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Before you buy a used Kia Picanto (III).

2017–2026 · Petrol · 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 Picanto (III), real photo of this generation
M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 DE · 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.

  • Dipped beams and 1.0 T-GDI carbon on the Picanto IIIKnown weak points
    Period mentioned
    2017 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.

1.0 / 1.2

Petrol

We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.

1.0 T-GDi

Petrol

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Kia Picanto (III)
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
1.0 / 1.2PetrolFewest documented11 with conditions3
1.0 T-GDiPetrol21 with conditions3

According to the data we have, the engine with the fewest documented faults is the 1.0 / 1.2 (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 fuel-system recalls (2004–2026)Fuel system

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
Kia engine, transmission and software recalls (2004–2025)Powertrain and engine management

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
Kia electrical, lighting and electronics recalls (2010–2026)Electrical and electronic systems

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 2 checked

Injection / turbo

  • Look out for: Loss of power, higher consumption, hesitation or rough idle, usually at high mileage.

    Ask them to check: Read misfire and fuel-trim codes; inspect the injectors and valves with a borescope; clean the intake if there are deposits.

Known weak points

  • Look out for: Dipped beams failing at the roadworthiness test; on the 1.0 T-GDI, carboned injectors at high mileage (loss of power); the torque-converter automatic uses more fuel.

    Ask them to check: Check the lights before the roadworthiness test; on the 1.0 T-GDI, clean the intake if it loses power.

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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