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Fiat carsCode 281Also sold as RAM 700 (Mexico)

Fiat Strada II problems (2020–today)

We have documented 3 engines for the Fiat Strada II and none has high or critical severity faults in the versions it is fitted to. The safest option is the 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire in its 1.0, 1.3 and 1.4 8V Fire flex (Brazil, 2001-2017) version, with a «Buy» verdict.[1]

Outside the engine: Beyond the engine, the second-generation Strada has only three dealer-handled safety recalls in Brazil, all from 2024 and 2025: the handbrake lever, the upper rear pillar bolts and the engine control unit. We have found no documented non-engine wear faults.[2][3][4]

02468107.1out of 10

Fiat Strada II rating: acceptable reliability

Calculated using only 7 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. Limited evidence: a score of 7.0 or more claims that the car is reliable, and getting into the rankings requires at least 6 sources in 3 languages, 2 real documented faults outside the engine and well-studied engines. It doesn't meet that yet. One of this car's engines has no documented faults in the versions it uses, but there aren't enough sources to call it reliable either, so it doesn't count towards the engine score. 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 lights10.0No documented faults
  • Electronics and infotainment7.91 fault
  • Climate control10.0No documented faults
  • Bodywork and interior7.91 fault
  • Airbags and safety10.0No documented faults

The weak points of the Fiat Strada II

  1. 1High severity: Handbrake lever that may fail to hold the car (2024 campaign)Brakes
  2. 2High severity: Missing bolts on the upper rear body pillar (2024-2025 Strada)Bodywork and interior
  3. 3High severity: Water ingress into the engine control unit that can stall the car while driving (2025 campaign)Electronics and infotainment
  4. 4Medium severity: Sensor failures: lambda sensor and crankshaft position sensor (TDC)1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire engine
  5. 5Low severity: Oil consumption or leak, in one case from the rocker cover gasket1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire engine

Documented engines, from highest to lowest risk

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

3 recalls and campaigns documented, the latest: Stellantis campaign of May 2025: water ingress into the engine control unit. See the campaigns for the Fiat Strada II

12 sourcesHow we work

1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire

Safest option

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

In the Strada II
since 2020[5][6]
Name
1.4 Fire EVO Flex
Faults that affect it
4
Risk index on this car
20
Low risk

Verdict for the versions it uses

  • The Vrum buying guide on the Palio (1996-2018) lists no engine failure among its points of attention, which are the Dualogic gearbox, the clutch actuator, the brakes and the steering box. It notes that spare parts are plentiful; for example, the 2008 Palio timing belt kit costs between 120 and 180 reais.[1]

  • 1.0 and 1.4 8V Fire Evo flex (Brazil, 2010-2021)2010–2021 · 73–88 hp

    With caution

    Autoo collects, from complaints by owners of Unos with the Evo engine, short-lived spark plugs, coil failure, loss of power, a metallic noise when cold (which Fiat considers normal) and a few cases of piston wear before 100,000 km. These are individual complaints with no figures or reliability study, so it is worth checking the maintenance history.[7]

Faults that affect the Strada II

  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.

Strada II 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire pageAll versions and faults of the 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire

0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly

Fiat 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly (GSE) · Petrol

In the Strada II
since 2020[5][6][8]
Name
1.3 Firefly Flex
Faults that affect it
0
Risk index on this car
0
Low risk

Verdict for the version it uses

  • A Fiat campaign from December 2022 replaced the fuel supply pipe, which can degrade especially with ethanol, on 143,474 cars from 2022 and 2023, including the Argo, Cronos and Mobi. The sources do not name the engine, but these cars use these versions, so it is worth checking with the chassis number that the replacement was carried out. We found no other engine-specific faults, but also no reliability analyses.[9][10]

Faults that affect the Strada II

None of the documented faults of the 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly affects the versions and years that the Strada II used.

Strada II 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly pageAll versions and faults of the 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly

1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo

FCA/Stellantis FireFly Turbo GSE 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 (incl. 4xe) · Petrol

In the Strada II
since 2023[6][8]
Name
1.0 Turbo 200 Flex
Faults that affect it
0
Risk index on this car
0
Low risk

Verdict for the version it uses

  • 1.0 T200 Turbo Flex 125-130 hp (South America, from 2021)since 2021 · 125–130 hp

    With caution

    In November 2022 Fiat recalled 781 Pulse, Toro and Fastback in Brazil over a possible failure of the bolt fixing the high-pressure fuel pump to the engine, with a risk of leaks and fire. Garagem 360 assigns the 1.0 T200 to the Pulse and Fastback and the 1.3 T270 to the Toro and Fastback. The pump is inspected and replaced if needed; there are no other reliability analyses of this version.[11][12]

Faults that affect the Strada II

None of the documented faults of the 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo affects the versions and years that the Strada II used.

