Lancia Ypsilon
Strongest variant of the 1.3 MultiJet with 105 hp in the Ypsilon 843. Sporty performance for the supermini, but higher stress on turbo and dual-mass flywheel. Observe oil change intervals meticulously.
Pocket powerhouse
77 kW MultiJet gives the Ypsilon surprisingly strong performance — fastest variant in the range.
Engine Weaknesses 3
Turbo failure due to oil starvation or low-quality oil is a known issue with the small turbo in the 1.3 MultiJet. Impeller blades can bend and cause complete engine failure.
Symptoms: Whistling noise, blue exhaust smoke, power loss, oil in intercooler
The timing chain of the 1.3 MultiJet rattles on cold start due to worn chain tensioners. Extended oil change intervals and cheap oil accelerate wear considerably.
Symptoms: Rattling or clattering on cold start that subsides at operating temperature, engine noise on startup
On the 1.3 MultiJet of the Ypsilon 843, the EGR valve blocks from soot deposits and causes judder and fault code entries. Regular cleaning significantly extends service life.
Symptoms: Judder at part load, power drop, rough cold running, fault code P0401
Vehicle Weaknesses 9
EPS control unit or electric motor faulty — steering becomes extremely heavy. Frequently from 80,000 km. Replacement of the steering module costs 600–1,200 €.
Brake lines rust preferentially at the plastic retaining clips on the underbody. On older vehicles the entire brake system including wheel cylinders must be checked for corrosion.
Door lock actuators fail individually — door can no longer be locked/unlocked by remote or interior button. Driver's door most commonly affected.
Plastic window regulator guide breaks — window drops into the door or jams. Typical Fiat/Lancia defect on the range.
The front control arm rubber bushings wear prematurely and become sloppy. Anti-roll bar bushings also tend to crack. Typical knocking when going over bumps.
Shock absorbers tend to develop leaks from around 100,000 km. Vehicles at MOT are frequently flagged for worn dampers. Aftermarket parts are available.
From around 8 years of age, the sump tends to rust through. The subframe and exhaust manifold are also corrosion-prone. Lack of cavity sealing promotes salt damage.
Blower resistor burns out — fan only runs on the highest setting or not at all. A cheap wear part, but frequently affected on this model.
The plastic headlight lenses yellow heavily due to UV exposure. This impairs light output and leads to MOT failures.
