Alfa Romeo 1.4 Turbo
The 1.4-litre turbo with 155 hp is the entry-level turbocharged engine in the MiTo — punchy, rev-happy, with noticeable turbo kick from 2,500 rpm. Adequately powered for the light MiTo (1,145 kg). The DNA drive selector (Dynamic, Normal, All Weather) noticeably changes throttle response and steering feel. No MultiAir, making the technology simpler than the later variants.
Cheeky little car with turbo bite
155 hp from 1.4 litres make the MiTo a lively city sprinter. Sporty chassis, direct steering and genuine Alfa character — surprisingly intense for a small car.
Engine Weaknesses 6
The more heavily loaded turbocharger of the 155 hp variant tends to premature wear when oil change intervals are neglected. Lambda control and wastegate are known failure points.
Symptoms: Declining acceleration, boost whistle stops, no thrust in upper rpm range, occasional blue exhaust.
The M32 six-speed gearbox has undersized bearings. Premature failure since a supplier change around 2009. Affects all power variants with 6-speed manual.
Symptoms: Humming noise in 5th/6th gear, gear lever wanders under load, humming increases with speed.
As with the 1.9 JTD, the rubber O-ring on the oil pump suction pipe loses its elasticity around 70,000–80,000 km. Air enters the pump, briefly dropping oil pressure on cold start; if left untreated, engine damage is a risk.
Symptoms: Brief ticking on cold start, sporadic oil pressure warning, disappears after warm-up
At high mileage, increased oil consumption occurs due to turbo bearing wear and tired piston rings. Hard braking from high rpm draws oil through the turbo into the combustion chamber.
Symptoms: Blue exhaust smoke after downhill sections, oil consumption 0.5–1 l/1,000 km, oil in the air filter box.
Leaking injectors introduce unburnt fuel into the combustion chamber, thermally destroying the glow plugs within a few hundred kilometres. The cause is almost always an injector leak, not the glow plug itself.
Symptoms: Poor cold-start behaviour, engine warning light, glow indicator stays on permanently, smoke plume on start
From around 120,000 km the EGR valve sticks due to soot deposits. When jammed open, excessive exhaust gas enters the intake; the engine barely starts or idles very roughly.
Symptoms: Rough idle, poor starting, engine stalls at idle, increased soot content
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.