1.2 TCe vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera): which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.2 TCe carries less risk than the Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera): 54/100 versus 55/100 (both high risk). The 1.2 TCe has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Excessive oil consumption and engine failure»; the Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera) has 5 documented serious faults, the main one being «Cracked plastic coolant pipes on the Cayenne V8».

Risk index

1.2 TCe

High risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)

High risk · 5 serious faults

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

Reviewed on 30 October 202628 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 Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera) reliable?

There are no public failure statistics for these engines. The sources agree on three points: the plastic coolant pipes of the first Cayenne V8s, cylinder bore scoring in the naturally aspirated 4.5, and the timing chain of the VR6 V6s. On the 4.8 and the Panamera, the camshaft adjuster bolts (a 2012 workshop campaign) and leaks weigh more.^{[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]}

See the 7 of the Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera) faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 TCe and Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
Item	1.2 TCe	Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,197 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	100–130 hp	250–570 hp
Production	2012–2018^{[1][2][5][14][15]}	2002–2017^{[6][16][17][18]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	54High risk	55High risk
Documented faults	2	7
Of high or critical severity	2	5
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Excessive oil consumption and engine failure High severity: Timing chain stretch and breakage	High severity: Cracked plastic coolant pipes on the Cayenne V8 High severity: Timing chain stretch on the Cayenne VR6 V6 engines Critical severity: Cylinder bore scoring in the Cayenne 4.5 V8 block
Most expensive documented repair	up to €10,000Excessive oil consumption and engine failurePublished figure^{[1][2][19][20]}	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][20]	3.2 V6 VR6 250 hp (Cayenne I, 2004-2007)^[8][9][21] 3.6 V6 VR6 FSI 290 hp (Cayenne I, 2007-2010)^[8][9][22] 3.6 V6 VR6 300 hp (Cayenne II, 2010-2017)^[21][23] 4.5 V8 S 340 hp (M48.00, Cayenne I, 2002-2007)^{[6][7][8][10]} 4.5 V8 Turbo 450 hp and Turbo S 521 hp (M48.50, Cayenne I, 2002-2007)^{[6][7][8][10]} 4.8 V8 S 385 hp and GTS 405 hp (M48.01, Cayenne I, 2007-2010)^[8][9][22] 4.8 V8 Turbo 500 hp and Turbo S 550 hp (M48.51, Cayenne I, 2007-2010)^[22][24] 4.8 V8 S 400 hp, GTS 420 hp, Turbo 500/520 hp and Turbo S 550/570 hp (Cayenne II, 2010-2017)^{[11][12][23][25]} 3.6 V6 300/310 hp (Panamera and Panamera 4, 2010-2016)^{[11][16][26][27]} 4.8 V8 S, 4S and GTS 400-440 hp (M48.20, Panamera, 2009-2016)^[11][13][27] 4.8 V8 Turbo and Turbo S 500-570 hp (M48.70, Panamera, 2009-2016)^[11][27][28]
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

Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 TCe

With the Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)

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
Porsche Cayenne (generaciones 955/957 y 958, motores y problemas conocidos)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Alusil (aleación de aluminio y silicio para cilindros)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Gebrauchtwagen-Kaufberater: Was kann der Porsche Cayenne 9PA?AutoScout24 · Motoring press · published 10 January 2022 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Porsche Cayenne I 9PA - Probleme und KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Buying, owning, improving the Porsche Cayenne 958Car Mechanics · Motoring press · published 24 September 2025 · consulted 9 October 2026
Part 573 Safety Recall Report 17V-368 (Porsche AH08, reguladores de los árboles de levas)NHTSA / Porsche Cars North America · Official body · published 21 February 2023 · consulted 9 October 2026
Amended Chronology For Recall AH08 (cronología de la campaña de los reguladores de levas)Porsche Cars North America (documento en NHTSA) · Manufacturer · published 20 July 2017 · consulted 9 October 2026
1st Gen Porsche Panamera Buyer's GuideStuttcars · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Nissan HR engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
H-Typrenaultfans.info · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
Porsche Panamera (primera generación, 970)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Porsche-Achtzylindermotoren: historia de los V8 de PorschePorsche Newsroom · Manufacturer · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Porsche V8 engines (familia M48)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
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
Probleme mit dem Porsche Cayenne (9PA y 92A) inklusive RückrufaktionenCarWiki.de · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Fiabilité Porsche Cayenne (2002-2010): pannes et témoignagesfiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 9 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Porsche Cayenne 2 (2010-2017): pannes et témoignagesfiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 9 October 2026 · in French
Porsche Cayenne 4.8 500 ch 2012: moteur cassé, vis d'arbre à cames desserrée à 147.000 kmfiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · published 9 May 2018 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in French
Porsche Cayenne Coolant Pipe Failure: Causes, Symptoms, and Repair CostsForeign Automotive (taller de Ontario, Canadá) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Fiabilité Porsche Panamera (2009-2016): pannes et témoignagesfiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 9 October 2026 · in French
970 Porsche Panamera Common ProblemsYOUCANIC · Other source · published 6 November 2024 · consulted 9 October 2026
DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 9 October 2026