1.2 PureTech vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Audi 3.0 TFSI V6 carries less risk than the 1.2 PureTech: 36/100 (moderate risk) versus 96/100 (very high risk). The 1.2 PureTech has 7 documented serious faults, the main one being «Oil-bath timing belt degradation»; the Audi 3.0 TFSI V6 has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing chain stretch and tensioner wear».

Risk index

1.2 PureTech

Very high risk · 7 serious faults

Risk index

Audi 3.0 TFSI V6

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

Reviewed on 9 October 202629 sources How we work

Is the 1.2 PureTech reliable?

The belt-driven 1.2 PureTech (2012-2025) has a problem acknowledged by Stellantis: the oil-bath timing belt can degrade, block lubrication and, on the 2013-2018 turbos, damage the brake servo vacuum pump. The 2014-2023 turbos can also use oil. Stellantis offers 10 years or 180,000 km of cover; the chain-driven generation (from 2023) no longer uses that belt.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

See the 7 of the 1.2 PureTech faults

Is the Audi 3.0 TFSI V6 reliable?

The supercharged 3.0 TFSI (EA837, 2008-2018) has a reputation for reliability: Gebrauchtwagenberater sees no known problems in the A6 C7. What is documented is limited: thermostat and water pump leaks, a fuel rail recall campaign, chain wear in the first units, and carbon build-up. The turbocharged EA839 (from 2016) has no documented faults of its own yet.^{[6][7][8][9][10][11]}

See the 5 of the Audi 3.0 TFSI V6 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 PureTech and Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
Item	1.2 PureTech	Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,199 cm³	2,995 cm³
Timing	Wet belt (belt-in-oil)	Chain
Power	68–155 hp	272–450 hp
Production	since 2012^[12][13]	since 2008^{[14][15][16][17]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	96Very high risk	36Moderate risk
Documented faults	7	5
Of high or critical severity	7	2
Worst severity	Critical severity	High severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Oil-bath timing belt degradation Critical severity: Loss of braking assistance from vacuum pump damage High severity: Excessive oil consumption from carbon on the piston rings or oil separator failure	High severity: Timing chain stretch and tensioner wear High severity: Fuel leak at the injection rails (2015 and 2019 campaigns) Medium severity: Leak at the thermostat housing and water pump
Most expensive documented repair	up to €1,200Oil-bath timing belt degradationPublished figure^{[2][18][19][20]}	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	3.0 TFSI turbo (EA839: CZSE, DR, CWGD; 2016 onwards)^[11] 2.9 TFSI twin-turbo (EA839: DECA, DKMB; 2016 onwards)^[11][14]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.2 VTi / PureTech naturally aspirated 68-83 hp (EB2, EB2F, EB2FA..., from 2012)^[1][3][21] 1.2 PureTech turbo 110 and 130 hp Euro 6.1 (EB2DT, EB2DTS, 2013-2018)^{[2][3][4][22]} 1.2 PureTech turbo 100-155 hp Euro 6.2/6.3/6d (2018-2022)^[2][4][23] 1.2 PureTech turbo 100 and 130 hp with revised belt (2022-2025)^[1][2][24] 1.2 Turbo / Hybrid third generation with chain, 100-145 hp (from 2023)^[25][26]	3.0 TFSI 290 hp supercharged (CAJA, CGWA; 2008-2013)^[6][10][27] 3.0 TFSI 300/310 hp supercharged (CGWB, CGWD, CGXB, CTUA; 2010-2014)^[8][10][28] 3.0 TFSI 333 hp supercharged, direct injection (CAKA, CJTB, CTWA, CTUB; 2008-2015)^[7][8][27] 3.0 TFSI 333 hp evo supercharged with combined injection (CREC; 2014-2018)^{[9][10][28][29]} 3.0 TFSI 272 hp supercharged (CTUC, CTVA, CMUA, CJTC; 2010-2017)^[7] SQ5 3.0 TFSI 354 hp supercharged (2013-2017)^[7]
AvoidVersions to avoid	None	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

1.2 PureTech

See the 49 models with the 1.2 PureTech

Audi 3.0 TFSI V6

See the 19 models with the Audi 3.0 TFSI V6

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 PureTech

With the Audi 3.0 TFSI V6

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

Stellantis ofrece medidas a los afectados por los motores PureTech tras miles de demandaskm77 · Motoring press · published 28 November 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Moteur PureTech. Stellantis généralise sa garantie de 10 ans ou 180 000 kmL'argus · Motoring press · published 26 May 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Safety Gate, alerta A12/01505/20: Peugeot 208, 308, 2008, 3008, 5008 y Partner (copia en PDF)Comisión Europea – Safety Gate · Official body · published November 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026
Fiabilité Stellantis 1.2 PureTech. De nouvelles solutions contre la consommation d'huileL'argus · Motoring press · published 23 June 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Stellantis 1.2 Puretech engine: list of belt and chain modelsItalPassion · Motoring press · published 2 February 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026
Audi A6 C7 4G 2011-2018 Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Audi Q5: Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Undichtigkeit im Einspritzsystem: Audi-Rückruf läuft bereitsÖAMTC · Consumer association · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Audi: Ersatz des KraftstoffverteilersÖAMTC · Consumer association · published 19 February 2019 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Audi A6 C7: typische Probleme und Diagnose mit ODISKfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich (blog de taller) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Audi A6 C8: Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Moteur EBWikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
El Peugeot 208 estrena motor Turbo 100 con distribución por cadenaDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 16 March 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
List of Volkswagen Group petrol engines (EA837 y EA839)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Audi Técnica Motor 3.0 TFSI (2008)km77.com · Motoring press · consulted 9 October 2026 · in Spanish
Audi 3.0 TFSIAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 27 June 2008 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Used Audi A4 buying guide 2008-2015 (Mk4)Carbuyer · Motoring press · published 7 February 2019 · consulted 9 October 2026
1.2 PureTech: precio y cambio de correa de distribuciónAutopista · Motoring press · published 2 August 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Stellantis reacciona a los motores PureTech defectuosos: amplía la garantía de manera retroactiva a 10 añosXataka · Motoring press · published 27 March 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
La correa bañada en aceite: cámbiala cada 60.000 km y evita una avería de 3.000 eurosMotor16 · Motoring press · published 27 August 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Rappel des moteurs 1.2 Puretech 110 et 130 chFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Peugeot-Citroën-DS-Opel. Nouveau rappel de grande ampleur pour le moteur 1.2 PureTechL'argus · Motoring press · published 28 January 2023 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Peugeot, sobre los motores PureTech: «Reconocemos que hemos hecho las cosas mal»Xataka · Motoring press · published 4 June 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
10 años o 175.000 km de garantía para los modelos de Stellantis con motor PureTechAutofácil · Motoring press · published 27 March 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Confirmado: Stellantis llama a revisión a más de 200.000 coches con el motor gasolina sucesor del 1.2 PureTech: «Y también se hará en España»Motorpasión · Motoring press · published 15 July 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Fiabilité du 1.2 PuretechFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Gebrauchter Audi A6 und S6 C7 ZuverlässigkeitsleitfadenEuro Premium Parts (blog de recambista) · Other source · published 29 November 2025 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
DVSA – base de llamadas a revisión (R/2015/031 y R/2019/099)DVSA (Reino Unido) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Audi A6 berlina 3.0 TFSI 333 CV quattro S tronic 7 vel. (2014-2017)km77.com · Motoring press · consulted 9 October 2026 · in Spanish