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Background photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0

Fiat 1.6 MultiJet engine: reliability and faults

Diesel · 1,598 cm³ · 120 hp · since 2006

Good choice, check first
Reliability
4.0/5

2 known faults

Verdict

A 1.6-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, fitted in 120 hp form to the Fiat Tipo, 500X and 500L, the Alfa Romeo MiTo and Giulietta and the Lancia Delta. Its emissions control (EGR valve, particulate filter) copes badly with short trips, and the clutch and flywheel wear early on manual gearboxes. Prefer a car that has done open-road driving and try it from cold.

Years to favour or avoid

To favour
No year particularly to favour
To avoid
No year to avoid identified

Known faults

Clogged EGR valve and particulate filter

Severity 2/3 · Costly

The 1.6 MultiJet 120's EGR valve tends to clog, causing acceleration problems, and the particulate filter suffers on short trips: regeneration needs journeys of more than 20 km at a steady pace.

Versions
multijet-1-6
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Premature clutch and flywheel wear (manual gearbox)

Severity 2/3 · Costly

On manual gearboxes the clutch and flywheel wear prematurely: judder at low speed, difficult gear changes, flywheel noise on cold start, slipping clutch. These are owner reports: the failure rate is not established.

Versions
multijet-1-6
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Models fitted

  • Good choice, check first

    Photo: M 93, Public domain

    Alfa Romeo MiTo

    2008–2018 · Petrol, Diesel

    Estimated monthly cost
    €269/month
    See the guide : Alfa Romeo MiTo
  • Good choice, check first

    Photo: Corvettec6r, CC0

    Fiat 500L

    2012–2022 · Petrol, Diesel

    Estimated monthly cost
    €279/month
    See the guide : Fiat 500L
  • Good choice, check first

    Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Fiat 500X

    2014–2024 · Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

    Estimated monthly cost
    €359/month
    See the guide : Fiat 500X
  • Good choice, check first

    Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Fiat Tipo

    since 2016 · Petrol, Diesel

    Estimated monthly cost
    €349/month
    See the guide : Fiat Tipo
  • Good choice, check first

    Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de

    Lancia Delta

    2008–2014 · Petrol, Diesel

    Estimated monthly cost
    €290/month
    See the guide : Lancia Delta

Maintain and diagnose this engine

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of car parts (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.