Alfa Romeo 0.9 TwinAir
Fiat's 0.9-litre TwinAir two-cylinder with 105 hp in the MiTo — small displacement, big turbo punch. The two-cylinder vibrates noticeably and sounds unusual: a deep burble that's more motorcycle than car. MultiAir valve timing for variable output. Real-world consumption often higher than claimed — the small engine has to work hard in city traffic. The entertainment factor through its unusual character is surprisingly high.
TwinAir: Two cylinders full of character
The 0.9-litre two-cylinder sounds wonderfully gruff and surprises with low-down torque. A cult oddity that makes driving an event — not fast, but alive.
Engine Weaknesses 6
The TwinAir's timing chain frequently fails to reach 100,000 km. Factory oil change intervals of 30,000 km are too long. A jumped chain risks engine damage.
Symptoms: Metallic rattling on cold start, chain noise that eases after warm-up, in worst case engine seizure.
The electro-hydraulic UniAir valve timing system is extremely sensitive to oil contamination. Slightly degraded oil clogs the micro-bore passages. Replacement cost €600–1,100.
Symptoms: Stumbling at idle, occasional stalling, power loss when A/C is running, misfires.
The Mitsubishi TD025 turbocharger suffers badly with wrong oil. Small oil capacity (3.2 l) heats up quickly. Only 0W-30 is approved.
Symptoms: Whistling noise from the turbo area, power loss, blue exhaust, oil mist on the intake side.
The compact turbocharger on the 1.3 MultiJet is very sensitive to dirty or infrequently changed oil. Soot particles clog the fine oil passages of the bearing; the turbocharger wears prematurely as a result.
Symptoms: Whistling from turbocharger, blue smoke from exhaust, power loss, oil in intake tract
Leaking injectors introduce unburnt fuel to the glow plugs, destroying them thermally. Simply replacing the glow plugs is no fix; the affected injector must be checked and if necessary repaired.
Symptoms: Cold-start problems, engine warning light, glow plug indicator permanently on, smoke
The oil separator on the 0.9 TwinAir MultiAir ages and begins to push oil through the crankcase ventilation system into the intake. This causes power loss and increased oil consumption. Early replacement of the oil separator prevents greater damage.
Symptoms: Increased oil consumption, oil film in the intake tract, bluish smoke, power loss on acceleration
Vehicle Weaknesses 14
Fault in the airbag propellant system: the second stage may fail to fire or not deploy in a crash. Affects vehicles from September 2010 to December 2015. Have a dealer check the vehicle.
Rear brake callipers seize from corrosion, especially on vehicles that are rarely braked hard. Brake pistons rust from salt ingress; brake discs rust up extremely quickly due to high iron content.
Front axle joints wear prematurely, especially on higher-powered variants. MOT inspectors frequently flag failed joints. Steering play and oil loss are also recurring MOT defects.
Air conditioning loses refrigerant or the compressor fails. The condenser is damaged by stone impacts. Refrigerant top-up is a common procedure on vehicles over 100,000 km. Repair is labour-intensive.
Moisture enters the cabin through leaking windscreen seals or blocked air conditioning drain hoses. Passenger footwell is particularly affected. Risk of mould if water ingress goes undetected.
The air conditioning compressor loses performance early or fails completely. The condenser is damaged by stone impacts and loses refrigerant. Repair is expensive, especially compressor replacement.
Water enters through a leaking windscreen seal or blocked air conditioning drain hoses into the passenger footwell. Moisture can damage control units under the carpet.
Strut top mounts, drop links and rear wheel bearings are known but inexpensive weaknesses on the MiTo. Front axle joints also show early wear. Parts are readily available — repairs are cost-effective.
Weld seams on the bonnet, tailgate and doors were poorly pre-treated — paint peels and rust sets in. Typical around the tailgate badge area. A cosmetic issue that requires extensive paint repair.
Tail lights take on moisture, causing bulb failures and contact corrosion. A known issue on older examples. Seal checks and optionally a desiccant pack as preventive measures.
Dashboard and interior trims develop pronounced creaking and rattling at higher mileage. Seat backrest adjustment fails occasionally. A typical long-term problem that reduces value.
Central locking, windows and small control units can fail through faulty relays, blown fuses or cable breaks in the tailgate hinge area. Earth points are a known weakness on older examples.
The front anti-roll bar drop links and axle joints wear prematurely. Regularly flagged at MOT inspections. Inexpensive repair but frequently recurring.
Central locking, electric windows and small control units fail through faulty relays or broken cables in the tailgate hinge area. Cable breaks occur from bending during opening.