Before you buy a used Fiat Tipo.
Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

The essentials.
- 3 documented, sourced faults across its 3 engines.
- 1 of them depends on the equipment or the production date: ask what this car has.
- 1 official recall on record: ask for the chassis number (VIN) and confirm it has been done.
- According to the data we have, the engine with the fewest documented faults is the 1.0 FireFly / 1.5 Hybrid (Petrol).
Typical faults by engine
The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.
All versions
Sheets the catalogue links to all 3 of its engines.
- Rear brakes at inspection and airbag campaigns on the TipoKnown weak points
- Period mentioned
- 2015 onwards
- Mileage mentioned
- The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Weak points of this model from inspections, breakdown statistics and recalls; anything specific to one engine is stated in the sheet.
1.4
Petrol
- FIRE head gasket, belt and coilsCylinder head / timing / ignition
- Period mentioned
- 2000–2020
- Mileage mentioned
- 80,000–150,000 km
1.0 FireFly / 1.5 Hybrid
Petrol
We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.
1.3 / 1.6 Multijet
Diesel
- 1.3 Multijet chain, DPF and EGRTiming / DPF / EGR
- Period mentioned
- 2003–2020
- Mileage mentioned
- 80,000–120,000 km
Which engine has the fewest documented faults?
| Engine | Documented faults | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4Petrol | 21 with conditions | 0 |
| 1.0 FireFly / 1.5 HybridPetrolFewest documented | 11 with conditions | 1 |
| 1.3 / 1.6 MultijetDiesel | 21 with conditions | 0 |
According to the data we have, the engine with the fewest documented faults is the 1.0 FireFly / 1.5 Hybrid (Petrol).
By fuel, all versions have the same number of documented faults.
We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.
Official recalls: ask before you pay
A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.
- Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
- Ask an official Fiat dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
- Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
Tipo airbags inactive without warning due to software faultBrakes and safety
Engines: 1.0 FireFly / 1.5 Hybrid (Petrol)
How to check it: Confirm VIN; update airbag and instrument-panel software.
View full entryOn the test drive: what to look and listen for
Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.
0 of 3 checked
Cylinder head / timing / ignition
Look out for: Coolant loss, white smoke or mayonnaise-like oil (head gasket); misfires and, if the ECU is damaged, the car will not start or cuts out.
Ask them to check: Check the coolant level and oil filler cap, check when the belt was last changed (also by age) and test the coils before they fail.
Timing / DPF / EGR
Look out for: Chain rattle on cold starts; oil level rising and smelling of diesel; particulate filter warning; power loss from a dirty EGR or the turbo.
Ask them to check: Listen to a cold start, check whether the oil is above maximum or smells of diesel, read the DPF status and check the oil change history.
Known weak points
Look out for: Rusty rear brakes and insufficient service-brake performance from the first inspection; also suspension and lighting; carbon on the injectors and intake of the turbo petrols; on diesels, particulate filter, dual-mass flywheel, turbo, EGR and injectors at high mileage; poor DAB reception due to the aerial.
Ask them to check: Check the rear discs and calipers; check the airbag campaigns by VIN.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.
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