IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
1991 Lancia Delta

We've identified 4 known issues that can affect the 1991 Lancia Delta. 3 of these are serious faults that could be expensive to repair.

4
Known Issues
3
Serious
1
Moderate
0
Minor

All Known Issues

Chassis and Windscreen Pillar Stress Cracking

SeriousBodywork & Rust

The Delta's monocoque chassis was originally conceived for a modest 1.3-litre family hatchback. Channeling over 200bhp through stiff 4WD suspension, aggressive anti-roll bars and modern low-profile tyres subjects the shell to immense torsional loads. Severe stress cracking frequently develops at the upper corners of the windscreen pillars under the rubber seal, around the front bulkhead chassis leg attachments, down at the bottom of the B-pillars and around the rear suspension turret perimeters.

Est. Repair Cost: £800–£3,000
Warning Signs:

Visible hairline paint cracks at the upper and lower corners of the windscreen A-pillars, Creaks and groans from the dashboard and windscreen area when traversing uneven road surfaces, Fracturing around the front chassis leg welds inside the engine bay beneath the battery tray, Distorted door shut lines or sticking front doors when the vehicle is jacked up from one side

What to Inspect:
  • Pull back the windscreen rubber seal at the upper A-pillar corners to inspect for metal fatigue and cracking
  • Inspect the bulkhead where the front inner wings weld to the crossmember and suspension towers
  • Check the rear turret seams inside the boot area for welded reinforcement plates or stress tears
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Timing Belt and Balancer Shaft Belt Failure

SeriousEngine

The turbocharged 2.0-litre Lampredi engine features twin overhead camshafts and twin counter-rotating balancer shafts driven by independent toothed rubber belts. High-temperature engine bay conditions, high-lift camshaft modifications and tight clearances accelerate belt degradation. If the cambelt or balancer belt snaps or skips teeth due to aged tensioner bearings, the valves impact the pistons, resulting in bent valves, broken guides and major engine rebuild costs.

Est. Repair Cost: £800–£2,500
Warning Signs:

Sudden engine shutdown under acceleration with no compression when cranking, High-pitched screeching or dry whirring noise from the timing cover at the front of the engine, Rough, unrefined engine vibration if the balancer shaft belt has snapped or skipped teeth, Oil leaking from the front crankshaft or camshaft seals contaminating the rubber belts

What to Inspect:
  • Check documentary proof verifying timing belt and balancer belt replacement within the last 24,000 miles or 3 years
  • Verify that the water pump and belt tensioner pulleys were renewed simultaneously with the belt service
  • Inspect the timing belt cover area for signs of oil misting from leaking cam box seals
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Upper Sump Gasket Oil Leaks and Low-Oil Turbo Starvation

SeriousEngine

The transverse Lampredi turbo installation is prone to oil weeping from the two-piece sump gasket and rocker cover seals. In aggressive driving, the turbocharged twin-cam engine consumes up to 0.5 to 1.0 litre of synthetic oil per 1,000 miles. Because the turbocharger oil feed gallery sits high up on the block, running with low oil levels rapidly starves the turbo bearings and big-end bearings, resulting in bearing seizure and turbo failure.

Est. Repair Cost: £500–£1,800
Warning Signs:

Oil drips forming beneath the engine bay and coating the front subframe and exhaust downpipe, Oil pressure dropping below 1.0 bar on the dashboard gauge when idling with a hot engine, Blue smoke billowing from the twin exhaust tailpipes on boost or during overrun deceleration, Deep knocking or rumbling from the engine bottom-end under moderate load

What to Inspect:
  • Check engine oil dipstick level and condition; ensure the previous keeper used high-grade 10W-40 or 10W-60 synthetic oil
  • Verify oil pressure gauge registers at least 1.0 bar at hot idle and rises cleanly past 3.0 bar above 3,000 rpm
  • Inspect the turbocharger compressor housing and intake hose for excessive wet oil pooling or shaft play
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Roof Trailing Edge and Windscreen Frame Corrosion

ModerateBodywork & Rust

Unlike earlier Lancias, Integrales received improved factory cathodic dipping, but specific moisture traps remain notorious. Rainwater and road grit collect in the channel seal where the tailgate hinges mount to the roof trailing edge, causing bubbling and structural disintegration that weakens the tailgate mountings. Similar corrosion takes hold behind the windscreen rubber seal and around the front lower scuttle, requiring painstaking metal fabrication to rectify.

Est. Repair Cost: £600–£2,000
Warning Signs:

Blistering and paint bubbling along the rear edge of the roof panel above the tailgate hinges, Water dripping into the luggage compartment or dampness beneath the rear boot carpet, Rust staining creeping out from beneath the lower windscreen rubber seal onto the scuttle, Tailgate sitting unevenly or rubbing against the roof aperture due to weakened hinge metal

What to Inspect:
  • Open the rear hatch and inspect the roof gutter seam directly around the two tailgate hinges with a torch
  • Carefully lift the lower edge of the front windscreen rubber seal to check for concealed rust blisters
  • Examine the front radiator support crossmember through the bonnet louvres for water corrosion
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Buying Tips for 1991 Lancia Delta

  • Check meticulously for structural stress cracking at the top corners of the windscreen pillars, the bulkhead-to-chassis leg joints and the rear suspension turrets.
  • Verify that the timing belts and balance shaft belts have been changed within the last two to three years or 24,000 miles on 16V models; belt failure causes catastrophic top-end damage.
  • Confirm oil pressure on a warm engine at idle: expect at least 1.0 bar at hot idle and climbing cleanly above 3.0 bar at 3,000 rpm.
  • Examine the rear roof edge above the tailgate hinges and the front scuttle area beneath the windscreen rubber for blistering and hidden corrosion.
Check a 1991 Lancia Delta by Registration