# What to Look For When Buying a Used Kia Picanto > What to check on a used Picanto, including the GT, what a problem looks like, and when to walk away. Covers: TA (2016–2017), JA (2017 on). Last updated: 13 October 2026. Web page: https://shufti.com.au/checklists/used-kia-picanto-inspection-checklist. Printable PDF: https://shufti.com.au/checklists/used-kia-picanto-inspection-checklist.pdf. ## Common Problems on a Used Kia Picanto The most commonly reported problems on a used Kia Picanto are a hesitant or jerky automatic gearbox, clutch wear from city and learner driving, glitchy infotainment screens and rusty brake lines. Many are first cars or city runabouts, so check for parking knocks and kerbed wheels too. ### Hesitant or Jerky Automatic Gearbox Owners of automatic Picantos report hesitation when pulling away and jerky or slow gear changes, especially in stop-start traffic. On the test drive, pull away gently from a stop several times, accelerate up a hill and drive through traffic. Feel for a pause before it moves, thumps between gears, revs flaring between changes, and a clunk into Drive or Reverse. Ask when the gearbox fluid was last changed and whether any gearbox work or software updates have been done, with receipts. If it slips or thumps, have a mechanic check it before you buy. ### Clutch Wear From City and Learner Driving A manual Picanto that's spent its life in city traffic or teaching learners can have a worn clutch well before high kilometres. Pull away on a slope and feel for judder. In 4th at 50 km/h, floor it: if the revs rise faster than the speed, the clutch is slipping. A clutch that bites right at the top of the pedal is near the end too. A new clutch is a few-day job and a significant bill on a cheap car, so price it into your offer. ### Infotainment Glitches Owners of Picantos report touchscreens that freeze, reboot or lose the phone connection. It's an annoyance more than a danger, but on later cars the screen also runs the reversing camera and settings. Connect your phone by Bluetooth and by cable (CarPlay or Android Auto, if fitted), make a call, play music and use the navigation. Select Reverse and check the camera comes up straight away and stays on. A software update at a dealer sometimes fixes it; a replacement screen costs much more. Ask whether it's had either, and price a fault into your offer. ### Rust on Brake Lines The brake lines are metal pipes that run under the car to each wheel. Rust on them, more common on cars near the coast, can make them leak and the brakes fail. With a torch, look along the underside for flaky, swollen or crusty metal pipes, especially near the rear wheels, and for wet patches. Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope. Rusted brake lines must be replaced before the car is safe to drive. It's not a huge job, but get a quote and take it off the price. ## Which Kia Picanto Years to Avoid? No Kia Picanto year is one to avoid outright. Which problems a particular car has depends on its generation, its engine and how it was used, so judge the one in front of you rather than the year alone, starting with its recalls and reported faults (Shufti looks these up from the listing). - **TA (2016–2017).** Most have done enough kilometres for wear items to come due: check the service history for regular servicing, and whether tyres, brakes and the battery need replacing. - **JA (2017 on).** The current model. The newest may still have some new-car warranty left; on older ones, check the service history and whether tyres, brakes and the battery are due. ## Kia Picanto Inspection Checklist Tick it if it's fine. Cross it if it isn't, and note what you found so you can price it into your offer. - Safety critical: Affects how safely it drives or protects you in a crash. Best to have a mechanic check it before you buy. - Negotiate: Costs money to fix, from wear to major repairs. Get a quote and take it off the price. ### Before You Go - [ ] **Get the VIN and rego** before you travel. A seller who won't share them is a red flag on its own. - [ ] **Know the gearbox:** manual or automatic. Each has its own check in the test drive section. - [ ] **Ask how it was used:** first car, ex-rental, delivery driving or city only? For a GT, ask about tunes and hard driving. - [ ] **Ask for the engine to be cold,** go in daylight, and bring a torch, paper towel and a friend. ### Exterior - [ ] **Panels and paint.** Uneven gaps, mismatched colour or overspray on seals and trim mean crash repair. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Learner-driver knocks.** Scraped bumper corners, dented doors and scuffed mirrors. Small dents add up; check behind them for bent metal. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Hail and dents.** Look along the roof and bonnet at a low angle to the light for small dimples. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Wheels.