All models / Family hatchbacks / Fiat Tipo / What to check

What to check: Fiat Tipo

EBy age

EBy miles

Ranked across all years of the Fiat Tipo, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

DampersRuns high on this modelLook for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 15.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.3%

Coil springsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 6.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.4%

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 3.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.8%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 2.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.8%

Warning lights on ignitionRuns high on this modelTurn the ignition on without starting the engine and watch the dash. Every warning light should appear, then go out once it is running. Be more suspicious of a light that never comes on at all than of one that stays on; warning bulbs have been known to vanish before a sale.Recorded on 1.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.5%

Brake pipes underneathFollow the metal brake lines with a torch where they run along the sills and over the rear axle. White crust or flaking metal means they are corroding, and the online MOT history usually shows the same advisory creeping up for years before the fail.Recorded on 1.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.9%

LeaksLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 1.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourRuns high on this modelCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 31.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 18.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.7%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Push down hard on each corner and listen for creaks or clonks as it rebounds.A knock or a slow-to-settle corner points to tired dampers or bushes, the model's known weak spot.

Get down and look at the front coil springs for a crack or a spring sitting unevenly.A fractured spring is a known failure on this model and can also damage a tyre if it lets go on the road.

On a diesel manual, sit it at idle in neutral and listen for a rattle, then dip the clutch.A rattle that quietens on the clutch points to a worn dual-mass flywheel, an expensive fix if it's out of warranty.

Check the service history on a diesel for regular motorway runs or DPF-related work.A diesel that's only done short trips is more likely to have a clogged DPF or EGR valve.

Cycle every window up and down a few times, including from the rear switches.A slow, jerky or dead window points to a failing regulator, a known repeat complaint.

Start the infotainment from cold and watch it boot fully before driving off.Sticking on the Fiat logo or restarting itself is the reported Uconnect fault.

On a Hybrid model, check the VIN against Fiat's recall list for the 48v battery recall.Cars built Nov 2022 to May 2023 should have had this safety recall done for free.

Full Fiat Tipo reliability report