1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 TCe: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 1.2 TCe carries less risk than the 1.2 and 1.4 TSI: 54/100 (high risk) versus 84/100 (very high risk). The 1.2 and 1.4 TSI has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing chain stretch and tensioner failure (EA111)»; the 1.2 TCe has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Excessive oil consumption and engine failure».
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
Is the 1.2 and 1.4 TSI reliable?
It depends on the generation. The chain-driven 1.2 and 1.4 TSI EA111 engines (2006-2015) carry a recognised problem of chain stretch and tensioner failure, and the 1.4 twincharger engines from before 2012 can break pistons. The belt-driven EA211 engines (from 2012) are considerably more reliable: their typical fault is a leaking water pump.[1][2][3][4][5]
See the 5 of the 1.2 and 1.4 TSI faultsIs the 1.2 TCe reliable?
Only with reservations: 1.2 TCe and 1.2 DIG-T engines built between 2012 and mid-2016 can burn a lot of oil because of poor piston ring sealing, with a risk of damaging the valves, stretching the chain or destroying the engine. Renault and Nissan dealt with it through technical notes and case-by-case assistance, without a recall; later production incorporates the fix.[6][7][8][9][10]
See the 2 of the 1.2 TCe faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.2 and 1.4 TSI | 1.2 TCe |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | — | 1,197 cm³ |
| Timing | Chain | Chain |
| Power | 85–185 hp | 100–130 hp |
| Production | since 2006[11][12][13][14][15] | 2012–2018[6][7][10][16][17] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 84Very high risk | 54High risk |
| Documented faults | 5 | 2 |
| Of high or critical severity | 3 | 2 |
| Worst severity | Critical severity | Critical severity |
| Main faults |
|
|
| Most expensive documented repair | up to €1,400Timing chain stretch and tensioner failure (EA111)Published figure[18][19] | up to €10,000Excessive oil consumption and engine failurePublished figure[6][7][20][21] |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions | ||
| With cautionVersions to be cautious about | ||
| AvoidVersions to avoid | None | |
Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them
Cars that each one is fitted to
Other comparisons
With the 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW B58
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW M54
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW N13
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW N20
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 8v Fire
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs MZR gasolina
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs M111
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs M112 / M113
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs M264/M254
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs M260
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs M271
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs M272/M273
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs M270/M274
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 THP
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 16v
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Rover K-Series
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 12V
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
With the 1.2 TCe
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.2 TCe vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.2 TCe vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.2 TCe vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 TCe vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 TCe vs BMW B58
- 1.2 TCe vs BMW M54
- 1.2 TCe vs BMW N13
- 1.2 TCe vs BMW N20
- 1.2 TCe vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.2 TCe vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.2 TCe vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.2 TCe vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.2 8v Fire
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.2 TCe vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.2 TCe vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.2 TCe vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.2 TCe vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 TCe vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.2 TCe vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.2 TCe vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.2 TCe vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.2 TCe vs MZR gasolina
- 1.2 TCe vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.2 TCe vs M111
- 1.2 TCe vs M112 / M113
- 1.2 TCe vs M264/M254
- 1.2 TCe vs M260
- 1.2 TCe vs M271
- 1.2 TCe vs M272/M273
- 1.2 TCe vs M270/M274
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.2 TCe vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.2 TCe vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.2 TCe vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.2 TCe vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.6 THP
- 1.2 TCe vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.2 TCe vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.2 16v
- 1.2 TCe vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.2 TCe vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.2 TCe vs Rover K-Series
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.2 TCe vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.2 TCe vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 TCe vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.2 TCe vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.2 12V
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- 1.2 TCe vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.2 TCe vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.2 TCe vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
Compare other engines
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- VW 1.2 TSI & 1.4 TSI Steuerkette: VW kassiert Kulanz-VersprechenAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 1 June 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- Probleme und Schwachstellen beim 1.2 TSI, 1.4 TSI (EA111)Gebrauchtwagenberater · Other source · published 1 September 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- VW EA211: Typische Probleme und HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Other source · published 26 August 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- Volkswagen CAVD 1.4 Litre TSI Engine ProblemsGrant Walker (taller, Australia) · Other source · published 28 June 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026
- VW Golf 7: Probleme, Mängel & Schwachstellencarwiki.de · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- Moteur 1.2 Renault - 400 000 voitures en dangerUFC-Que Choisir (Que Choisir Ensemble) · Consumer association · published 24 May 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
- Casse moteur Renault 1.2 TCe : 107 000 Renault concernéesL'argus · Motoring press · published 28 March 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
- Renault 1.2 TCe et Nissan 1.2 DIG-T : des moteurs gourmands en huileL'argus · Motoring press · published 12 October 2016 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
- Moteur 1.2 Renault - Les constructeurs minimisentUFC-Que Choisir (Que Choisir Ensemble) · Consumer association · published 31 July 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
- Moteur H Renault-NissanWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
- Self-Study Programme 359: 1.4l TSI Engine with Dual-chargingVolkswagen AG (copia alojada en volkspage.net) · Manufacturer · published March 2006 · consulted 26 September 2026
- Volkswagen EA111 engine (1.2 TSI/TFSI)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
- Volkswagen EA211 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
- Audi A1Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
- International Driving Presentation of the new Polo BlueGTVolkswagen Newsroom · Manufacturer · published 2 July 2012 · consulted 26 September 2026
- Nissan HR engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
- H-Typrenaultfans.info · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- Coste de cambiar la cadena de distribución: guía VW Audi TSISkanyx · Other source · published 25 June 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Problemas en la cadena de distribución: casos y costeGT Autos (Málaga) · Other source · published 22 December 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Posibles fallos en algunos motores de gasolina de Renault, Dacia y NissanOCU · Consumer association · published 4 June 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Problème moteur Renault-Dacia 1.2 TCe, Nissan 1.2 DIG-T et Mercedes - Vos questions, nos réponsesUFC-Que Choisir (Que Choisir Ensemble) · Consumer association · published 24 May 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
- VW: Austritt von Motoröl möglichautoservicepraxis.de · Motoring press · published 16 August 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- Bei älteren VW 1.2 TSi-Motoren: Gefahr einer Längung der Steuerkettefebi bilstein (blog técnico) · Technical documentation · published 28 January 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- ADAC Pannenstatistik 2019 (anexo: defectos por encima de la media por modelo)ADAC e.V. · Reliability study · published 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- Bulletin – Volkswagen 1.4 Piston FailureSouthside Cylinder Heads (taller, Australia) · Other source · published 6 December 2017 · consulted 26 September 2026