Fiat Seicento

The cylinder head gasket is the best-known weak point of the 1.2 8V Fire engine. Typical failure from the water passage to the cylinder; the engine is not immediately destroyed by a timing belt failure as it is a non-interference design.

Symptoms: White smoke, coolant loss without leak, bubbles in expansion tank, sweet smell

Alternators fail frequently and discharge the battery. Additionally, spontaneous electrical failures occur particularly on pre-facelift models (pre-2003), manifesting as engine faults or speedo failure.

Symptoms: Battery warning, engine not charging battery, tachometer fails, central locking faulty

Timing belt and water pump must be replaced together. Insufficiently tensioned water pump or missed replacement leads to coolant loss and overheating.

Symptoms: Coolant loss, engine overheats, timing belt noises after replacement

Sills and wheel arches rust through on around 60% of all used Seicento. The absence of factory cavity protection accelerates early through-rust; welding work is soon necessary.

The exhaust system on the Seicento was poorly preserved from the factory. After 8–10 years, the rear silencer and mid-pipe are typically heavily corroded.

Rear subframe bushes typically wear from 70,000 km and cause noticeable banging from the rear. Well-known problem on all small Fiat models of this generation.

Wheel bearings on the Seicento wear noticeably at higher mileage. Grinding noises when turning are a typical early warning sign. Cheap parts but time-consuming replacement.