Photo: Harvey Bold, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
4 faults documented by at least two sources, listed by version then by mileage at onset when known.
4 known faults
On the 1.2 69 hp, the plastic thermostat housing is a known weak point: if it cracks, it causes a coolant leak. Left untreated, the leak can lead to overheating and damage to the cylinder head gasket.
Electric steering assistance can cut out intermittently or permanently, with a dashboard warning light; the steering then becomes heavy. The cause is the torque sensor or the assist motor integrated into the steering column, which is often replaced as a single unit.
The Dualogic is a manual gearbox whose clutch and gear changes are driven by a hydraulic actuator. If the actuator, its position sensor or the hydraulic pressure weaken, the gearbox can jolt, refuse a gear or drop back into neutral, with a transmission fault message. Repair involves diagnosis and then the actuator or hydraulic circuit, which can be expensive. On forums, most complaints concern cars bought second-hand.
On the 1.2 69 hp, the plastic thermostat housing is a known weak point: if it cracks, it causes a coolant leak. Left untreated, the leak can lead to overheating and damage to the cylinder head gasket.
Electric steering assistance can cut out intermittently or permanently, with a dashboard warning light; the steering then becomes heavy. The cause is the torque sensor or the assist motor integrated into the steering column, which is often replaced as a single unit.
On the TwinAir twin-cylinder, the opening of the intake valves is controlled by the electro-hydraulic UniAir module, which runs on engine oil. Degraded oil or spaced-out oil changes can clog it: misfires (often when cold), unstable idle and an engine warning light. Owners also report ignition, turbo and oil consumption problems. Respecting oil change intervals and using the recommended oil is essential.
Electric steering assistance can cut out intermittently or permanently, with a dashboard warning light; the steering then becomes heavy. The cause is the torque sensor or the assist motor integrated into the steering column, which is often replaced as a single unit.
The Dualogic is a manual gearbox whose clutch and gear changes are driven by a hydraulic actuator. If the actuator, its position sensor or the hydraulic pressure weaken, the gearbox can jolt, refuse a gear or drop back into neutral, with a transmission fault message. Repair involves diagnosis and then the actuator or hydraulic circuit, which can be expensive. On forums, most complaints concern cars bought second-hand.
On the TwinAir twin-cylinder, the opening of the intake valves is controlled by the electro-hydraulic UniAir module, which runs on engine oil. Degraded oil or spaced-out oil changes can clog it: misfires (often when cold), unstable idle and an engine warning light. Owners also report ignition, turbo and oil consumption problems. Respecting oil change intervals and using the recommended oil is essential.
Electric steering assistance can cut out intermittently or permanently, with a dashboard warning light; the steering then becomes heavy. The cause is the torque sensor or the assist motor integrated into the steering column, which is often replaced as a single unit.
Electric steering assistance can cut out intermittently or permanently, with a dashboard warning light; the steering then becomes heavy. The cause is the torque sensor or the assist motor integrated into the steering column, which is often replaced as a single unit.
An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.
Compare prices of parts for the Fiat 500 II (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.