Fiat 9 speed auto recall notice issued

Sideshow Bob said:
Dropped into my local Fiat Professional dealer in Sandycroft Deeside (Pentagon Group) they weren’t interesting in doing the updates unless I could show them a letter from Fiat telling me to have the update - I showed them the alert from the My Fiat website but they insisted that this was just generic, and loads of people have been quoting this, they said they would need the letter in order for them to get paid and the other side of it is that if they did an update that wasn’t required and if it damaged the gearbox, they would be liable - I explained all the details including how it affects the 9 speed and my 160 Bhp but to no avail - they did say that they will call head office on `Monday and speak to the person who manages warranty and call me back, I won’t hold me breath though 🙄
I did say that I will be going to Scotland and back at Christmas and if there is a gearbox software update - I would be unhappy to do this without the update being carried out
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Update on my interactions with Fiat Customer Service and my further chat with my local Fiat Professional dealer
I received an email from Fiat and they do refer to it as a recall
I won’t bore you with the details of the conversation on my return to the Fiat Professional dealer but to say I was angry would be an understatement and I ended up being more than a little forceful with them and told them how unhappy I was at being fobbed off
Anyways it’s booked in tomorrow at 13.00 hours for the software update

Thank you for your patience regarding the recall for your Fiat Ducato (VIN: ZFAXXXXXXXX).
As you mentioned, your vehicle is indeed subject to a recall concerning the ECM and TCM software update. Our authorized dealerships are equipped to perform this update for you.
If the dealership requires any further approval or assistance, they can reach out to us directly.
If you require any further assistance, please reply to this email or contact us by calling Fiat Professional at 0080034281111
Yours sincerely,
Customer Care Stellantis EMEA Fiat Professional
GIORGI P.
 
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Yes, we got a call yesterday afternoon to say they had managed to get the software installed.
Drove it back home and couldn’t really tell any difference in how it was driving which is good as it seemed to be working beautifully before the update.
Fingers crossed it’s headed off any future problems with the gearbox 🤞
 
Swamp said:
Yes, we got a call yesterday afternoon to say they had managed to get the software installed.
Drove it back home and couldn’t really tell any difference in how it was driving which is good as it seemed to be working beautifully before the update.
Fingers crossed it’s headed off any future problems with the gearbox 🤞
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Excellent news Swamp, that’s my logic exactly, gearbox hasn’t missed a beat and like you want to avoid a future issue

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My update went ahead as planned today, I was in and out of the FIAT Professional dealer in less than 45 mins. I cannot say I noticed any difference before/after but I am happy that it's done. My vehicle was the first my dealer had done.
 
Just returned from Fiat, Research Garage Nuneaton. Think it took them longer to manoeuvre the van into the workshop than actually do the upgrade.

Great service, they knew exactly what it ws all about.

Runs as it did, cant notice any difference.
 
Trev45 said:
Has anyone established what this software update actually changes and maybe even more important why it was deemed necessary to carry it out ?
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I was told it was to reduce the chances of torque converter failure, but they didn't know how.
 
Sideshow Bob said:
Update on my interactions with Fiat Customer Service and my further chat with my local Fiat Professional dealer
I received an email from Fiat and they do refer to it as a recall
I won’t bore you with the details of the conversation on my return to the Fiat Professional dealer but to say I was angry would be an understatement and I ended up being more than a little forceful with them and told them how unhappy I was at being fobbed off
Anyways it’s booked in tomorrow at 13.00 hours for the software update

Thank you for your patience regarding the recall for your Fiat Ducato (VIN: ZFAXXXXXXXX).
As you mentioned, your vehicle is indeed subject to a recall concerning the ECM and TCM software update. Our authorized dealerships are equipped to perform this update for you.
If the dealership requires any further approval or assistance, they can reach out to us directly.
If you require any further assistance, please reply to this email or contact us by calling Fiat Professional at 0080034281111
Yours sincerely,
Customer Care Stellantis EMEA Fiat Professional
GIORGI P.
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Update completed today, took 45 minutes and too early for me to notice any difference in performance or gear changing
One thing I noticed was when they were doing the update the engine was revving quite high which I assume brings the voltage up, wonder if this was the issue with those that the software update failed on?

