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1.2 PureTech vs 1.6 THP: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.6 THP carries less risk than the 1.2 PureTech: 64/100 (high 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 1.6 THP has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing chain and tensioner stretch (turbo versions, before 2012)».

Risk index

1.2 PureTech

96

Very high risk · 7 serious faults

Risk index

1.6 THP

64

High 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

23 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 1.6 THP reliable?

The 1.6 THP turbo and its naturally aspirated sibling, the 1.6 VTi, make up the Prince family, developed together with BMW and also used by MINI: they do not have a reputation for reliability. Turbo versions built before 2012 carry a known problem of timing chain stretch, and the whole block shares a water pump described as fragile; the turbo versions add oil consumption and high-pressure fuel pump failures.[6][7][8][9]

See the 5 of the 1.6 THP faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 PureTech and 1.6 THP
1.2 PureTech1.6 THP
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement1,199 cm³1,598 cm³
TimingWet belt (belt-in-oil)Chain
Power68–155 hp120–270 hp
Productionsince 2012[10][11]2006–2018[6][12][13]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)96Very high risk64High risk
Documented faults75
Of high or critical severity72
Worst severityCritical severityCritical 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. Critical severity: Timing chain and tensioner stretch (turbo versions, before 2012)
  2. High severity: Fragile water pump and heat exchanger
  3. Medium severity: High-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure on the turbo versions
Most expensive documented repairup to €1,200Oil-bath timing belt degradationPublished figure[2][14][15][16]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNoneNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.2 VTi / PureTech naturally aspirated 68-83 hp (EB2, EB2F, EB2FA..., from 2012)[1][3][17]
  • 1.2 PureTech turbo 110 and 130 hp Euro 6.1 (EB2DT, EB2DTS, 2013-2018)[2][3][4][18]
  • 1.2 PureTech turbo 100-155 hp Euro 6.2/6.3/6d (2018-2022)[2][4][19]
  • 1.2 PureTech turbo 100 and 130 hp with revised belt (2022-2025)[1][2][20]
  • 1.2 Turbo / Hybrid third generation with chain, 100-145 hp (from 2023)[21][22]
  • 1.6 VTi 120 / 1.6 16v (EP6/EP6C, N12/N16, naturally aspirated)[9]
  • 1.6 THP medium output (EP6DT/EP6DTS/EP6CDT, N14/N18; 140-190 hp)[7][8][23]
  • 1.6 THP high performance (EP6CDXD/EP6FDTR/EP6CDTR, John Cooper Works N14/N18; 200-270 hp)[7][8][9]
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

1.2 PureTech

See the 51 models with the 1.2 PureTech

1.6 THP

See the 16 models with the 1.6 THP

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 PureTech

With the 1.6 THP

Compare other engines

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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. Prince engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  7. Distribution : les moteurs à problèmesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published April 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  8. Moteurs essence qui consomment de l'huileFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published April 2024 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  9. Liste des moteurs qui ont des soucis de refroidissementFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published April 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  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. Peugeot 308Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  13. Peugeot RCZWikipedia (inglés) · 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. Rappel des moteurs 1.2 Puretech 110 et 130 chFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. Fiabilité du 1.2 PuretechFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  23. BMW Recalls Fuel Pumps. Mini Does NotMotoringFile · Motoring press · published 27 October 2010 · consulted 27 September 2026