The 1.0 MPI has a timing belt, not a chain. The factory interval is based on time: five years, and shorter on short urban trips. On a low mileage, ten year old car the mileage is not enough. This model is typically a city car, so the time runs out first. If the belt snaps, the engine is badly damaged.

On the manual gearbox cars the clutch can wear out as early as 60,000 to 80,000 km according to the reports, and on the early batches the reverse lockout was missing too, which speeds up gearbox wear. The symptom is a slipping clutch on a slope or under acceleration, or a bite point that moves high.

In the EA211 the water pump and the thermostat are one plastic module, and the pump is driven not by the timing belt but by a separate toothed belt behind the exhaust camshaft. There are usually two problems with it: the plastic housing warps or cracks (slow coolant loss, a sweet smell, rising temperature), or the drive belt ages (a chirping noise, then an engine left with no cooling). The housing is particularly sensitive if oil reaches it: for example from a leaking crankcase ventilation. The module has to be replaced whole: dismantling it warps it in itself.

According to the reports the electric fuel pump can fail after 70,000 to 90,000 km, and the risk rises if the car is regularly run with a low tank: the pump is cooled by the fuel.

On the 1.0 MPI the reports mention starting problems as early as around 20,000 km: the car starts with difficulty, jerks, and runs badly. Behind it is typically a faulty ignition coil or the fuel system.

According to the reports the wheel bearings start droning at around 50,000 to 70,000 km. The noise gets louder with speed, and changes in corners: turning right loads the left bearing, and the other way round.