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Just had ours done today, my impression is it is more eager to change gear, in a good way, before it was a little hesitant to change and I can’t recall seeing it in ninth gear unless going downhill but now from about 55/60 happy to be in top gear, overall I would say it is a 4500kg van that now drives a bit more like a 3500kg van, so all good 👍
 
I had our van ‘done’ this morning and it feels very similar to before although perhaps changing to a higher gear slightly earlier as others have stated. I haven’t taken it on a long journey yet though so these are very much first impressions. It’s still a great feeling gearbox so I’m happy 😁

I asked the technician if he had any idea what the update actually does and he didn’t. Just said that Fiat tell them to do it without any explanation of what it does. He was a nice chap so shared some of the suggestions from here and he could see the logic to our ‘ideas’ but couldn’t confirm anything.

Fingers crossed that Fiat have got it right and that it makes our boxes a bit more reliable 🤞
 
Difficult to be sure but I felt that the engine revved a little more before engaging the next higher gear ,( 6th to 7 th for example ).
This could reduce torque between gear changes and put less “ strain “ on the box?
 
Well attended Chelston for my Ducato's 1st (2year) service. Registered with Fiat have taken out their 5 year extended warranty get emails from them they know my address but not received anything about a recall.
However on arrival Chelston informed me there are 3 recalls for my vehicle. My enquiry about what the recalls were about were met with 'well we are just given a series of recall reference numbers from fiat and plug it in to update the vehicle CPU and that gets registered with fiat against your chassis no.
So that's about it. If you don't get a letter from Fiat the only way to find out appears to be to get a Fiat professional to run a check for you against your chassis no. Whether they will do that without booking a service through them is anybodies guess, worth a try. Have I noticed any difference in the drive, no, it still drives beautifully as before.
The only thing of note is that my wallet for a Fiat Pro full service is £525 lighter!
 
dash300 said:
Well attended Chelston for my Ducato's 1st (2year) service. Registered with Fiat have taken out their 5 year extended warranty get emails from them they know my address but not received anything about a recall.
However on arrival Chelston informed me there are 3 recalls for my vehicle. My enquiry about what the recalls were about were met with 'well we are just given a series of recall reference numbers from fiat and plug it in to update the vehicle CPU and that gets registered with fiat against your chassis no.
So that's about it. If you don't get a letter from Fiat the only way to find out appears to be to get a Fiat professional to run a check for you against your chassis no. Whether they will do that without booking a service through them is anybodies guess, worth a try. Have I noticed any difference in the drive, no, it still drives beautifully as before.
The only thing of note is that my wallet for a Fiat Pro full service is £525 lighter!
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Not bad service cost, just a bit more than my local Fiat garage.

I'm booked in for the update in a couple of weeks without a service.
 
Most updates are not safety related and can wait for a service. The gearbox one involves notifying owners perhaps because it impacts on warranty claims.

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dash300 said:
Well attended Chelston for my Ducato's 1st (2year) service. Registered with Fiat have taken out their 5 year extended warranty get emails from them they know my address but not received anything about a recall.
However on arrival Chelston informed me there are 3 recalls for my vehicle. My enquiry about what the recalls were about were met with 'well we are just given a series of recall reference numbers from fiat and plug it in to update the vehicle CPU and that gets registered with fiat against your chassis no.
So that's about it. If you don't get a letter from Fiat the only way to find out appears to be to get a Fiat professional to run a check for you against your chassis no. Whether they will do that without booking a service through them is anybodies guess, worth a try. Have I noticed any difference in the drive, no, it still drives beautifully as before.
The only thing of note is that my wallet for a Fiat Pro full service is £525 lighter!
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Full 2 year Fiat Professional service? Nothing wrong with that price in my book.
All about expectations, I suppose.
 
I had mine done today despite having no recall letter. Had a chat with the very helpful and knowledgeable technician. He said it was basically to correct a wrong engine map. Mine didn't have the specific fault code which indicates damage has been done. He said if that code had been present it would mean a new gearbox.