Strada II 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo pageAll versions and faults of the 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo

Faults of the Fiat Strada II outside the engine

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

Checklist for buying a used Fiat Strada II

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 (since 2020)

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 Strada II

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 Strada II?

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

Frequently asked questions

Is the Fiat Strada II reliable?

We have documented 3 engines for the Fiat Strada II and none has high or critical severity faults in the versions it is fitted to. The safest option is the 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire in its 1.0, 1.3 and 1.4 8V Fire flex (Brazil, 2001-2017) version, with a «Buy» verdict. Beyond the engine, the second-generation Strada has only three dealer-handled safety recalls in Brazil, all from 2024 and 2025: the handbrake lever, the upper rear pillar bolts and the engine control unit. We have found no documented non-engine wear faults.

Which Fiat Strada II engine is the most reliable?

Among the 3 engines we have documented, the safest option is the 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire in its 1.0, 1.3 and 1.4 8V Fire flex (Brazil, 2001-2017) version, with a «Buy» verdict. The Vrum buying guide on the Palio (1996-2018) lists no engine failure among its points of attention, which are the Dualogic gearbox, the clutch actuator, the brakes and the steering box. It notes that spare parts are plentiful; for example, the 2008 Palio timing belt kit costs between 120 and 180 reais.[1]

What problems does the Fiat Strada II have apart from the engine?

Beyond the engine, the second-generation Strada has only three dealer-handled safety recalls in Brazil, all from 2024 and 2025: the handbrake lever, the upper rear pillar bolts and the engine control unit. We have found no documented non-engine wear faults. The most important documented faults are: handbrake lever that may fail to hold the car (2024 campaign) (brakes, high severity), missing bolts on the upper rear body pillar (2024-2025 Strada) (bodywork and interior, high severity) and water ingress into the engine control unit that can stall the car while driving (2025 campaign) (electronics and infotainment, high severity).[2][3][4]

What faults does the Fiat Strada II 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 Strada II?

According to our rating by year, the best are 2026, 2023, 2022 and 2 other years with the same rating (9.0/10); the worst rated is 2025 (7.1/10). 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 Strada II have recalls?

Yes: we have documented 3 campaigns for the Fiat Strada II, such as stellantis campaign of May 2025: water ingress into the engine control unit (2025). Check with your VIN at the official service centre whether yours has been done.[4]

Sources

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

  1. Fiat Palio: 10 dicas pra observar na hora de comprar um usadoVrum · Motoring press · published 14 June 2022 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Portuguese
  2. Fiat convoca Mobi, Argo, Cronos, Pulse e Strada para recall por problemas no freioVrum · Motoring press · published 16 September 2024 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Portuguese
  3. Fiat chama para recall Argo, Cronos, Mobi, Strada e PulseAuto Mais TV · Motoring press · published 13 September 2024 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Portuguese
  4. Fiat e Peugeot: entenda o recall de 21 mil carros no BrasilOlhar Digital · General press · published 28 May 2025 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Portuguese
  5. Fiat StradaWikipedia (portugués) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Portuguese
  6. Fiat StradaWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  7. Fiat Uno custa pouco, mas acumula queixas dos donos do hatchAutoo · Motoring press · published 27 June 2026 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Portuguese
  8. Fiat Global Small EngineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  9. Fiat tem recall para Pulse, Argo, Cronos, Fiorino, Mobi e StradaMotor Show · Motoring press · published 14 December 2022 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Portuguese
  10. Fiat faz recall de Strada, Pulse e mais 4 modelos por risco de vazamento de combustívelGaragem 360 · Motoring press · published 9 December 2022 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Portuguese
  11. Recall: Fiat convoca Fastback, Pulse e Toro por risco de incêndioGaragem 360 · Motoring press · published 25 November 2022 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Portuguese
  12. Risco de incêndio: Fiat convoca recall para Pulse, Fastback e ToroMotor Show · Motoring press · published 25 November 2022 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Portuguese