Alfa Romeo 1.4 8V
Identical to the 955A1000 — 1.4-litre 8V FIRE naturally aspirated engine, here in the 69 hp version. Alfa's most frugal and least powerful engine in the MiTo range. Pure city machine.
Bella figura on a budget
78 hp is enough for the city, thin on the country road. Only a 5-speed gearbox unfortunately — the predecessor had 6 speeds with shorter ratios that made shifting more fun. Still: typical Alfa design at a low price.
Engine Weaknesses 6
Same design as 955A1000 — timing belt every 60,000–80,000 km or 5 years. If it snaps, pistons contact open valves. Repair costs frequently exceed the vehicle's value.
Symptoms: Sudden engine seizure, metallic banging before seizure, engine will not restart.
Crankshaft sensor sits unprotected in the water spray area. Moisture ingress causes engine stalling, especially in rain and winter conditions.
Symptoms: Random engine stalls, no start after driving in rain, intermittent cutting out at junctions.
The crankshaft sensor on this 1.4 16V unit tends to fail at high mileage or after heat stress. Two sensor variants exist; mixing them up leads to further no-start conditions.
Symptoms: Sudden engine cut-out, no start attempt possible, no OBD fault code stored
Individual ignition coils fail at higher mileage and cause misfires. Replacing all four coils simultaneously is recommended when one fails, as the others are likely of similar age.
Symptoms: Jerking and hesitation on acceleration, engine warning light flashing, rough idle
The ignition coil on the 1.4 FIRE 8V ages and causes misfires, especially under load or in wet conditions. A faulty coil can be diagnosed by swapping it with another. Replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to access.
Symptoms: Misfires and hesitation under load, engine warning light with cylinder drop-out code, rough running, increased fuel consumption
The lambda sensor on the 1.4 FIRE ages thermally and loses measurement accuracy. The result is incorrect mixture control with increased fuel consumption. Early replacement improves engine efficiency and prevents catalytic converter damage.
Symptoms: Engine warning light, increased fuel consumption, fuel smell after cold start, slight power loss
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.