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1.2 TCe vs Honda IMA híbrido: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Honda IMA híbrido carries less risk than the 1.2 TCe: 21/100 (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 Honda IMA híbrido has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «IMA hybrid system DC/DC converter failure with engine stall (Civic Hybrid 2005-2006)».

Risk index

1.2 TCe

54

High risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

Honda IMA híbrido

21

Low risk · 1 serious fault

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 Honda IMA híbrido reliable?

Honda's IMA hybrid system (Insight II, Jazz Hybrid, CR-Z and Civic Hybrid) has a good reputation for reliability in the British press, and its documented weak point is the ageing of the high-voltage battery, which turns on the IMA warning light. There were also two one-off campaigns: the DC/DC converter on the 2006 Civic Hybrid and the CR-Z software.[6][7][8]

See the 3 of the Honda IMA híbrido faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 TCe and Honda IMA híbrido
1.2 TCeHonda IMA híbrido
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement1,197 cm³—
TimingChainChain
Power100–130 hp88–132 hp
Production2012–2018[1][2][5][9][10]1999–2016[7][11][12][13][14]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)54High risk21Low risk
Documented faults23
Of high or critical severity21
Worst severityCritical severityHigh severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Excessive oil consumption and engine failure
  2. High severity: Timing chain stretch and breakage
  1. Medium severity: High-voltage IMA battery degradation and IMA warning light on
  2. High severity: IMA hybrid system DC/DC converter failure with engine stall (Civic Hybrid 2005-2006)
  3. Medium severity: CR-Z IMA hybrid system software: the car may move when the engine stalls
Most expensive documented repairup to €10,000Excessive oil consumption and engine failurePublished figure[1][2][15][16]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]
  • 1.3 i-VTEC IMA 98 (LDA-MF6 / LDA3, Insight II, 2009-2014)[7][8]
  • 1.3 i-VTEC IMA (LDA-MF6 / LDA3, Jazz Hybrid, 2011-2015)[7][17][18]
  • 1.5 i-VTEC IMA 132 (LEA1, CR-Z with lithium-ion battery, 2013-2016)[14][19]
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][16]
  • 1.3 i-DSI IMA 110 (LDA-MF5 / LDA2, Civic Hybrid VIII, 2006-2011)[6][20][21]
  • 1.5 i-VTEC IMA 123 (LEA1 / LEA-MF6, CR-Z with NiMH battery, 2010-2012)[6][14][19]
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

Honda IMA híbrido

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 TCe

With the Honda IMA híbrido

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. 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. DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 8 October 2026
  7. Used Honda Insight Mk2 buying guideDrivingElectric · Motoring press · published 24 October 2019 · consulted 8 October 2026
  8. Honda Insight (2009 - 2014) used car reviewRAC · Motoring press · published 13 February 2015 · consulted 8 October 2026
  9. Nissan HR engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  10. H-Typrenaultfans.info · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  11. Integrated Motor AssistWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  12. Honda L engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  13. Honda CR-ZWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  14. Used Honda CR-Z buying guideDrivingElectric · Motoring press · published 31 October 2022 · consulted 8 October 2026
  15. Posibles fallos en algunos motores de gasolina de Renault, Dacia y NissanOCU · Consumer association · published 4 June 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  16. 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
  17. Fiabilité et pannes Honda Jazz 2 (2008-2015)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  18. Honda JazzWikipedia (DE) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  19. Used Honda CR-Z reviewAuto Express · Motoring press · published 14 August 2016 · consulted 8 October 2026
  20. Fiabilité et pannes Honda Civic (2006-2011)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  21. Honda Civic 8 (2005-2011): alle bekannten Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 22 September 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German