1.5 BlueHDi vs 1.8 TDCi: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.8 TDCi carries less risk than the 1.5 BlueHDi: 48/100 (moderate 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 1.8 TDCi has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Breakage of the timing belt or of the high-pressure pump's belt (running in oil)».

Risk index

1.5 BlueHDi

Very high risk · 4 serious faults

Risk index

1.8 TDCi

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

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

Reviewed on 27 September 202627 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 1.8 TDCi reliable?

The 1.8 TDCi (codename Lynx) was Ford's standard diesel between 2001 and 2014, with Delphi common-rail injection and a variable-geometry turbo. It is an engine with well-documented faults: the dual-mass flywheel and clutch are by far its weakest point, followed by the injectors, the EGR valve and, to a lesser extent, the turbo hoses and the timing drive itself.^[5][6][7][8]

See the 5 of the 1.8 TDCi faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 BlueHDi and 1.8 TDCi
Item	1.5 BlueHDi	1.8 TDCi
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,499 cm³	1,753 cm³
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Timing belt (dry)
Power	75–130 hp	75–125 hp
Production	since 2017^{[9][10][11][12][13][14]}	2001–2014^[5][15][16]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	77Very high risk	48Moderate risk
Documented faults	5	5
Of high or critical severity	4	1
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: Breakage of the timing belt or of the high-pressure pump's belt (running in oil) Medium severity: Premature wear of the dual-mass flywheel and clutch Medium severity: Delphi injector failure (leaks, cracks or poor spray pattern)
Most expensive documented repair	up to €1,500AdBlue tank and pump failurePublished figure^{[4][17][18][19]}	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	1.5 BlueHDi with 8 mm chain (from February 2023)^[2][20][21]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.5 BlueHDi 75-130 with 7 mm chain (October 2017 - January 2023)^[22][23][24]	1.8 TDCi 75/90/100 (entry-level tunes: Focus I and Transit Connect)^[6][7] 1.8 TDCi 110/115/125 (Focus II, C-Max, Mondeo, Galaxy, S-Max and Transit Connect)^{[6][7][8][25][26][27]}
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 34 models with the 1.5 BlueHDi

1.8 TDCi

See the 8 models with the 1.8 TDCi

Other comparisons

With the 1.5 BlueHDi

With the 1.8 TDCi

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
Ford Duratorq engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Fiabilité et pannes du Ford Mondeo 3 (1.8 TDCi 125ch)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du Ford Focus 2 (1.8 TDCi 115ch)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du Ford S-MaxFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
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
Ford FocusWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Ford Transit ConnectWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
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
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
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
Ford Focus Mk2: Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Ford Mondeo Mk4: Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Ford S-Max: Probleme und KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German