** Kerbed alloys or cracked wheel covers. A badly kerbed wheel can be bent, causing vibration. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Lights and glass.** All lights work, no condensation inside; windscreen free of chips in the driver's view. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Doors and tailgate** open, shut and lock cleanly, with the remote and the key. (Negotiate) - [ ] **VIN plate** (in a door frame or under the bonnet) is there, untouched, and matches the papers. ### Under the Bonnet - [ ] **Engine oil** between the dipstick marks, brown not black. Old, dark oil means servicing has been skipped. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Coolant** at the mark and brightly coloured. Rusty or oily coolant, or regular top-ups, needs a mechanic. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Brake fluid** (small tank at the back of the engine bay) is clear to light amber, not dark. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Belts, hoses and battery.** No cracked belts or swollen hoses; clean battery terminals and a date sticker. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Leaks.** Wet oil on the engine is a leak. A freshly degreased engine can be hiding one. (Negotiate) - [ ] **GT: modifications.** Aftermarket intake, a loud "whoosh" valve or an extra box wired into the engine mean it's been tuned. - [ ] **Cold start.** Starts easily and settles to a smooth idle. A rattle for the first few seconds, or smoke, needs a mechanic. (Negotiate) ### Underbody and Wheels - [ ] **Tyre tread** above the wear bars, worn evenly. Wear on one edge only means the wheels are out of line, often from hitting kerbs. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Tyre age.** The 4-digit code on the side is the week and year made (2319 = week 23, 2019). Over ~6 years: budget for new ones. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Rust and crash repairs.** Rust on the floor or around the suspension; bent metal, fresh welds or new black coating in one spot. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Drips** under the car, and oil stains where it's normally parked. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Suspension.** Push down on each corner: it should bounce back once and settle. Oily shock absorbers leak. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Brakes.** Deep grooves or a raised edge on the discs mean they're due. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Exhaust.** Heavy rust, holes or loose heat shields that rattle. (Negotiate) ### Interior and Electrics - [ ] **Warning lights.** Key to "on": every dash light comes on, then goes out once running. An airbag, brake or engine light that stays on needs explaining. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Water leaks.** Damp carpet, a wet boot floor or a stained headlining. Lift the boot floor. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Wear matches the kilometres.** Steering wheel, gear knob, pedals and driver's seat bolster. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Seatbelts** pull out fully, retract and latch, with no fraying. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Air con** blows cold within a minute or two, without a musty smell; heater gets hot. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Electrics.** Screen, Bluetooth/CarPlay, reversing camera, windows and mirrors. Count the keys. (Negotiate) ### Test Drive - [ ] **Manual.** In 4th at 50 km/h, floor it: if revs rise faster than speed, the clutch is slipping. Gears go in without crunching. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Automatic.** Smooth changes with no slipping, flare or thump into Drive or Reverse. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Engine.** Pulls cleanly with no stutter, hesitation or smoke, including up a hill with a passenger. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Brakes.** Firm pedal; stops straight with no pulling, pulsing or grinding. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Steering and suspension.** Drives straight; no knocks over bumps. A hum that grows with speed is often a wheel bearing. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Highway.** Holds 100 km/h without shaking through the wheel or a loud drone. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Afterwards,** check for new drips, a steady temperature gauge and no hot smells. (Negotiate) ### Documentation - [ ] **Seller's ID** matches the rego papers, and the VIN matches on the papers and VIN plate. - [ ] **Service history.** Logbook stamped on time, with receipts. Cheap cars often miss services; ask for receipts, not just a stamped book. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Modifications in writing.** Tunes, lowering and exhausts, with engineering sign-off where your state requires it. - [ ] **Rental or delivery records.