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MotorFiable

1.2 TCe vs 1.5 EcoBoost: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.5 EcoBoost carries less risk than the 1.2 TCe: 43/100 (moderate 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 1.5 EcoBoost has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Coolant loss through a microcrack in the engine block (4-cylinder 1.5)».

Risk index

1.2 TCe

54

High risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

1.5 EcoBoost

43

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

21 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 1.5 EcoBoost reliable?

These are two engines with the same name. The four-cylinder (2014-2019: Mondeo, Focus, Kuga, C-Max) has documented cases of coolant loss through a microcrack in the block, which can end in a new engine. The three-cylinder Dragon (from 2018) has hardly any mechanical faults cited, but the Kuga has been recalled several times because an injector can crack and cause a fuel leak with a fire risk.[6][7][8][9]

See the 2 of the 1.5 EcoBoost faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 TCe and 1.5 EcoBoost
1.2 TCe1.5 EcoBoost
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement1,197 cm³1,498 cm³
TimingChainChain
Power100–130 hp120–200 hp
Production2012–2018[1][2][5][10][11]since 2014[12][13][14][15][16]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)54High risk43Moderate risk
Documented faults22
Of high or critical severity22
Worst severityCritical severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Excessive oil consumption and engine failure
  2. High severity: Timing chain stretch and breakage
  1. Critical severity: Coolant loss through a microcrack in the engine block (4-cylinder 1.5)
  2. Critical severity: Fuel leak from cracked injectors, with a fire risk (Kuga Dragon)
Most expensive documented repairup to €10,000Excessive oil consumption and engine failurePublished figure[1][2][17][18]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]
None
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][18]
  • 1.5 EcoBoost 4-cylinder 120/150/160/182 hp (Mondeo, Focus, Kuga, C-Max, S-Max, Galaxy, 2014-2019)[6][7]
  • 1.5 EcoBoost Dragon 3-cylinder 120/150/182 hp (Kuga III and Focus IV, from 2018)[8][9][19][20]
  • 1.5 EcoBoost ST 200 hp (Fiesta ST 2018-2023 and Puma ST, code YZJA)[8][14][21]
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 TCe

See the 16 models with the 1.2 TCe

1.5 EcoBoost

See the 10 models with the 1.5 EcoBoost

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 TCe

With the 1.5 EcoBoost

Compare other engines

That is the comparison you are viewing: change one of the two engines.

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. Ford Mondeo V - Auto ReviewANWB · Consumer association · published 2 September 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Dutch
  7. Ford EcoBoost Probleme und Haltbarkeitgebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  8. Rückruf: Bei diesen Ford-Modellen besteht BrandgefahrADAC · Motoring press · published 2 February 2026 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  9. Rückruf Ford Kuga: Brandgefahr wegen defekter Einspritzventileauto motor und sport · Motoring press · published 3 May 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  10. Nissan HR engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  11. H-Typrenaultfans.info · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  12. Ford EcoBoost engineWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  13. Ford EcoBoostWikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  14. Every Ford Powered By The 1.5L EcoBoost 'Dragon'SlashGear · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026
  15. Ford Kuga Titanium 1.5 EcoBoost Auto-Start-Stop 150 CV 4x2 (2014-2016): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  16. Ford Kuga MK3 2019-2026 Probleme und Schwachstellengebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  17. Posibles fallos en algunos motores de gasolina de Renault, Dacia y NissanOCU · Consumer association · published 4 June 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  18. 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
  19. Trois problèmes avec le Ford Kuga : jauge de carburant, injecteurs et toit panoramique défectueuxcar-recalls.eu · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  20. Tous les problèmes sur Ford FOCUS 4 2018 (93 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  21. YZJA engine (Ford 1.5 EcoBoost)Motorinsel · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026