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Fiat carsCode 170

Fiat Cinquecento problems (1991–1998)

The only engine of the Fiat Cinquecento that we have documented, the 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire, has no high or critical severity faults in the versions it is fitted to. Our verdict for the version it is fitted to: «With caution».[1][2]

Outside the engine: Apart from the engine, the only Cinquecento fault confirmed by an official notice is loss of brake servo assistance on cars built between November 1996 and April 1997. The headlights (hydraulic levelling and bulbs) show minor faults. The rest of the owners' complaints come from a single source and are not documented here.[3][4][5]

02468107.7out of 10

Fiat Cinquecento rating: good reliability

Calculated using only 6 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. Limited evidence: we have not yet studied the engines it fitted in 1991–1993, so its engine score does not cover all its versions and is not included in the rankings. How it is calculated

  • Engine8.04 faults
  • Gearbox10.0No documented faults
  • Suspension10.0No documented faults
  • Brakes7.91 fault
  • Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
  • Steering10.0No documented faults
  • Electrical system10.0No documented faults
  • Headlights and lights9.31 fault
  • Electronics and infotainment10.0No documented faults
  • Climate control10.0No documented faults
  • Bodywork and interior10.0No documented faults
  • Airbags and safety10.0No documented faults

The weak points of the Fiat Cinquecento

  1. 1High severity: Loss of brake servo assistance after prolonged high-speed drivingBrakes
  2. 2Medium severity: Sensor failures: lambda sensor and crankshaft position sensor (TDC)1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire engine
  3. 3Low severity: Oil consumption or leak, in one case from the rocker cover gasket1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire engine
  4. 4Low severity: Faulty ignition coil (misfire, engine warning light)1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire engine
  5. 5Low severity: Headlights: faulty hydraulic levelling and bulbs that blowHeadlights and lights

Documented engine

The first label is the most serious fault affecting that engine in this car; the second, our verdict for the versions it is fitted to. Each engine's risk index is calculated only from the faults that affect this car (how we calculate it). We only show engines we have documented with sources: if yours does not appear, we have not analysed it yet. View all engines

See what to check before buying

Outside the engine

1 recall or campaign documented, the latest: DVSA R/1997/080: possible loss of brake servo assistance. See the campaigns for the Fiat Cinquecento

7 sourcesHow we work

1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire

Fiat Fire de 0.8 a 1.4 (8v and 16v, también el Fire Flex de Brasil) · Petrol

In the Cinquecento
1994–1998[6][7]
Name
1.1 Sporting
Faults that affect it
4
Risk index on this car
20
Low risk

Verdict for the version it uses

  • 1.1 8V SPI/MPI 50-55 hp (1991-2010)1991–2010 · 50–55 hp · 176B2.000

    With caution

    On fiches-auto.fr, the 55 hp 1.1 in the first-generation Punto (13 reviews) has several cases of cylinder head gasket and radiator failure, a plastic fuel pump and oil leaks. On Autocentrum.pl, oil leaks from the rocker cover, sump and seals are among the most-voted complaints for the Seicento 1.1 (158 votes in favour and 18 against). These are owner accounts, with no failure rates per kilometre.[1][2]

Faults that affect the Cinquecento

  1. Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalElectronicsSensor failures: lambda sensor and crankshaft position sensor (TDC)The 1.2 8v Fire can suffer sensor faults: the lambda sensor (warning light, rough running) and, in the Fiat Punto, the crankshaft position sensor (TDC sensor), linked to misfires. These are minority issues, but they recur across several models with this engine.
  2. Low severityFrequency: OccasionalLubricationOil consumption or leak, in one case from the rocker cover gasketThe 1.2 8v Fire can start to use or lose oil after a certain mileage; the only case with an identified origin points to the rocker cover gasket. It is the issue that recurs most for this engine, always in a minority of cases and without damaging the block.
  3. Low severityFrequency: OccasionalIgnitionFaulty ignition coil (misfire, engine warning light)The 1.2 8v Fire's ignition coil can fail and switch on the engine warning light, with rough running; there is one documented case replaced at 40,000 km in the Fiat 500. It is one of the issues that recurs most in the sources consulted for this engine, though always in a minority of cases.
  4. Low severityFrequency: RareTimingTiming belt: preventive replacement, no documented breakage patternThe 1.2 8v Fire has a timing belt, which must be replaced preventively according to the interval set by the manufacturer of the specific car. The reliability sources consulted document no case of premature breakage for this engine: it is scheduled maintenance, not a recurring fault.