I also talked to him about the steering failures which he knew all about and had apparently been able to save someone's holiday plans by fitting a non-standard wiring loom from a different vehicle, I think he said a truck, as a temporary measure. Apparently this is no more waterproof, but has a drain hole to let the water drain out of the connector housing. Sounded like a good preventative measure but he was not authorised to offer the modification if the steering is OK, and did add that you will normally get some warning of this issue before it fails completely. Might have a look at this myself if I can get at it.

The reason I contacted them about this before I had a recall letter was that a couple of weeks ago in Derbyshire, after going up and down a few steep low speed hills, when I got onto a more gentle downward slope and accelerated the gearbox didn't up shift and the engine revs just kept rising. I slowed down and tried accelerating again at which point it operated normally. I have never known the gearbox to hold onto low gears on down slopes, in fact that is my only criticism of it. Maybe the hill descent thing got triggered somehow, but it hasn't happened again.

On the drive home today after the software update it felt pretty much as normal, though perhaps a little more sprightly when accelerating from low speed in traffic. It feels like it is maybe holding onto the lower gears a tad longer before upshifting.
 
Just back from Adams Morey Southampton. It’s about a 1hr 40 minute drive on windy side roads, a bit hilly, dual carriageway and Motorway. I have to confess it drove beautifully for 5000 miles before and didn’t seem any different coming home! Mind you what do I know, you keep using words like torque and such and I didn’t realise until today that D1-9 was the gears changing on the dash! I drive as much, probably more than Nick.

It’s a box on 4 wheels that I can live in very comfortably, people on MHF tell me when it needs fixing. :giggle:
 
jongood said:
Here we go again! what is it with Fiat and transmissions? We've had the failing 5th gear, Juddergate, comfortmatic and now this.
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Exactly the reason why they should be avoided like the plague, even if other marques may have issues of their own.
Fiats are only used by motorhome manufacturers because they’re so much cheaper to buy in the first place, not because they’re good quality.
 
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Looking at the list of troubles that the new Fiat Ducatos seem to suffer I do wonder whether they are somehow Motorhome and camper van specific.
There must be tens of thousands of Ducatos being used as delivery vans across the UK & Europe. If they were all afflicted similarly with businesses & owner drivers losing business every day they were off the road then I’m sure there would be uproar.
How is it that these afflictions don’t seem to hit these delivery vans in the same way, or do they?

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AshFencing said:
Exactly the reason why they should be avoided like the plague, even if other marques may have issues of their own.
Fiats are only use by motorhome manufacturers because they’re so much cheaper to buy in the first place, not because they’re good quality.
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Just as reliable as Mercedes which have their own issues.
 
AshFencing said:
Exactly the reason why they should be avoided like the plague, even if other marques may have issues of their own.
Fiats are only use by motorhome manufacturers because they’re so much cheaper to buy in the first place, not because they’re good quality.
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No different with other manufacturers, you just here about more on Motorhome forums because 75% of Motorhomes are on the Fiat chassis.
Also a lot of motor homes stand around unused for months which is the worst secnario for a vehicle.
 
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Swamp said:
Looking at the list of troubles that the new Fiat Ducatos seem to suffer I do wonder whether they are somehow Motorhome and camper van specific.
There must be tens of thousands of Ducatos being used as delivery vans across the UK & Europe. If they were all afflicted similarly with businesses & owner drivers losing business every day they were off the road then I’m sure there would be uproar.
How is it that these afflictions don’t seem to hit these delivery vans in the same way, or do they?
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Very good observation this

“There must be tens of thousands of Ducatos being used as delivery vans across the UK & Europe. If they were all afflicted similarly with businesses & owner drivers losing business every day they were off the road then I’m sure there would be uproar.
How is it that these afflictions don’t seem to hit these delivery vans in the same way, or do they?”
 
Do wonder if the gearbox can't cope with the torque. HP per 100rpm. Set the software and keep revs a little higher will reduce the torque and will help.

But if gearbox isn't man enough, will fail at some point.
 
Sideshow Bob said:
Very good observation this

“There must be tens of thousands of Ducatos being used as delivery vans across the UK & Europe. If they were all afflicted similarly with businesses & owner drivers losing business every day they were off the road then I’m sure there would be uproar.
How is it that these afflictions don’t seem to hit these delivery vans in the same way, or do they?”
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Delivery vans are mostly manual boxes, normally under 3,500 kg. And often empty or half full.

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