While the
recalls embroiling Toyota have hit the headlines worldwide,
Fiat Automóveis is being forced to recall the Fiat Stilo
built in Brazil after the Ministério da Justiça (Justice
Ministry) ruled that faulty rear hubs caused the detachment
of the road wheel and could have caused a number of deaths.
Fiat, while agreeing to recall the Stilos built in Brazil
since 2004, denies the accidents were the result of faulty
components and is preparing to appeal the decision.
The news
was posted on the Ministério da Justiça's website and
followed an investigation by the Departamento Nacional de
Trânsito (Denatran) which was forwarded to the
Grupo de Estudos Permanentes de Acidentes de Consumo (GEPAC).
As a result the Departamento de Proteção e Defesa do
Consumidor (DPDC) of the Ministério da Justiça has fined
Fiat 3 million reals (US$1.7 million), the maximum
permissible in the Código de Defesa
do Consumidor (Consumer Protection Code).
In a hard hitting statement, the
Ministério da Justiça said
that Fiat had been closely involved in the investigation: "The
automaker has manifested itself in the process 13 times,
supplied technical reports and hundreds of pages of
documents, which stated categorically and repeatedly that
there was no defect and, therefore, no need to hold a
recall. The automaker also claimed that the detachment of
the wheels was a result of accidents and not its cause." The
statement added that the maximum penalty was issued:
"considering that the automaker denied the existence of a
defect and had no recall, putting at risk the health and
safety of consumers." Thirty accidents involving the
detachment of wheels from the Fiat Stilo in the period of
2007-2008 were investigated and eight accidents showed signs
of defect. No cars fitted with ABS were involved.
Fiat
Automóveis was swift to respond and issued a statement
questioning the "unprecedented decision" of the DPDC which
it said was "surprised" by. It will however carry out a
recall to replace the rear hub. In its statement Fiat
Automóveis said: "The
company insists, however, that the Fiat Stilo will not have any inconvenience or risk
to the consumer, as maintained in a technical report commissioned.
Based on this conviction, Fiat Automóveis reports that it will immediately
seek
providence to appeal in search of full clarification of
the facts. The DPDC's decision was based on a report [by] the company CESVI, contracted
by Denatran – Departamento Nacional de Trânsito, which Fiat has not had
prior knowledge [of] or opportunity to [challenge]. Fiat disagrees with the report and
the decision of DPDC.
Fiat has reassured its customers regarding the security of the Stilo,
recalling that it was the first automaker in Brazil to convene a spontaneously
recall, a clear demonstration of transparency and respect for consumers. They
are principles that have always guided the conduct of the company."
