Are Abarths Reliable? The Most Common Abarth Problems (and How to Avoid Them)

Are Abarths reliable? A well-maintained Abarth is a dependable, huge-fun car. Like any small, high-output turbo car, though, it has a few known weak spots, and most of them come down to how it's been driven and looked after.

Here are the issues we see most often in our Bishop's Waltham workshop, and what you can do about them.

1. Turbo wastegate rattle and boost problems

Symptoms: a metallic rattle from the engine bay when you lift off or at low revs, loss of power, or a boost-related warning light.

The wastegate mechanism on the turbo can wear over time and rattle. Split or loose boost hoses and intercooler pipes are also common, especially on remapped cars. We can pressure-test the system to find leaks and advise whether a repair or a turbo upgrade makes more sense.

2. Clutch wear

Symptoms: a high biting point, slipping under hard acceleration in higher gears, or a heavy pedal.

Abarths have a lot of torque for their size, and town driving plus spirited B-roads is hard on a clutch. Remaps speed this up if the clutch isn't uprated. If you're planning more power, it's worth budgeting for a clutch at the same time.

3. MTA / automated gearbox issues

Symptoms: jerky shifts, the gearbox dropping into neutral, or gear-selection warnings.

The automated manual gearbox (MTA) fitted to some models relies on a hydraulic actuator and correct calibration. Many faults can be fixed with diagnostics, a fluid check and a clutch self-learn procedure, which needs the right equipment. That's exactly what we have.

4. Coil packs and spark plugs

Symptoms: a misfire, a flashing engine light, or hesitation under load.

High boost puts extra stress on the ignition system. Worn plugs are a common cause of misfires, especially on tuned cars. Changing plugs on schedule, or sooner if remapped, prevents most of these problems.

5. Suspension knocks and worn bushes

Symptoms: clonks over bumps, vague steering, or uneven tyre wear.

Stiff suspension, low-profile tyres and Hampshire's potholes are a tough combination. Drop links, top mounts and wishbone bushes are regular wear items and are usually picked up at a service or MOT.

6. An overdue cambelt

This isn't a design fault, but it's the most expensive one to ignore. The 1.4 T-Jet's cambelt is time-sensitive, and a failure can wreck the engine. See our Abarth Servicing & Cambelt Guide for intervals.

Is an Abarth expensive to maintain?

Not especially. Servicing and parts are broadly similar to other hot hatches in its class. Costs rise when maintenance is skipped. Regular oil changes, a cambelt on time and early attention to small noises keep running costs sensible.

Buying a used Abarth? Get it checked first

We offer pre-purchase inspections. We'll scan for fault codes, check the service and cambelt history, test boost and clutch, and look for signs of hard use. It's a small cost that could save you thousands.

Something not quite right with your Abarth? Our specialists use dealer-level diagnostic equipment and give straightforward advice. Call 01489 328405 or contact AR Autos.