2004 Fiat Multipla problems
The 2004 Fiat Multipla was sold with an engine that we have documented: the 1.9 JTD/Multijet and 2.4 JTD. The 1.9 JTD/Multijet and 2.4 JTD has serious faults that affect the cars of that year. Outside the engine, 3 documented faults affect 2004 cars, such as broken front springs due to corrosion (Fiat Multipla 1999-2004).
2004 Fiat Multipla score: acceptable reliability
Calculated using only 8 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. How it is calculated
- Engine5.25 faults
- Gearbox8.61 fault
- Suspension7.12 faults
- Brakes10.0No documented faults
- Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
- Steering10.0No documented faults
- Electrical system10.0No documented faults
- Headlights and lights10.0No documented faults
- Electronics and infotainment10.0No documented faults
- Climate control10.0No documented faults
- Bodywork and interior10.0No documented faults
- Airbags and safety10.0No documented faults
What changes compared with the 2003 Fiat Multipla
- Score: 5.8 → 6.0
- No longer affected by: handbrake cable rubbing the rear brake pipe (Fiat Multipla 2002-2003) (rest of the car)
1.9 JTD/Multijet and 2.4 JTD engine in the 2004 Fiat Multipla
Names: 1.9 JTD 105 · 1.9 JTD 110 · 1.9 JTD 115 · 1.9 Multijet 120
- With caution
1.9 JTD/Multijet 8v (78-130 hp, 1997-2010)
78–130 hp · Z19DT
A mechanically long-lived engine according to the workshops consulted, but with known faults that should be checked: the EGR valve clogs easily in urban use and, on the Opel and Saab versions, the intake manifold flaps and the turbo can give trouble. Worth buying with a verifiable maintenance history.[4][5][6]
Faults that affect 2004 cars
- High severityFrequency: CommonIntakeIntake manifold flap failure (swirl effect)Yes: the intake manifold has flaps that create a swirl in the air at low revs, and their mechanism can seize or break with use. Two independent data sheets point to this fault as typical of Opel's 1.9 CDTI, with loss of power and the engine warning light on.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalTurboTurbocharger wear or failureThe turbo (fixed on the basic versions, variable geometry on the more powerful ones) fails occasionally: a documented Alfa Romeo 147 needed a new turbo at around 215,000 km, and the Opel Vectra C and Zafira B report failures among their owners, although other accounts describe it as very durable.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonEmissions controlEGR valve blocked by carbonYes: the EGR valve accumulates carbon with urban use and short journeys, which turns on the engine warning light and causes loss of power. It is one of this engine's most cited faults, documented independently on Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Opel.Repair (garage): €130–€800Appears at around 80,000 km
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonClutchDual-mass flywheel wear on manual gearbox versionsYes: the dual-mass flywheel on manual gearbox versions wears with mileage and is usually replaced together with the clutch. On the Opel Zafira B there are several documented replacements between 105,000 and 195,000 km, one of them with a dealer invoice of around €1,900.Repair: €1,900Appears at around 105,000 km
- Low severityFrequency: OccasionalIntakeFaulty air flow meter on the 1.9 JTD / Multijet (loss of power)On the 1.9 JTD and 1.9 CDTI the air flow meter repeatedly appears among ancillary faults: loss of power. It is fixed by replacing the sensor after ruling out air leaks and the EGR.Repair (garage): €100–€300
Faults outside the engine in the 2004 Fiat Multipla
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalSuspensionBroken front springs due to corrosion (Fiat Multipla 1999-2004)In March 2006 the British DVSA registered Fiat's campaign for the front coil springs of Multiplas built between May 1999 and December 2004 (10,276 cars): corrosion under the insulating cover can break them over time, and they are replaced with springs of a different type.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSuspensionPremature wear of front tyres and rear-end faults on the Fiat MultiplaIn the 84 fiches-auto.fr testimonies, tyre wear is the most cited chassis issue (16 mentions), followed by the rear axle (13) and the shock absorbers (10); AutoScout24 also names wear of the running gear among the most frequent complaints. There is no official campaign.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalGearbox and clutchClutch and dual-mass flywheel wear on the Fiat Multipla 1.9 JTDAccording to fiches-auto.fr testimonies, the clutch (17 mentions) and the dual-mass flywheel (11) are among the most repeated faults of the Multipla 1.9 JTD, especially in the 115 hp version, with replacements between 60,000 and 270,000 km; AutoScout24 also cites the gearbox and clutch among the common complaints.
Buying a 2004 Fiat Multipla?
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Fiat Multipla reliable?
The 2004 Fiat Multipla was sold with an engine that we have documented: the 1.9 JTD/Multijet and 2.4 JTD. The 1.9 JTD/Multijet and 2.4 JTD has serious faults that affect the cars of that year. Outside the engine, 3 documented faults affect 2004 cars, such as broken front springs due to corrosion (Fiat Multipla 1999-2004).
Is the 2004 Fiat Multipla better than the 2003?
Our score goes from 5.8 in 2003 to 6.0 in 2004. No longer affected by: handbrake cable rubbing the rear brake pipe (Fiat Multipla 2002-2003) (rest of the car).
What is the best year for the Fiat Multipla?
According to our score, the best are 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2 other years with the same score (6.5/10). The year with the worst score is 2002 (5.8/10). Each year's score counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those cars.
What faults does the 2004 Fiat Multipla have?
The most important ones documented for 2004 cars are: intake manifold flap failure (swirl effect) (1.9 JTD/Multijet and 2.4 JTD, high severity), turbocharger wear or failure (1.9 JTD/Multijet and 2.4 JTD, high severity), broken front springs due to corrosion (Fiat Multipla 1999-2004) (suspension, high severity), eGR valve blocked by carbon (1.9 JTD/Multijet and 2.4 JTD, medium severity) and dual-mass flywheel wear on manual gearbox versions (1.9 JTD/Multijet and 2.4 JTD, medium severity).
Own a 2004 Fiat Multipla? Tell us what faults you have had and at how many kilometres. Report your fault.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Fiat MultiplaWikipedia (en) · Encyclopedia · consulted 2 November 2026
- Fiat MultiplaWikipedia (de) · Encyclopedia · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat Multipla (1999-2011): 84 témoignagesfiches-auto.fr · Buying guide or workshop · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Alfa Romeo 156 : les plus et les moinsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Alfa Romeo 147 : les plus et les moinsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Opel Vectra C (2002-2008) – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German