Lancia Ypsilon L21 — Problems & Common Faults
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
The fourth-generation Ypsilon is no longer a city car but a 4.08 m supermini on the Stellantis CMP platform – mechanically an Opel Corsa or Peugeot 208 dressed in velour, marble-dust trim and the signature centre-console "table". Important for Germany: the car is not officially sold there. The launch announced for mid-2025 with 25 dealers was postponed indefinitely; Lancia only operates in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Benelux. Used examples in Germany are imports, serviced through Stellantis workshops.
The line-up is compact: the chain-driven 1.2 three-cylinder turbo as a 48V mild hybrid with a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox (rated 100 hp until 04/2025, then 110 hp system output, technically identical), from 04/2026 the same engine without hybrid and with a manual gearbox, plus the Elettrica with 156 hp and a 54 kWh NMC battery (51 kWh usable) and the HF with 280 hp and a Torsen diff. The Elettrica is the efficiency champion: 15.9 kWh/100 km in the big comparison test on Rome's ring road, 8.2 s to 100 km/h, 100 kW DC charging with 20–80 % in 24 minutes. From model year 2025 improved cell chemistry lifts WLTP range from 403 to 425 km. The high-voltage battery carries an eight-year/160,000 km warranty at 70 % remaining capacity.
The weak spots sit with the early hybrids. The KBA lists two fire-risk recalls: F51M (incorrectly torqued fuel-rail fittings, production up to 22 April 2025) and F60E (petrol particulate filter pipe too close to the 48V starter-generator terminal cap, production up to 13 January 2026). Both can be checked by VIN and must be done before purchase. On top come sporadic total lock-ups with the message "electric traction system fault": selector stuck in P, parking brake locked, throttle dead, hardly a trace in the fault memory. Early "series 0" cars from 2024 are mainly affected. The e-DCT6 hesitates when manoeuvring on slopes and jerks at low speed when cold; a control-unit update usually helps, but a gearbox replacement at 13,800 km with months of parts delay is documented. The 12V battery sags on short trips only and throws hybrid and radio faults. The S.A.L.A. infotainment freezes or goes black on old Uconnect versions – software 1.31.50 or newer is a must.
The electric version has no documented drivetrain failures so far but brakes with little bite and long distances (38.1 m from 100 km/h), keeps only around 225 km of range on the motorway, and comes with just a 7.4 kW AC charger as standard. Inside, the dashboard and centre console creak, hard plastics dominate despite the premium price, and the rear is cramped.
Buying advice: for electric driving take the Elettrica from model year 2025 with the 11 kW charger – efficient, brisk and without known trouble spots. For the hybrid: 2025 build or later, both recalls completed, software current, and on the test drive pull away cold, manoeuvre, and watch for jerking and warning messages. The HF is an honest electric hot hatch with a Torsen, but stiff and short on range. The new manual Turbo 100 is too young to judge.
280 PS
HF · Elektro
Electric hot hatch with a Torsen, but stiff and short of breath
Fun to Drive!101–110 PS
1.2L Turbo Mild-Hybrid Benzin
6 weaknesses
Stay Away!Generations
Engine Overview
The Lancia Ypsilon L21 is available with 4 engine variants — from 101 to 280 hp.
48V mild-hybrid version of the latest PureTech generation: a 1.2 three-cylinder turbo with a timing chain — per trade press, the EB2LTED/EB2LTEDH2 engine codes consistently denote the chain design, no longer the predecessors' wet belt. The 21 kW e-motor sits in the electrified six-speed dual-clutch gearbox (e-DCS6); the 48V battery holds 0.9 kWh. Known early-production items: a recall for a mispositioned camshaft-phaser bolt (until February 2024), the multi-brand high-pressure fuel line recall and the 48V starter-generator fire-safety recall, plus first-batch software glitches and occasional DCS6 control-unit failures on young cars. Long-term chain data is still missing.
- !! Camshaft Phaser Bolt Incorrectly Positioned (Recall)
On vehicles produced between 2023 and 17 Feb. 2024, the camshaft phaser bolt is incorrectly positioned, which can cause power loss, engine warning light and engine damage.
Symptoms: Engine warning light, power loss, rough running, abnormal noises - !! DCS6 Gearbox Control Unit Failed
The new 6-speed DCS6 dual-clutch gearbox in the 600 Hybrid shows control unit failures in early production years. Vehicles were sometimes undriveable after 470 km.
Symptoms: Error message 'Engine faulty', sudden power loss, vehicle won't start - !! Recall F51L — High-Pressure Fuel Lines
Official KBA recall F51L: high-pressure fuel lines may not be tightened correctly — fuel leakage with fire risk possible.