** Ask directly whether it was a hire or delivery car, and ask for the log. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Warranty.** A newer Picanto may still be under Kia's new-car warranty. Check the start date and that servicing kept it valid. - [ ] **Rego and roadworthy.** Rego checked online; roadworthy supplied if your state requires one on sale. (Negotiate) ## Stay Safe Never go under a car held up only by a jack, and never open the radiator or coolant cap on a hot engine. Keep hands, hair and loose clothing clear of fans and belts when the engine is running, and do checks under the bonnet with it switched off where you can. On the test drive, hold a current licence, confirm the car is registered and insured, obey road rules, and only brake hard when the road behind is clear. Meet in a safe, public-facing place, take someone with you, and don't carry large amounts of cash to a viewing. ## Disclaimer Shufti is not affiliated with or endorsed by Kia; Kia and Picanto are trademarks of Kia Corporation. Figures are counts from Shufti's analysis of official records and published reports, not a statement that any particular vehicle is affected. This checklist is general information only and is not professional, mechanical, legal or financial advice. It covers common checks, not every possible fault, and a car can pass every item here and still have problems. It is not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic, which is worth considering before you buy, especially if anything tagged Safety critical turns up. Repair costs vary widely; get your own quotes. Roadworthy, registration and transfer rules differ by state, so check with your state road authority. Private sales generally don't come with the consumer guarantees that apply when you buy from a dealer. You use this checklist at your own risk and, to the extent permitted by law, Shufti accepts no liability for any loss, damage or injury arising from its use. ## Buying a Used Kia Picanto: Questions Answered ### Is a used Kia Picanto reliable? It depends more on the particular car than the badge: how it was driven, loaded and serviced. Work through the commonly reported problems above, read the service history for servicing done on time, and run a PPSR check. ### Which Kia Picanto years should I avoid? No Kia Picanto year is one to avoid outright. Which problems a particular car has depends on its generation, its engine and how it was used, so judge the one in front of you rather than the year alone, starting with its recalls and reported faults (Shufti looks these up from the listing). This checklist covers the TA (2016–2017) and JA (2017 on) Kia Picanto. Problems reported across them include a hesitant or jerky automatic gearbox, clutch wear, infotainment glitches and rusty brake lines. ### How many kilometres is too many for a used Kia Picanto? Kilometres matter less than how the car was driven and serviced. A high-kilometre car with a full service history can be a better buy than a low-kilometre one that's missed services or spent years on short trips. Check the history for regular oil changes, and find out whether any timing belt replacement is due, as it's a costly job. ### Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a used Kia Picanto? It's worth it if you can. A mechanic can spot hidden crash repairs and gearbox problems that are easy to miss on a short test drive. Most buyers don't book one, though, so whatever you decide, check the car thoroughly yourself with this checklist first. See Is a pre-purchase inspection worth it? (https://shufti.com.au/guides/is-a-pre-purchase-inspection-worth-it) ### How do I check a used Kia Picanto for money owing or a write-off? Run a PPSR check with the car's VIN. It shows whether there's finance owing and whether the car has been reported stolen or written off, and costs $2. Run it on the day you pay. See What a PPSR check covers and what it doesn't (https://shufti.com.au/guides/what-is-a-ppsr-check) --- Shufti is an Australian used car inspection app for iPhone and Android that tailors the inspection to the exact car you're looking at. It is not affiliated with Shufti Pro, the identity verification (KYC) company. From the listing link, it builds every check around that car's make, model and year, odometer reading and the seller's description. It runs PPSR and government recall checks, crosschecks a database of more than 3 million recalls and owner complaints, flags problems from your photos and audio, plans a test drive, produces a shareable report with repair cost estimates, and coaches you through the negotiation. A check costs $24.99, or $49.99 for three, including PPSR and recall checks. A mechanic's pre-purchase inspection costs $250–350. Made by Frontpoint Digital Pty Ltd (ABN 23 669 870 366), Melbourne, Australia. Contact: hello@shufti.com.au. 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