Cinquecento 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire pageAll versions and faults of the 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire

Faults of the Fiat Cinquecento outside the engine

Suspension, brakes, tyres, electronics and the rest of the car. They occur with any engine.

Checklist for buying a used Fiat Cinquecento

Check the advert or the paperwork to see which engine the car has and go through its section. Each point comes from a documented fault; you can tick them off as you inspect.

If it has the 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire (1994–1998)

Sensor failures: lambda sensor and crankshaft position sensor (TDC)

Medium severity

Oil consumption or leak, in one case from the rocker cover gasket

Low severity

Faulty ignition coil (misfire, engine warning light)

Low severity

Timing belt: preventive replacement, no documented breakage pattern

Low severity

Wear parts for the Fiat Cinquecento

Brakes, wiper blades, pollen filter and battery, searched for this model. The exact part number depends on the engine and year: confirm it with the registration plate or VIN.

Affiliate links: if you buy from these shops, MotorFiable may receive a commission at no cost to you. Check compatibility against the registration plate or VIN before ordering. Affiliate links

Buying a Fiat Cinquecento?

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Own a Fiat Cinquecento? Tell us what faults you have had, at what mileage and how much you paid. Report your fault.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Fiat Cinquecento reliable?

The only engine of the Fiat Cinquecento that we have documented, the 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire, has no high or critical severity faults in the versions it is fitted to. Our verdict for the version it is fitted to: «With caution». Apart from the engine, the only Cinquecento fault confirmed by an official notice is loss of brake servo assistance on cars built between November 1996 and April 1997. The headlights (hydraulic levelling and bulbs) show minor faults. The rest of the owners' complaints come from a single source and are not documented here.

What problems does the Fiat Cinquecento have apart from the engine?

Apart from the engine, the only Cinquecento fault confirmed by an official notice is loss of brake servo assistance on cars built between November 1996 and April 1997. The headlights (hydraulic levelling and bulbs) show minor faults. The rest of the owners' complaints come from a single source and are not documented here. The most important documented faults are: loss of brake servo assistance after prolonged high-speed driving (brakes, high severity) and headlights: faulty hydraulic levelling and bulbs that blow (headlights and lights, low severity).[3][4][5]

What faults does the Fiat Cinquecento have?

The most important by severity and frequency, on the engines we have documented, are: sensor failures: lambda sensor and crankshaft position sensor (TDC) (1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire, medium severity), oil consumption or leak, in one case from the rocker cover gasket (1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire, low severity), faulty ignition coil (misfire, engine warning light) (1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire, low severity) and timing belt: preventive replacement, no documented breakage pattern (1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire, low severity).

What is the best year to buy a Fiat Cinquecento?

According to our rating by year, the best are 1993, 1992 and 1991 (9.3/10); the worst rated is 1996 (7.7/10). Each year's rating counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those units: open each year to see what changes.

Does the Fiat Cinquecento have recalls?

Yes: we have documented one campaign for the Fiat Cinquecento, such as DVSA R/1997/080: possible loss of brake servo assistance (1997). Check with your VIN at the official service centre whether yours has been done.[3]

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat Punto (1993-1999): témoignages de propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
  2. Fiat Seicento: typowe usterki (opiniones de propietarios)Autocentrum.pl · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
  3. Fiat Cinquecento: Possible loss of brake servo assistance (DVSA R/1997/080)Car-Recalls.co.uk (DVSA, Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 2 November 2026
  4. Fiat Cinquecento (Wikipedia en alemán)Wikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
  5. Fiat Cinquecento: typowe usterki (opiniones de propietarios)Autocentrum.pl · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
  6. Fiat FIRE engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  7. Fiat CinquecentoWikipedia (italiano) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Italian