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MotorFiable

1.2 TCe vs Mitsubishi PHEV: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Mitsubishi PHEV carries less risk than the 1.2 TCe: 24/100 (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 Mitsubishi PHEV has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Corroded air flow sensor: the petrol engine does not start to charge the battery».

Risk index

1.2 TCe

54

High risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

Mitsubishi PHEV

24

Low 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

18 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 Mitsubishi PHEV reliable?

Yes, with caveats: the OCU ranks the Outlander PHEV first for reliability among used plug-in hybrids. What is documented are isolated campaigns (spark plugs and software, air flow sensor, fuel hose) and a possible loss of battery capacity, cited by one source and one study without figures. The Eclipse Cross PHEV, which uses the same system, has no documented faults of its own.[6][7][8][9][10]

See the 5 of the Mitsubishi PHEV faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 TCe and Mitsubishi PHEV
1.2 TCeMitsubishi PHEV
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement1,197 cm³—
TimingChainChain
Power100–130 hp163–224 hp
Production2012–2018[1][2][5][11][12]since 2013[13][14][15]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)54High risk24Low risk
Documented faults25
Of high or critical severity22
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: Loss of traction battery (high-voltage) capacity
  2. Medium severity: Spark plugs and petrol engine software on the Outlander PHEV (campaign R3033111)
  3. High severity: Corroded air flow sensor: the petrol engine does not start to charge the battery
Most expensive documented repairup to €10,000Excessive oil consumption and engine failurePublished figure[1][2][16][17]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]
  • 2.4 Eclipse Cross PHEV (4B12, 13.8 kWh battery, 2021-2024)[9][10]
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][17]
  • 2.0 Outlander PHEV (4B11, 12 kWh battery, 2013-2018)[8][9][18]
  • 2.4 Outlander PHEV (4B12, 13.8 kWh battery, 2018-2021)[6][7][8]
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

Mitsubishi PHEV

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 TCe

With the Mitsubishi PHEV

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. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, el híbrido enchufable de segunda mano más fiable según la OCUHíbridos y Eléctricos · Motoring press · published 14 May 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  7. Mitsubishi Outlander (II & III) – Bekannte Probleme und MängelGebrauchtwagenberater (Alemania) · Motoring press · published 2 March 2023 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  8. Baterías de híbrido enchufable: cuándo habrá que sustituirlas (Outlander PHEV)Autofácil · Motoring press · published 7 May 2020 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  9. DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  10. El Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV sí llegará a Europa, incluida España, en 2021Híbridos y Eléctricos · Motoring press · published 18 October 2020 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  11. Nissan HR engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  12. H-Typrenaultfans.info · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  13. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  14. Mitsubishi OutlanderWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  15. Mitsubishi 4B1 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  16. Posibles fallos en algunos motores de gasolina de Renault, Dacia y NissanOCU · Consumer association · published 4 June 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  17. 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
  18. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (2013 – 2014): alerta A12/1947/19 (sensor de caudal de aire)car-recalls.eu (alertas Safety Gate / RAPEX) · Other source · published 13 December 2019 · consulted 8 October 2026