Used Fiat Stilo review and buying guide (2002 to 2007): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Fiat Stilo should you buy?

There isn't a safe year of Stilo to point you at. Feedback on cars sold between 2002 and 2007 was bad enough for it to be called a disaster of a car with more problems than anyone could list, so the individual car and its paperwork count for far more than its age or engine.

If you're set on one, lean towards a 2005 or later car, because the revised model earned a four-star occupant crash rating. That's about safety, not reliability, though. It won't protect you from the airbag, gearbox, air-con and boot leak problems, so judge a later car just as hard as an early one.

Which Stilo engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

There's no Stilo engine you can pick out as the reliable one, because the reports don't separate them; they point at the gearbox instead. Owners have complained of faulty gearboxes, so the box in the car you're looking at matters more than what's under the bonnet, and one that shifts badly is a car to leave.

The engine bay's other risk is overheating. A 2003 recall replaced the engine cooling fan's control unit on early cars with the larger petrol engines or the JTD diesel, because it could short circuit and leave the engine running hot. On one of those, ask to see that the new unit's been fitted, and keep an eye on the temperature gauge in slow traffic on the test drive.

What should you check when viewing a used Stilo?

Lift the boot floor and feel for damp, since leaks into the boot have been reported by several owners. Then crouch by the front tyres: a camber problem on the front wheels wears them unevenly, so tread that's worn more on one side than the other tells you the geometry needs sorting.

Run the air-con on full and make sure it blows properly cold, because a part of the system is prone to holing. With the ignition on, check the airbag warning light comes on and then goes out; by April 2007 a lot of Stilos had suffered failures of the airbag system.

On the drive, go through every gear up and down, listening for crunches and feeling for a lever that baulks or jumps out. Over bumps, listen for a clonk or knock from the front, as a December 2006 safety recall dealt with front coil springs that could fail.

Ask for proof that the spring recall and a May 2003 airbag recall were done; the second replaced the airbag control unit because the side window airbags could go off by themselves. One owner of a 2002 car found the dashboard surface turning soft and sticky, so run a hand across it.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Fiat Stilo cost to run?