1.5 BlueHDi vs 1.6 CRDi: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.6 CRDi carries less risk than the 1.5 BlueHDi: 70/100 (high risk) versus 77/100 (very high risk). The 1.5 BlueHDi has 4 documented serious faults, the main one being «Wear and breakage of the 7 mm chain between the camshafts»; the 1.6 CRDi has 4 documented serious faults, the main one being «MHSG belt tensioner and crankshaft pulley failure (48V mild hybrid)».

Risk index

1.5 BlueHDi

Very high risk · 4 serious faults

Risk index

1.6 CRDi

High risk · 4 serious faults

Lower risk

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

Reviewed on 26 September 202629 sources How we work

Is the 1.5 BlueHDi reliable?

The 1.5 BlueHDi has a serious weak point in engines built from October 2017 to January 2023: the 7 mm chain linking the camshafts can stretch and break. Stellantis has recalled them and covers this fault for 10 years or 240,000 km; engines built up to August 2020 can also suffer AdBlue tank failures, with partial compensation from the manufacturer.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 5 of the 1.5 BlueHDi faults

Is the 1.6 CRDi reliable?

The U2 D4FB (2009-2018) is a generally robust diesel if well maintained, with known turbo failures in the early units and timing chain problems from 120,000-150,000 km. Its successor, the Smartstream (U3 D4FE, from 2018), has a good reputation, except in the 48V mild hybrid version, which has a belt tensioner and crankshaft pulley fault that can destroy the engine.^[5][6][7]

See the 6 of the 1.6 CRDi faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 BlueHDi and 1.6 CRDi
Item	1.5 BlueHDi	1.6 CRDi
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,499 cm³	1,582 cm³
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Chain
Power	75–130 hp	90–136 hp
Production	since 2017^{[8][9][10][11][12][13]}	since 2009^{[5][14][15][16]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	77Very high risk	70High risk
Documented faults	5	6
Of high or critical severity	4	4
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Wear and breakage of the 7 mm chain between the camshafts Medium severity: AdBlue tank and pump failure High severity: Seizure of the high-pressure pump and injection system	Critical severity: MHSG belt tensioner and crankshaft pulley failure (48V mild hybrid) Critical severity: Timing chain stretch High severity: Premature variable-geometry turbo (VGT) failure
Most expensive documented repair	up to €1,500AdBlue tank and pump failurePublished figure^{[4][17][18][19]}	up to €1,800Particulate filter (DPF) blocked in urban usePublished figure^[20]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	1.5 BlueHDi with 8 mm chain (from February 2023)^[2][21][22]	Smartstream 1.6 CRDi U3 (D4FE, 115-136 hp, without mild hybrid, from 2018)^[6][23]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.5 BlueHDi 75-130 with 7 mm chain (October 2017 - January 2023)^[24][25][26]	1.6 CRDi U2 (D4FB, 90-136 hp, sold in Spain from 2010 to ~2018)^[5][27][28] Smartstream 1.6 CRDi 48V mild hybrid (D4FE MHEV, 136 hp, from ~2019)^[7][29]
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

1.5 BlueHDi

See the 35 models with the 1.5 BlueHDi

1.6 CRDi

See the 17 models with the 1.6 CRDi

Other comparisons

With the 1.5 BlueHDi

With the 1.6 CRDi

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.

1.5 BlueHDi. Stellantis rappelle 930 000 véhicules et étend la couverture à 10 ansL'argus · Motoring press · published 3 July 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Llaman a revisión a miles de Citroën, Opel, Peugeot, DS y Fiat en España con el motor diésel 1.5 BlueHDiMotorpasión · Motoring press · published 3 July 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Réservoir AdBlue Stellantis. Quels changements dans l'indemnisation des clients français ?L'argus · Motoring press · published 21 December 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
OCU y BEUC consiguen que Stellantis amplíe la garantía de los depósitos AdBlue defectuososOCU · Consumer association · published 27 December 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Motor Kia y Hyundai 1.6 CRDI (D4FB): ficha tecnica, problemas y tuningMotordinámico · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Kia Ceed III: Bekannte Probleme & RückrufeGebrauchtwagenberater · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
Kia / Hyundai 1.6 CRDi MHEV Engine FailuresDOHC (especialista en reconstrucción de motores) · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
Ford DLD engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Motor DV5Oryx Parts · Technical documentation · published 24 January 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Which Cars Have a Wet Belt? Full UK Engine List (2026)CarOkay · Other source · published 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026
Opel Corsa F: Probleme mit dem Ölbad-Zahnriemen erklärtcarVertical · Other source · published 17 July 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
PSA 1.5L BlueHDi: a focus on the DV5 engineSumax · Technical documentation · published July 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026
Timing Belt Kit & Water Pump for Peugeot 1.5 BlueHDi - DV5RLymm Engine Parts · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
Hyundai U engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Hyundai Smartstream engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Hyundai i30 Kombi 1.6 CRDi 48V-Mildhybrid Trend (10/20-01/22): Technische Daten, Bilder, PreiseADAC · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
La OCU quiere tomar medidas ante los problemas del sistema de AdBlue de Citroën y Peugeotcoches.com · Motoring press · published 30 May 2023 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Solución fallo AdBlue Peugeot, Citroën y Opel: evita cambiar el depósitoST Automoción · Other source · published 11 December 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Stellantis amplía las compensaciones por los problemas técnicos de sus depósitos AdBlueMinisterio de Derechos Sociales, Consumo y Agenda 2030 · Official body · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Kia Ceed 1.6 Crdi Problemas | Fallos y averías más frecuentesTotalRenting · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
1.5 BlueHDi. Stellantis rappelle plusieurs milliers de véhicules pour un problème d'injectionL'argus · Motoring press · published 14 March 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Europa amplía la llamada a revisión por los graves problemas del motor 1.5 BlueHDi de StellantisAutonoción · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Kia Ceed im TÜV-Check 2026: Schwachstellen, Mängel und ProblemeAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
Cobertura especial para los 1.5 BlueHDi del Grupo Stellantiscoches.net · Motoring press · published 3 July 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Casse chaîne 1.5 BlueHDi. Stellantis étend sa prise en charge à 7 ans ou 180 000 kmL'argus · Motoring press · published 15 January 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité moteur Stellantis 1.5 BlueHDi. Une nouvelle huile pour éviter la casseL'argus · Motoring press · published 14 January 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Kia and Hyundai 1.6 CRDI (D4FB) engineEngineDNA · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Best Hyundai Kia 1.6 CRDI Mods & Upgrades Guide to D4FB TuningTorqueCars · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
KIA SPORTAGE 2023 - vehicle recallsGOV.UK (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) · Official body · consulted 26 September 2026