Skip to content
Emergency

Before you buy a used Kia Cee'd (I).

2006–2012 · Petrol / Diesel · 2 engines

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.

Kia Cee'd (I), real photo of this generation
Thomas doerfer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

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 2 of its engines.

  • Battery, fuel pump, axles and recalls on the Cee'd IKnown weak points
    Period mentioned
    2006–2012
    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 / 1.6 / 2.0

Petrol

1.6 / 2.0 CRDi

Diesel

  • Timing chain, fuel filter and clutch on the Sorento II 2.2 CRDiTiming system
    Period mentioned
    2009–2014
    Mileage mentioned
    What the sheet says: The guide recommends replacing the chain at around 100,000 km to stop it breaking. The fuel filter often clogs and the clutch wears out before 60,000 km when towing. On the automatic, changing and flushing the oil helps.

    Applies if: Same R-family CRDi diesel (D4HA/D4HB) as the Sorento II, where the German guide documents the chain and fuel filter.

  • Weak points of the small CRDi diesels (U family) from Hyundai and KiaInjection / turbo
    Period mentioned
    Approx. 2005 onwards
    Mileage mentioned
    What the sheet says: German guides rate these engines as robust if maintained: the faults are the typical wear of a modern diesel. Specific points: a stretched chain on some 1.7s (ix35), cracked heads cited by the TÜV on the i30 I, the 1.1 silencer (Rio III), diesel clutches at 60,000–100,000 km (Cee'd I) and a recall of the 1.7 CRDi vacuum pump (5/10/2010–30/4/2011).

    Applies if: Only the 1.6 CRDi (U family); the 2.0 CRDi is a different engine.

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Kia Cee'd (I)
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
1.4 / 1.6 / 2.0PetrolFewest documented22 with conditions1
1.6 / 2.0 CRDiDiesel33 with conditions1

According to the data we have, the engine with the fewest documented faults is the 1.4 / 1.6 / 2.0 (Petrol).

By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: Petrol.

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.

  1. 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.
  2. Ask an official Kia 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.
  3. 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.
Kia brake recalls (2003–2024)Brakes

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry

On 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 4 checked

Timing system

  • Look out for: Chain rattle on cold start or under load, engine warning light and, in the worst case, the chain jumping with serious engine damage.

    Ask them to check: Listen on a cold start; read the camshaft–crankshaft correlation codes; replace chain, tensioner and guides if it rattles; keep to the oil-change intervals.

  • Look out for: Chain noise at high mileage, hesitation or loss of power from a clogged fuel filter, turbo whistle and a worn clutch when towing; on automatics, harsh shifts.

    Ask them to check: Listen to the chain when cold, change the fuel filter on time and test the clutch under load; on automatics, check the gearbox oil.

Known weak points

  • Look out for: In the ADAC statistics: battery (2008–2013), alternator (up to 2009), fuel pump (2008–2010), crankshaft sensor and immobiliser (2008–2009) and ignition. At the roadworthiness test: axle mounts and drive shafts failing early, tie-rod ends, dipped and rear lights out and weak brakes with worn discs.

    Ask them to check: Check outstanding recalls by VIN (manufacturer, KBA or ADAC website) and have a garage inspect the points listed before buying or before the roadworthiness test.

Injection / turbo

  • Look out for: At high mileage or with short trips: carbon in injectors and EGR, a clogged particulate filter, dual-mass flywheel and turbo; isolated cases of a stretched chain (1.7) and cracked heads (early 1.6); a clutch that wears early; on some cars, a cracked silencer (1.1) or the brake-servo vacuum pump (1.7 campaign).

    Ask them to check: Drive long trips to regenerate the filter; listen to the chain when cold; test injectors and EGR; check the vacuum-pump campaign by VIN on the 1.7.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

More Kia buying guides

View the model pageAll buying guides