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1.3 TCe vs M271: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.3 TCe carries less risk than the M271: 36/100 (moderate risk) versus 59/100 (high risk). The 1.3 TCe has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Turbo actuator (wastegate) fault»; the M271 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Timing chain stretch and wear of the camshaft sprockets».

Risk index

1.3 TCe

36

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

M271

59

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

9 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.3 TCe reliable?

The 1.3 TCe / 1.3 DIG-T (H5Ht at Renault and Dacia, HR13DDT at Nissan, M282 at Mercedes-Benz), developed with Daimler since 2018, has a clearly better record than its predecessor, the 1.2 TCe: no oil consumption or chain problems have been documented. It had manufacturing defects that have since been corrected (injectors, calibration, turbo, timing) and, on the Captur II and Clio V, a fuel pump fuse failure with no confirmed official fix.[1][2][3]

See the 5 of the 1.3 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.[4][5][6]

See the 4 of the M271 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.3 TCe and M271
1.3 TCeM271
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement1,332 cm³1,796 cm³
TimingChainChain
Power109–163 hp122–204 hp
Productionsince 2018[3][7][8][9]2002–2015[5][6]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)36Moderate risk59High risk
Documented faults54
Of high or critical severity21
Worst severityHigh severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: Turbo actuator (wastegate) fault
  2. High severity: Blown fuel pump fuse
  3. Medium severity: Unstable idle, juddering and stalling caused by the injectors
  1. Critical severity: Timing chain stretch and wear of the camshaft sprockets
  2. Medium severity: Oil leaking from the camshaft adjuster solenoids into the wiring
  3. Medium severity: Crankcase ventilation hose under the supercharger: it cracks and lets in false air
Most expensive documented repairup to €700Turbo actuator (wastegate) faultPublished figure[1][2]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • 1.3 TCe / 1.3 DIG-T 109-163 and Mild Hybrid (H5Ht / HR13DDT / M282, corrected production from 2020)[1]
None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.3 TCe / 1.3 DIG-T 109-163 (H5Ht / HR13DDT / M282, first series 2018-2020)[1]
  • M271 Kompressor 1.6/1.8 (KE16/KE18)[4]
  • M271 EVO 1.8 turbo CGI (DE18 LA)[4]
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

1.3 TCe

See the 18 models with the 1.3 TCe

M271

See the 7 models with the M271

Other comparisons

With the 1.3 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.

  1. Renault-Dacia. Quel bilan fiabilité pour le moteur 1.3 TCe ?L'argus · Motoring press · published 5 April 2021 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  2. Fiabilité moteur 1.3 TCeAuto Platinium · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  3. Moteur H Renault-NissanWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  4. Mercedes M271: Typische Probleme und HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  5. Mercedes-Benz M271 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  6. Mercedes-Benz M 271Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  7. Nissan HR engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  8. Mercedes-Benz M282 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  9. Renault Scenic Zen TCe 103 kW (140 CV) GPF (2020-2021): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish