1.2 TCe vs M271: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.2 TCe carries less risk than the M271: 54/100 versus 59/100 (both high risk). The 1.2 TCe has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Excessive oil consumption and engine failure»; the M271 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Timing chain stretch and wear of the camshaft sprockets».

Risk index

1.2 TCe

High risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

M271

High risk · 1 serious fault

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

Reviewed on 30 October 202612 sources How 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 M271 reliable?

The M271 is the four-cylinder petrol engine Mercedes-Benz fitted from 2002 to 2015, first with a mechanical supercharger (Kompressor) and, from 2009, with a turbo in the EVO revision. It has one well-documented weak point across the range: the timing chain and the camshaft sprockets can wear prematurely, a problem a specialist source describes as persistent even after the EVO redesign.^[6][7][8]

See the 4 of the M271 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 TCe and M271
Item	1.2 TCe	M271
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,197 cm³	1,796 cm³
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	100–130 hp	122–204 hp
Production	2012–2018^{[1][2][5][9][10]}	2002–2015^[7][8]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	54High risk	59High risk
Documented faults	2	4
Of high or critical severity	2	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Excessive oil consumption and engine failure High severity: Timing chain stretch and breakage	Critical severity: Timing chain stretch and wear of the camshaft sprockets Medium severity: Oil leaking from the camshaft adjuster solenoids into the wiring Medium severity: Crankcase ventilation hose under the supercharger: it cracks and lets in false air
Most expensive documented repair	up to €10,000Excessive oil consumption and engine failurePublished figure^{[1][2][11][12]}	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][12]	M271 Kompressor 1.6/1.8 (KE16/KE18)^[6] M271 EVO 1.8 turbo CGI (DE18 LA)^[6]
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

1.2 TCe

See the 16 models with the 1.2 TCe

M271

See the 7 models with the M271

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 TCe

With the M271

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.

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
Casse moteur Renault 1.2 TCe : 107 000 Renault concernéesL'argus · Motoring press · published 28 March 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
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
Moteur 1.2 Renault - Les constructeurs minimisentUFC-Que Choisir (Que Choisir Ensemble) · Consumer association · published 31 July 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Moteur H Renault-NissanWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Mercedes M271: Typische Probleme und HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Mercedes-Benz M271 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Mercedes-Benz M 271Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Nissan HR engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
H-Typrenaultfans.info · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
Posibles fallos en algunos motores de gasolina de Renault, Dacia y NissanOCU · Consumer association · published 4 June 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
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