Fiat Qubo problems (2008–2019)

All 1 engine and 1 gearbox of the Fiat Qubo that we have documented have high or critical severity faults: the 1.3 Multijet and the Dualogic gearbox. None has a «Buy» verdict; the safest option is the Dualogic gearbox, with a «With caution» verdict. Outside the engine, the only well-documented issues on the Fiat Qubo are three recalls of specific production runs: the airbag with an incorrect ignition mixture (September to November 2016, EU Safety Gate alert), the brake servo pipe connector (June to September 2012) and the reactivation of the passenger airbag (July 2014). We have found no reliable sources on recurring faults in other systems.

Among the 1 engine and 1 gearbox we have documented, none has a «Buy» verdict; the safest option is the Dualogic gearbox, with a «With caution» verdict. There is no systemic fault acknowledged by the manufacturer, but owner testimonies repeatedly document jerking and an interruption of drive on every gearchange (inherent to the design of a single clutch), as well as minority cases of clutches worn out early and of actuator or hydraulic pressure faults that make the gearbox drop into neutral on its own while driving; the car should be thoroughly test-driven, weighing whether the driving comfort, very different from a conventional automatic, is worth its low cost.^[1][2]

Outside the engine, the only well-documented issues on the Fiat Qubo are three recalls of specific production runs: the airbag with an incorrect ignition mixture (September to November 2016, EU Safety Gate alert), the brake servo pipe connector (June to September 2012) and the reactivation of the passenger airbag (July 2014). We have found no reliable sources on recurring faults in other systems. The most important documented faults are: incorrect airbag ignition chemical mixture on cars built in late 2016 (airbags and safety, critical severity), brake servo vacuum pipe connector that may break (2012 Qubo) (brakes, critical severity) and passenger airbag that may reactivate after being switched off from the menu (July 2014 Qubo) (airbags and safety, high severity).^[3][4]

The most important by severity and frequency, on the engines we have documented, are: timing chain stretch and tensioner failure (1.3 Multijet, critical severity), incomplete particulate filter regenerations and oil dilution (1.3 Multijet, high severity), seized variable-geometry turbo (1.3 Multijet, high severity), injector and high-pressure pump wear from contaminated fuel (1.3 Multijet, high severity) and actuator or hydraulic pressure fault: the gearbox drops into neutral on its own or refuses gears (Dualogic, high severity).

According to our rating by year, the best is 2008 (6.2/10); the worst rated is 2012 (5.2/10). 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.

Yes: we have documented 3 campaigns for the Fiat Qubo, such as fiat Qubo (2016): incorrect airbag ignition mixture (2017). Check with your VIN at the official service centre whether yours has been done.