1.2 PureTech vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC carries less risk than the 1.2 PureTech: 48/100 (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 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «i-SHIFT automated gearbox actuator 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 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 faultsIs the 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC reliable?
A family of naturally aspirated Honda petrol engines with a timing chain (no belt to replace). The L-series blocks (1.2 and 1.3/1.4, sold as the "1.4") and the R-series (1.8) have a reputation for robustness. The documented weak point is not the engine block but the i-SHIFT automated gearbox of the Jazz II and Civic VIII, along with the clutch and flywheel, which wear out sooner than expected.[6][7][8][9]
See the 5 of the 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.2 PureTech | 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | 1,199 cm³ | — |
| Timing | Wet belt (belt-in-oil) | Chain |
| Power | 68–155 hp | 83–143 hp |
| Production | since 2012[10][11] | 2001–2020[6][7][12] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 96Very high risk | 48Moderate risk |
| Documented faults | 7 | 5 |
| Of high or critical severity | 7 | 2 |
| Worst severity | Critical severity | High severity |
| Main faults |
|
|
| Most expensive documented repair | up to €1,200Oil-bath timing belt degradationPublished figure[2][13][14][15] | No reliable data |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions | None | |
| With cautionVersions to be cautious about |
| |
| 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
Other comparisons
With the 1.2 PureTech
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.2 PureTech vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.2 PureTech vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.2 PureTech vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 PureTech vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 PureTech vs BMW B58
- 1.2 PureTech vs BMW M54
- 1.2 PureTech vs BMW N13
- 1.2 PureTech vs BMW N20
- 1.2 PureTech vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.2 PureTech vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.2 PureTech vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.2 PureTech vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.2 8v Fire
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.2 PureTech vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.2 PureTech vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.2 PureTech vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.2 PureTech vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 PureTech vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.2 PureTech vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.2 PureTech vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.2 PureTech vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.2 PureTech vs MZR gasolina
- 1.2 PureTech vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.2 PureTech vs M111
- 1.2 PureTech vs M112 / M113
- 1.2 PureTech vs M264/M254
- 1.2 PureTech vs M260
- 1.2 PureTech vs M271
- 1.2 PureTech vs M272/M273
- 1.2 PureTech vs M270/M274
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.2 PureTech vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.2 PureTech vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.2 PureTech vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.2 PureTech vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.6 THP
- 1.2 PureTech vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.2 PureTech vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.2 16v
- 1.2 PureTech vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.2 PureTech vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.2 PureTech vs Rover K-Series
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.2 PureTech vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.2 PureTech vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 PureTech vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.2 PureTech vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.2 12V
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- 1.2 PureTech vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.2 PureTech vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.2 PureTech vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
With the 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW B58
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW M54
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW N13
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW N20
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 8v Fire
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs MZR gasolina
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs M111
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs M112 / M113
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs M264/M254
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs M260
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs M271
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs M272/M273
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs M270/M274
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.6 THP
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 16v
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Rover K-Series
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 12V
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC 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.
- 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
- Honda L engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Honda R engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Fiabilité et pannes Honda Jazz 2 (2008-2015)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes Honda Civic (2006-2011)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- 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
- Honda JazzWikipedia (DE) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- 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
- Honda Civic (seventh generation)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Fiabilité et pannes Honda Jazz 3 (2015-2020)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Honda InsightWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- 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
- Honda Civic 8 (2005-2011): alle bekannten Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Fiabilité et pannes Honda Civic (2012-2017)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French