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1.3 TCe vs 0.9 TCe: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.3 TCe carries less risk than the 0.9 TCe: 36/100 versus 49/100 (both moderate risk). The 1.3 TCe has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Turbo actuator (wastegate) fault»; the 0.9 TCe has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Coolant leak at the thermostat housing».

Risk index

1.3 TCe

36

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

0.9 TCe

49

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

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

10 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 0.9 TCe reliable?

The 0.9 TCe (H4Bt) is a three-cylinder turbo with a good reliability reputation, better than that of its sibling the 1.2 TCe: it does not share the same oil consumption or the same rate of chain problems. Its most-cited weak point is a coolant leak at the thermostat housing, which if ignored can end up damaging the head gasket; chain, turbo and lambda sensor cases appear less often.[3][4]

See the 5 of the 0.9 TCe faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.3 TCe and 0.9 TCe
1.3 TCe0.9 TCe
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement1,332 cm³898 cm³
TimingChainChain
Power109–163 hp90 hp
Productionsince 2018[3][5][6][7]2012–2024[3][4][8][9][10]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)36Moderate risk49Moderate risk
Documented faults55
Of high or critical severity23
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. High severity: Coolant leak at the thermostat housing
  2. Critical severity: Timing chain or tensioner failure
  3. High severity: Turbocharger wear or failure
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]
  • 0.9 TCe 90 (H4Bt, 2012-2024)[3][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

Other comparisons

With the 1.3 TCe

With the 0.9 TCe

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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. Fiabilité des 0.9 TCeFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  5. Nissan HR engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  6. Mercedes-Benz M282 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  7. Renault Scenic Zen TCe 103 kW (140 CV) GPF (2020-2021): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  8. Mercedes-Benz M281 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  9. Renault ClioWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  10. Dacia SanderoWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish