Joined the Comfortmatic failure club

[stuartholmes]

Why Fiat? The problem is some garages not doing all the items specified by Fiat as part of the service.

I think it depends on the relationship between Fiat & their approved service centres. Probably would be a tricky legal discussion & anybody with small pockets might struggle but a small claims court could be different as they have a reputation for being sympathetic to the claimant where it's vs. 'big' business..

 

[Lenny HB]

I think it depends on the relationship between Fiat & their approved service centres. Probably would be a tricky legal discussion & anybody with small pockets might struggle but a small claims court could be different as they have a reputation for being sympathetic to the claimant where it's vs. 'big' business..

These cases come down to who can afford the most expensive lawyer.

 

[Boswell Bear]

509 posts on comfortmatic sort of tells its own story IMHO.

Has anyone counted the positive ones............

It’s the same on all motor vehicle forums, even on vehicles that have great reliability records. People mainly visit forums for info and advice on problems.

 

[Lenny HB]

It’s the same on all motor vehicle forums, even on vehicles that have great reliability records. People mainly visit forums for info and advice on problems.

Agree you get very few posts where people aren't complaining about problems.
Must me hundreds of thousands of Comfomatics out there they were making them for about 12 years.

We had 2 Comformatics over 10 years without any problems.

 

[MichaelT]

Agree you get very few posts where people aren't complaining about problems.
Must me hundreds of thousands of Comfomatics out there they were making them for about 12 years.

We had 2 Comformatics over 10 years without any problems.

Same here and many others. How many manual clutches have gone but no one posts about them?

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[Minxy]

One of the main issues is the slave cylinder which is common to both the manual and auto, it's just that the auto gets more mention.

 

[jongood]

It’s the same on all motor vehicle forums, even on vehicles that have great reliability records. People mainly visit forums for info and advice on problems.

Fair point but new posts about comfortmatic problems seem to pop up more frequently than anything else.

Same here and many others. How many manual clutches have gone but no one posts about them?

Difference with a regular clutch failure is that you're normally given notice so you can drive it to any garage and should cost about £1000. Comfortmatic failures usually happens with no notice, means that the vehicle is completely immobilised requiring a recovery truck and has to be taken to a garage with specialist knowledge and equipment and costs an awful lot more.

 

[Minxy]

Fair point but new posts about comfortmatic problems seem to pop up more frequently than anything else.

The ratio of autos to manual in MHs is probably much higher than non-mh vehicles. Most issues aren't the clutch or gearbox but slave cylinder but unfairly blamed on the comfortmatic.

Difference with a regular clutch failure is that you're normally given notice so you can drive it to any garage and should cost about £1000. Comfortmatic failures usually happens with no notice, means that the vehicle is completely immobilised requiring a recovery truck and has to be taken to a garage with specialist knowledge and equipment and costs an awful lot more.

The bell housing needs removing to replace the clutch and/or slave cylinder for both manual and auto so no cost difference. As for recovery that wouldn't be an issue if you have breakdown cover and I doubt many would want to drive a vehicle with a duff clutch, been there and it's not fun at all especially on a heavy vehicle.

 

[Tigertom]

The only time I’ve ever seen a moho/camper removed by low loader from a campsite /aire it was a comfortmatic ducato with auto box issues.
Different mechanics couldn’t fix it on site, it went to a garage and as far as I’m aware the Dutch owners drove home from Spain in a hire car.
Personally I wouldn’t buy one.

 

[Pausim]

I think it depends on the relationship between Fiat & their approved service centres. Probably would be a tricky legal discussion & anybody with small pockets might struggle but a small claims court could be different as they have a reputation for being sympathetic to the claimant where it's vs. 'big' business..

The customer paid the garage to do the service and they did not follow current written Fiat instructions. Some mechanics and garages think they know better and customers are left with big bills.

One of the main issues is the slave cylinder which is common to both the manual and auto, it's just that the auto gets more mention.

Is it the same? Would the manual have a unit that has ATF and DOT4 fluids working together? The problem seems to be ATF leaking across and polluting the DOT4 causing the slave to fail.

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[JockandRita]

Personally I wouldn’t buy one.

My thoughts exactly.

Jock.

 

[CazPaul]

The only time I’ve ever seen a moho/camper removed by low loader from a campsite /aire it was a comfortmatic ducato with auto box issues.
Different mechanics couldn’t fix it on site, it went to a garage and as far as I’m aware the Dutch owners drove home from Spain in a hire car.
Personally I wouldn’t buy one.

Wouldn’t buy one? I wouldn’t have one chuffing given.

 

[scotzsue]

Well we have one, and may well have been the one seen taken off a rally. Our biggest problem was the disgusting service from the RAC. Not all faults are massively expensive either. Our first RAC man ex Fiat, could have fixed it had he been able to get at it.
We can't all afford more expensive and supposedly more reliable makes, and due to health problems have no choice but to drive auto or semi autos.

 

[Just smiffy]

Some of us have no choice but to buy one…

 

[WESTY66]

Wouldn’t buy one? I wouldn’t have one chuffing given.

Why? 56k and still going strong, the only time I would become a little nervous about driving one is going to either Morocco (my moho has been there a couple of times with the previous owner, but was under warranty back then) or going to turkey, due to 1, repatriation costs and 2, do the local garages/dealers actually know anything about them?
If driving to mainland Europe I would set off tomorrow with no concerns

Edit. I’ve more faith in my 3.0L NON adblue comfortmatic than ANY van with an adblu system, either auto or manual

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[Lenny HB]

We can't all afford more expensive and supposedly more reliable makes,

They have just as many problems you hear more about Fiat's as 75% of Motorhomes are built on them.

 

[jongood]

The ratio of autos to manual in MHs is probably much higher than non-mh vehicles. Most issues aren't the clutch or gearbox but slave cylinder but unfairly blamed on the comfortmatic.


The bell housing needs removing to replace the clutch and/or slave cylinder for both manual and auto so no cost difference. As for recovery that wouldn't be an issue if you have breakdown cover and I doubt many would want to drive a vehicle with a duff clutch, been there and it's not fun at all especially on a heavy vehicle.

How come we've seen so many reports on here of complete replacements of comfortmatic boxes at huge prices then?

There's still plenty of manuals about, can't remember the last time I saw a report of a manual gearbox replacement.

 

[simsy56]

I've got one, my first, had it since June 24. 3.0L 180 none ad blu. Checked everything and what to look for according to Simon at AM. Read the manual, and have driven it with respect, and it performs very well. It won't take off like a scolded cat, but, I don't need to.

I am mechanically adept, and understand how thing work and could fix most things. I will get the fluid changed when we are in England,

If I took notice of all the negative comments, I would still be using a tent. I have had US RVs for many years, and the negative comments about those were unfounded.

Currently me and my wife enjoy the Aztec, we've been to Scotland in it, and loved the benefits of a smaller MoHo. The last small one we had was in the 70s, a VW Dormobile.

Let's see how this performs, and I'll make up my own mind.

Craig

 

[Lenny HB]

How come we've seen so many reports on here of complete replacements of comfortmatic boxes at huge prices then

Their has only been one or maybe two complete gearbox failures reported on here, how do you make that "so many".

 

[AlunandFelicie]

Their gas only been or maybe two complete gearbox failures reported on here, how do you make that "so many".

It would be good to find out the total number of members who drive a Comfortmatic(I do) and how many have actually had a problem to get some idea if there is disaster waiting in the wings for us all

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[Kannon Fodda]

It's not the gearbox itself that fails. My understanding is the gearbox itself is not much different to the manual.

The Comfortmatic failures are in the actuation systems, the hydraulics that replace the foot pedal clutch operation. It is the main servo unit that has internal seals that can allow cross contamination of the fluid. That main servo and then the slave cylinder in the clutch housing fail as the contamination spreads. Changing the clutch actuation (DOT4 type) fluid at regular intervals may reduce risk of the failure.

 

[Thornebt]

It would be good to find out the total number of members who drive a Comfortmatic(I do) and how many have actually had a problem to get some idea if there is disaster waiting in the wings for us all

Perhaps it needs a poll set up to identify the number of funsters who have had problems. It might also be useful to have a 'repair cost' bracket included? We would then know what the failure percentage is like and average cost. Sorry, I don't really know how to set up one of these posts or the best format.

 

[Al n Val]

It would be good to find out the total number of members who drive a Comfortmatic(I do) and how many have actually had a problem to get some idea if there is disaster waiting in the wings for us all

I had one 3 years and it never missed a beat, not as smooth as the new 9sp but just did what is had to do.

my sons is coming up to 7 years and his is the same so nothing negative at all.

 

[dunnah01]

A simple Comfortmatic software update to reduce the clutch actuation speed would allay any longevity fears for the CSC, but this would slow down gear changes for everybody so would be a hard sell for anybody not having any issues.

 

[Bessy765]

Our 2019 Burstner 2.3 150hp Comformatic is. Just coming up to 30,000 miles had the actuator fluid changed by AM at four years old. Just booking it in for September 6 years old to have major service and fluid changed. Van always runs close to 4500 kg av 25/27 mpg. No problems at all

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[CazPaul]

I’ve got 2 indirect experiences of them, first one a local business round here with a fleet of then told me they were a pile of rubbish and they were in the garage being repaired at huge cost more than on the road, they couldn’t wait to get shut.

When we were looking for a new van the mechanic we use, who is sadly retired now, said don’t touch them he won’t have one in his garage now

If they were that simple and uncomplicated systems why do the majority on here ask you to take them down to AM on the south coast. They’re really easy and uncomplicated but there’s only 1 chap who knows what he’s doing.

 

[Bramidan]

Why? 56k and still going strong, the only time I would become a little nervous about driving one is going to either Morocco (my moho has been there a couple of times with the previous owner, but was under warranty back then) or going to turkey, due to 1, repatriation costs and 2, do the local garages/dealers actually know anything about them?
If driving to mainland Europe I would set off tomorrow with no concerns

Edit. I’ve more faith in my 3.0L NON adblue comfortmatic than ANY van with an adblu system, either auto or manual

They manufacture Fiats in Turkey. One of the most common cars and vans on the road.
Fiat Professional garages/ workshops are really clean and modern.

 

[WESTY66]

They manufacture Fiats in Turkey. One of the most common cars and vans on the road.
Fiat Professional garages/ workshops are really clean and modern.

That’s good to know, thanks

 

[L' Hobo]

I’ve got 2 indirect experiences of them, first one a local business round here with a fleet of then told me they were a pile of rubbish and they were in the garage being repaired at huge cost more than on the road, they couldn’t wait to get shut.

When we were looking for a new van the me Amoc we use, who is sadly retired now, said don’t touch them he won’t have one in his garage now

If they were that simple and uncomplicated systems why do the majority in here ask you to take them down to AM on the south coast. They really easy and uncomplicated but there’s only 1 chap who knows what he’s doing.

I have NO experience of a Comfortmatic but am led to believe that a lot of Ambulances here in the Eastern Region run them.

Could this be the reason, why it was reported on BBC Local TV News before Christmas, that "50% of the Ambulance fleet were unavailable and in the workshop so, please, could we all be extra careful over the Festivities?"

 

[jongood]

They manufacture Fiats in Turkey. One of the most common cars and vans on the road.
Fiat Professional garages/ workshops are really clean and modern.

Asfaik Ducatos for our market are still made in Italy.

Their has only been one or maybe two complete gearbox failures reported on here, how do you make that "so many".

Im pretty sure there have been more on here, but plenty of other instances with commercial operators and Ambulances.

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