOBER 15TH AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE A COUPLE WEEKS TO GET THE PART. HOWEVER, AS OF MID-DECEMBER, THE EARLIEST THE FIAT DEALER SAID THEY WILL SHIP FROM ITALY IN FEBRUARY. THIS POSES A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SEATBELT WILL NOT RESTRAIN A PASSENGER FROM A SUDDEN STOP. FURTHER, IT SHOWS THE DISINTEREST OF FIAT AS THE 124 SPIDER WAS MADE ON THE MAZDA MIATA ASSEMBLY LINE AND THE PARTS ARE INTERCHANGEABLE. THE MAZDA PARTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE, BUT THE FIAT DEALERS ARE REFUSING TO PURCHASE THEM TO PROTECT THEIR CUSTOMERS.

THE DASH BOARD IS REFLECTED IN THE WIND SHIELD TO THE EXTENT AT CERTAIN SUN ANGLES VISION IS SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED. THERE ARE SILVER PLATES ON THE DASH THAT REFLECTS MORE THAN OTHERS BUT THE WHOLE DASH IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I IMMEDIATLY CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT GOT NO REPLY. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, MOVING ON A CITY STREET OR A HIGHWAY, TURNING ETC. I DON'T THINK A PICTURE WITH MY CELL PHONE WOULD HELP. SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO SIT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND EXPERIENCE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS NOT AS BAD AT NIGHT. A SUNNY DAY IS THE WORST.