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MotorFiable

1.2 TCe vs 1.2 8v Fire: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.2 8v Fire carries less risk than the 1.2 TCe: 20/100 (low risk) versus 54/100 (high risk). The 1.2 TCe has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Excessive oil consumption and engine failure»; the 1.2 8v Fire has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

1.2 TCe

54

High risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

1.2 8v Fire

20

Low 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

19 sourcesHow we work

Is 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.[1][2][3][4][5]

See the 2 of the 1.2 TCe faults

Is the 1.2 8v Fire reliable?

The 1.2 8v Fire is one of Fiat's simplest and most widespread petrol engines, with more than two decades in production and no serious or systemic faults documented. The sources consulted describe it as robust: its most-cited issues are isolated sensor failures (lambda sensor, crankshaft sensor), the ignition coil and somewhat high oil consumption at higher mileages; there is no pattern of timing belt breakage.[6][7][8][9][10][11]

See the 4 of the 1.2 8v Fire faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 TCe and 1.2 8v Fire
1.2 TCe1.2 8v Fire
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement1,197 cm³1,242 cm³
TimingChainTiming belt (dry)
Power100–130 hp60–69 hp
Production2012–2018[1][2][5][12][13]1999–2020[14][15][16][17]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)54High risk20Low risk
Documented faults24
Of high or critical severity20
Worst severityCritical severityMedium severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Excessive oil consumption and engine failure
  2. High severity: Timing chain stretch and breakage
  1. Medium severity: Sensor failures: lambda sensor and crankshaft position sensor (TDC)
  2. Low severity: Oil consumption or leak, in one case from the rocker cover gasket
  3. Low severity: Faulty ignition coil (misfire, engine warning light)
Most expensive documented repairup to €10,000Excessive oil consumption and engine failurePublished figure[1][2][18][19]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • 1.2 TCe 100-130 / 1.2 DIG-T 115 (H5Ft / HRA2DDT, built from mid-2016)[2][5]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.2 TCe 115-130 / 1.2 DIG-T 115 (H5Ft / HRA2DDT, built up to mid-2016)[2][3][19]
None
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 TCe

With the 1.2 8v Fire

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Sources

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

  1. 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
  2. Casse moteur Renault 1.2 TCe : 107 000 Renault concernéesL'argus · Motoring press · published 28 March 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  3. 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
  4. Moteur 1.2 Renault - Les constructeurs minimisentUFC-Que Choisir (Que Choisir Ensemble) · Consumer association · published 31 July 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  5. Moteur H Renault-NissanWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  6. Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat Panda (2003-2012)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat Panda (depuis 2012)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  8. Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat 500Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  9. Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat Punto (Grande Punto / Punto Evo / Punto)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  10. Fiat Panda III (seit 2011) – Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 21 January 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  11. Fiat 500 (ab 2007) – alle bekannten Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 24 November 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  12. Nissan HR engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  13. H-Typrenaultfans.info · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  14. Fiat FIRE engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  15. Fiat 500 (2007)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  16. Fiat Grande PuntoWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  17. Ford KaWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  18. Posibles fallos en algunos motores de gasolina de Renault, Dacia y NissanOCU · Consumer association · published 4 June 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  19. 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