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1.2 PureTech vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT carries less risk than the 1.2 PureTech: 25/100 (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 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

1.2 PureTech

96

Very high risk · 7 serious faults

Risk index

1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT

25

Moderate risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

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

33 sourcesHow 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 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT reliable?

The Ti-VCT is Ford's family of naturally aspirated petrol engines (Sigma, Zetec-SE or Duratec), in 1.25, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6 litres, fitted to the Fiesta, Focus, C-Max, B-Max, EcoSport and Ka+ between 2003 and 2022. It is a reliable engine in general: its best-documented fault, a variable valve timing actuator that could seize, is concentrated in the oldest units (Focus II and C-Max I) and was corrected afterwards.[6][7][8][9]

See the 4 of the 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 PureTech and 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
1.2 PureTech1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement1,199 cm³—
TimingWet belt (belt-in-oil)Timing belt (dry)
Power68–155 hp60–125 hp
Productionsince 2012[10][11]2003–2022[6][12][13]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)96Very high risk25Moderate risk
Documented faults74
Of high or critical severity70
Worst severityCritical severityMedium severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Oil-bath timing belt degradation
  2. Critical severity: Loss of braking assistance from vacuum pump damage
  3. High severity: Excessive oil consumption from carbon on the piston rings or oil separator failure
  1. Medium severity: Ti-VCT actuator or solenoid valve failure on the early units
  2. Medium severity: Higher-than-expected oil consumption
  3. Medium severity: Thermostat, water pump and coolant loss
Most expensive documented repairup to €1,200Oil-bath timing belt degradationPublished figure[2][14][15][16]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNone
  • 1.6 Ti-VCT 85/105/120/125 hp (revised actuator)[8][9][17]
  • 1.5 Ti-VCT 110/112 hp (Ford EcoSport)[18]
  • 1.2 Ti-VCT 70/85 hp, 1,196 cc (Ford Ka+)[19]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.2 VTi / PureTech naturally aspirated 68-83 hp (EB2, EB2F, EB2FA..., from 2012)[1][3][20]
  • 1.2 PureTech turbo 110 and 130 hp Euro 6.1 (EB2DT, EB2DTS, 2013-2018)[2][3][4][21]
  • 1.2 PureTech turbo 100-155 hp Euro 6.2/6.3/6d (2018-2022)[2][4][22]
  • 1.2 PureTech turbo 100 and 130 hp with revised belt (2022-2025)[1][2][23]
  • 1.2 Turbo / Hybrid third generation with chain, 100-145 hp (from 2023)[24][25]
  • 1.25 Ti-VCT 60/75/82 hp[26][27]
  • 1.4 Ti-VCT 90/96/97 hp[17][27]
  • 1.6 Ti-VCT 115/117 hp (first actuator design, Focus II and C-Max I)[7][28][29]
  • 1.25 / 1.4 / 1.6 Zetec-SE 75/90/100 hp (Fiesta IV, 1995-2002)[30]
  • 1.4 / 1.6 Zetec-S/SE 75/100 hp (Focus I, 1998–2004)[31][32]
  • 1.25 / 1.4 / 1.6 Duratec 16v 75/80/100 hp (Fiesta V, 2002–2008)[33]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

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 PureTech

With the 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT

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Sources

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

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Stellantis 1.2 Puretech engine: list of belt and chain modelsItalPassion · Motoring press · published 2 February 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026
  6. Ford Sigma engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  7. Ford Focus Mk2: Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  8. Ford Focus: Probleme, Rückrufe, KaufberatungGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  9. Ford C-Max Mk2: Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  10. Moteur EBWikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  11. El Peugeot 208 estrena motor Turbo 100 con distribución por cadenaDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 16 March 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  12. Ford FiestaWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  13. Ford C-MaxWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  14. 1.2 PureTech: precio y cambio de correa de distribuciónAutopista · Motoring press · published 2 August 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. Ford B-Max: alle bekannten ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  18. Ford EcoSport (ab 2012): typische Probleme & MängelGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  19. Ford Ka+ (2016-2020): typische Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  20. Rappel des moteurs 1.2 Puretech 110 et 130 chFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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
  24. 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
  25. Fiabilité du 1.2 PuretechFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  26. Ford Fiesta – Typische Probleme & Krankheiten (MK6, MK7, MK8)Gebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  27. Fiabilité et pannes Ford FiestaFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  28. Ford C-Max Mk1: Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  29. Fiabilité et pannes Ford Focus 2Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  30. Tous les problèmes sur Ford FIESTA 1995 - 2002 (147 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
  31. Fiabilité et pannes du Ford Focus 1 (1998-2004)fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
  32. Ford Focus MK1 – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 5 October 2023 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
  33. Fiabilité et pannes du Ford Fiesta (2002-2008)fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French