Symptoms: Fuel smell in engine bay, visible leakage at injection line
+ 3 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
Latest-generation CMP electric drive with 400-volt architecture and an NMC battery of 54 kWh gross, 51 kWh usable. DC charging at up to 100 kW, 20 to 80 percent in 24 minutes; the on-board AC charger is only 7.4 kW as standard, 11 kW costs extra. From model year 2025 an improved cell chemistry adds roughly 22 km of WLTP range. In an independent consumption test on Rome's ring road it was the most efficient of twelve cars at 15.9 kWh/100 km, but at 130 km/h on the motorway real-world range shrinks to just over 225 km. No drive-unit or battery failures are documented so far. High-voltage battery warranty: eight years or 160,000 km with at least 70 percent remaining capacity.
- !! Recall steering gear — steering lock risk
294 Fiat 600 and 600e (model year 2024) were recalled due to a non-specification steering gear. In the worst case the steering can lock.
Symptoms: Heavy or locking steering — no early warning symptoms possible - !! On-board charger (OBC) failure — AC charging lost
The Mahle OBC across the Stellantis EV platform (e-208, Corsa-e, Fiat 600e) is a known weak point. The OBC fails and disables AC charging entirely while DC fast charging often still works. Stellantis extended the OBC warranty to 4 years.
Symptoms: Error message when plugging into an AC charger, charging won't start, DC charging still functional. - !! Software bugs at delivery
Freshly delivered 600e models show numerous software bugs: lights not working, driver assistance systems deactivated, cruise control inactive — often caused by an undercharged 12V battery at delivery.
Symptoms: Warning messages at first contact, lights non-functional, lane assist deactivated, display failure
+ 2 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
Most powerful stage of the CMP electric drive with a 400-volt system, 54 kWh NMC battery and a mechanical Torsen limited-slip differential on the front axle; the brakes use 355 mm discs with Alcon four-piston calipers. Torque arrives instantly, and flooring it from low speed spins the front wheels despite the diff. Without an efficient heat pump and with a firm setup, real-world range is around 250 km per charge, and the drivetrain whine is clearly audible inside. On track the ABS intervenes early and the brakes have less bite than the platform sibling with the same hardware. No drive-unit failures documented so far; high-voltage warranty eight years or 160,000 km at 70 percent remaining capacity.
No known weaknesses documented.
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Recall F51M: fuel rail fittings, fire risk KBA 15356R: fittings between the high-pressure line and the fuel rail of the 1.2 PureTech were not torqued correctly at the factory. Leaking fuel can ignite on hot parts. The dealer retightens the fittings, about 30 minutes. Symptoms: Usually no warning; if there is a petrol smell in the engine bay, go to a workshop immediately. Check recall status by VIN. | Low | |
| Recall F60E: GPF pipe against 48V starter-generator, fire risk KBA 16288R: with under 10 mm clearance the petrol particulate filter pipe can touch the terminal cap of the 48V belt starter-generator. Water ingress causes arcing and an engine-bay fire. Cap replaced, pipe repositioned or replaced. | Low |
Test Reports
Motor1.com / InsideEVs „From 100% to 5%“ (5. Auflage, Rom)
In the real-world consumption test on Rome's ring road (A/C on, down to 5 % charge) the Ypsilon Elettrica was the most efficient of twelve EVs tested at 15.9 kWh/100 km; real range 302 km, running cost 9.7 € per 100 km.
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Known Problems and Issues +
A total of 17 weaknesses have been documented for the Lancia Ypsilon L21 (2024–2026) — 11 engine-related and 6 vehicle-related. One problem engine: EB2LTEDH2 (1.2L Turbo Mild-Hybrid). Typical issues affect Other, Electronics, Gearbox.
Ypsilon (EB2LTEDH2, 2024–2025) — Stay Away!: Camshaft Phaser Bolt Incorrectly Positioned (Recall), DCS6 Gearbox Control Unit Failed, Recall F51L — High-Pressure Fuel Lines. Power: 101 PS.
Ypsilon (EB2LTEDH2, 2025–2026) — Stay Away!: Camshaft Phaser Bolt Incorrectly Positioned (Recall), DCS6 Gearbox Control Unit Failed, Recall F51L — High-Pressure Fuel Lines. Power: 110 PS.
Ypsilon (Ypsilon-EV, 2024–2026) — Be Careful: Recall steering gear — steering lock risk, On-board charger (OBC) failure — AC charging lost, Software bugs at delivery. Power: 156 PS.
What to watch out for with the Lancia Ypsilon? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems and weaknesses does the Lancia Ypsilon L21 have? +
What should I look for when buying a used Lancia Ypsilon L21? +
Which engine is recommended? +
Which Lancia Ypsilon L21 engine is the most fun? +
Is the Lancia Ypsilon L21 worth buying used? +
What horsepower variants are available for the Lancia Ypsilon L21? +
Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee